Machine Learning for Chemical Synthesis

Do you have expertise in, and passion for, Chemistry and Machine Learning? Would you like to apply your expertise to impact the digital transformation strategy in a company that follows the science and turns ideas into life changing medicines? Then you might be the one we are looking for!

Pharmaceutical Sciences at AstraZeneca is developing a digital transformation strategy to drive innovation, optimization of the drug development process and data-driven decision making. We are now recruiting two highly skilled scientists to specialise in the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in a chemical context within the Pharmaceutical Sciences function. One role will focus on synthesis planning and one role will be a data scientist in process design.

At AstraZeneca we turn ideas into life changing medicines. Working here means being entrepreneurial, thinking big and working together to make the impossible a reality. The Pharmaceutical Sciences' mission is to transform molecules into investigational medicines, meeting the unmet needs of future patients. Our portfolio of projects covers all AstraZeneca's therapy areas, spanning traditional small molecules, proteins, oligonucleotides and RNA based therapeutics.

As a Senior Scientist/Associate Principal Scientist within the Computational Pharmaceutics team, you will lead scientific development in one of following areas.

Synthesis planning: Developing synthesis planning approaches for route selection and process design using AI & ML approaches. This role is focused on reaction optimization and route design to support drug development. The role will exploit internal and external databases to develop route selection workflows optimized for AstraZeneca chemists. The role is placed either in Macclesfield (UK) or in Gothenburg (Sweden).

Data scientist for process design: Working with the Pharmaceutical sciences community to adopt a data-first culture, recognizing opportunities to utilise AI & ML to generate knowledge and innovation and work alongside scientific experts to design projects to optimize underlying data structure. The role will focus on data extraction, analysis and capture strategies to support data-driven decision making. As the lead Data Scientist you will maintain awareness of state -of-the art applications of AI and engage with AZ leadership to design and influence strategic decisions. The role is placed Gothenburg (Sweden).

Major Duties and Responsibilities

In these roles, you will work across the Global Pharmaceutical Sciences departments along with other senior scientists to provide scientific leadership and drive innovation. You will be responsible for engaging with key internal and external stakeholders to identify and validate impactful solutions through the use of machine leaning, data analysis and statistical techniques. You will be at the forefront of the digital transformation within AstraZeneca and drive the development of the digital transformation Pharmaceutical Sciences strategy.

You will work in chemical development projects and platform capability teams to identify opportunities to deliver solutions using machine learning, advanced data mining and predictive modelling. You will impact chemical development projects by efficiently and pro-actively applying machine-learning to route and process design challenges and develop novel algorithms, techniques and curate datasets to answer relevant drug development challenges.

Requirements

* PhD in a relevant area e.g. machine learning, computational chemistry, computer science, data science, mathematics or similar. Typically with post-doctoral experience together with excellent awareness of recent literature within field of expertise and a relevant publication record.
* Programming proficiency and experience with relevant software tools such as Python, R or similar, version control (Git/Bitbucket) and database tools.
* Able to think beyond boundaries of own job, challenging status quo and seeking opportunities for business improvement.
* Excellent team working, networking, communication and influencing skills together with capability of making effective decisions, acting courageously and communicating with conviction and inspiration.

Specific technical requirements

* Synthesis Planning: (i) Detailed knowledge of a chemoinformatic toolkits, (ii) University level of chemistry will be a minimum requirement.
* Data scientist for process Design: (i) Broad experience in data science, statistics, data models/structures, machine learning and AI. (ii) A foundation level knowledge of organic chemistry is desirable.

If you are interested, apply now!

For more information please contact recruiting manager Anders Broo, PhD on +46 722 108177

Welcome with your application no later than April 14, 2019

AstraZeneca is an equal opportunity employer. AstraZeneca will consider all qualified applicants for employment without discrimination on grounds of disability, sex or sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity leave status, race or national or ethnic origin, age, religion or belief, gender identity or re-assignment, marital or civil partnership status, protected veteran status (if applicable) or any other characteristic protected by law