Scientist, Rare Cancer Discovery

Job Title: Scientist, Rare Cancer Discovery
Location:Waltham, MA

At AstraZeneca, we put patients first and strive to meet their unmet needs worldwide. Working here means being entrepreneurial, thinking big and working together to make the impossible a reality. If you are swift to action, confident to lead, willing to collaborate, and curious about what science can do, then you’re our kind of person.

Recognizing the importance of individualized flexibility, our ways of working allow employees to balance personal and work commitments while ensuring we continue to create a strong culture of collaboration and teamwork by engaging face-to-face in our offices 3 days a week. Our head office is purposely designed with collaboration in mind, providing space where teams can come together to strategize, brainstorm and connect on key projects. 

Our dedication to sustainability is also central to our culture and part of what makes AstraZeneca a great place to work. We know the health of people, the planet and our business are interconnected which is why we’re taking ambitious action to tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time, from climate change to access to healthcare and disease prevention. 

Introduction to Role:

We are seeking a highly motivated Scientist with a background in immunology or a related field to join our dynamic team in Waltham, MA. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to our mission of eliminating cancer as a cause of death. As a Scientist, you will be a key player in supporting NeuroOncology and other rare cancers projects through the drug discovery process, using your expertise in immunology to establish and support assay systems and deliver datasets that will have direct impact on pipeline programs.

Accountabilities:

In this laboratory-based position within the Rare Cancer Discovery group, you will develop, conduct and analyze experiments to assess the function of our candidate drugs in vitro and/or in vivo. You will support novel therapeutics targeting the immune system for brain tumors therapy and help to dissect their mechanism of action. You will support cross-functional teams and work collaboratively with colleagues to ensure the timely generation and dissemination of critical program data. Additionally, you will review emerging literature and internal data to help in identifying new potential targets and contribute to target validation activities.

Essential Skills/Experience:

• B.S in a relevant research area with 2-5 years research experience in cancer biology, immunology or other related scientific discipline
• Experience in tumor immunology and performing standard in vitro assays (immune cell activation, cytotoxic assays, etc).
• Experience with multi-color flow cytometry to evaluate mouse and/or human T cell populations and functions.
• Ability to design and execute research plans for one or more programs, and to review, analyze, and interpret experimental results.
• Ability to draft, execute and record protocols and experiments in a timely manner and maintain an excellent laboratory notebook.
• Job complexity is high and requires ability to work with high degree of collaboration.
• Strong interpersonal, influencing, and collaboration skills together with evidence of having used these to support problem solving and delivery in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
• Proven track record of success in your research and experience preparing written scientific reports and oral presentations.
  

Where can I find out more?

• Our Social Media, Follow AstraZeneca on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/1603/
• Follow AstraZeneca on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/astrazenecacareers/
• Follow AstraZeneca on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/astrazeneca_careers/?hl=en
• Our US Footprint: Powering Scientific Innovation - YouTube

Total Rewards:

The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges from $92,252.00 to $138,378.00 Our positions offer eligibility for various incentives—an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles. Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs, paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves), as well as health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans.

As AstraZeneca continues to put patients at the forefront of our mission, we are excited for our move to Kendall Square/Cambridge in 2026. Find out more information here: Kendall Square Press Release

AstraZeneca is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion and providing a workplace that is free from discrimination. AstraZeneca is committed to accommodating persons with disabilities. Such accommodation is available on request in respect of all aspects of the recruitment, assessment and selection process and may be requested by emailing AZCHumanResources@astrazeneca.com.

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Date Posted

05-May-2026

Closing Date

14-May-2026

Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorisation and employment eligibility verification requirements.