Senior Scientist, In Vitro Cardiovascular Biology

Do you have expertise within in vitro cardiovascular biology and enjoy working in the lab? Would you like to apply your expertise in a global company that is accelerating innovative science and turning ideas into life-changing medicines? Join us to discover future treatments for Cardiovascular, Renal, and Metabolic (CVRM) diseases!

We are recruiting a Senior Scientist with expertise in in vitro cardiovascular biology to Early CVRM, one of AstraZeneca’s three main therapeutic areas. In the Bioscience department, we focus on identifying and validating new drug targets and delivering preclinical data to projects across all phases of drug discovery and development.

The role is based at AstraZeneca’s dynamic R&D site in Gothenburg, Sweden, where you will join an international, collaborative, and innovative environment focused on scientific excellence and patient impact.

Accountability

As a Senior Scientist, you will be a key laboratory-based contributor to AstraZeneca’s Cardiovascular Bioscience portfolio. This is an in vitro–focused role, where you will play a critical role in building mechanistic understanding of drug targets by generating high‑quality experimental data to support target discovery, target validation, and drug discovery projects within cardiovascular disease.

Responsibilities include:

• Independently design, develop, and execute in vitro experiments and assays.

• Generate high‑quality mechanistic data, including mechanism‑of‑action and proof‑of‑concept evidence for drug candidates.

• Work extensively with human pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes and other relevant cell types in both healthy and disease‑relevant settings.

• Apply molecular biology, imaging, and functional assays (e.g., contractility, electrophysiology, metabolism).

• Develop and utilize 2D and 3D cardiac model systems, including multicellular cultures, cardiac organoids, and engineered cardiac tissues.

• Collaborate effectively across Bioscience and with other AstraZeneca functions to ensure successful delivery of project milestones.

• Present scientific data and insights at internal project teams and governance forums, as well as external meetings.

• Leverage AI/ML-enabled approaches to extract insights from complex in vitro datasets, contributing to data-driven target validation and decision making.

• Partner with data scientists and colleagues to implement AI-assisted workflows, ensuring robust, reproducible analysis and clear communication of findings.

• Actively contribute to a collaborative, innovative environment, sharing ideas and continuously improving ways of working.

• Depending on experience and personal interest, take on opportunities to act as Target Leader and/or lead model development efforts.

Essential Skills/Experience

• PhD or Master’s degree in Biology, Pharmacology, or a related discipline, with a scientific background in cardiovascular disease

• Strong experience in cell and molecular biology, biochemistry and relevant in vitro/ex vivo assays

• Minimum 2 years’ recent hands-on experience in handling and manipulating relevant PSC cells and primary human and animal cardiac cell types, including cardiomyocytes

• Minimum 2 years’ recent hands-on experience in in vitro work within the cardiovascular field, involving endothelial cells, cardiomyocytes, and fibroblasts in both healthy and diseased cardiovascular preclinical model systems

• Minimum 2 years’ recent hands-on experience in cardiac in vitro models: hands‑on with 2D and 3D systems, including cardiac organoids and engineered cardiac tissues across multiple cell types (e.g., hiPSC‑derived cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, smooth muscle)

• Demonstrated interest and practical experience in applying AI/ML tools to support experimental design, data interpretation, and hypothesis generation

• A collaborative, proactive, and flexible mindset, with the ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams

• Excellent scientific communication skills, with strong written and spoken English

Desirable Skills/Experience

• Experience in drug discovery or development, ideally within the pharmaceutical industry.

• Hands‑on experience testing drug candidates or tool compounds in cardiac in vitro systems.

• Experience with in vivo and/or ex vivo cardiovascular models.

At AstraZeneca, we are committed to making a difference. We have built our business around our passion for science. Now we are fusing data and technology with the latest scientific innovations to achieve the next wave of breakthroughs. Our inclusive environment allows us to work seamlessly together, leveraging our diverse global knowledge to create the greatest impact on disease. Here you can grow your career while contributing to life-changing medicines.

Ready to make a difference? Apply now!

Welcome with your application by May 17th, 2026.

Date Posted

04-maj-2026

Closing Date

17-maj-2026

Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the 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.