Senior Scientist - Synthetic Chemist in Oligonucleotide Therapeutics
About this opportunity
Are you a passionate Synthetic Chemist with a great passion for science? Would you like to apply your expertise in synthetic chemistry to develop innovative oligonucleotide therapeutics and make an impact on drug discovery sciences? If yes, we have just the position for you at AstraZeneca, Discovery Sciences in Gothenburg, Sweden!
We are searching for an engaged and talented Synthetic Chemist with experience in oligonucleotide or peptide synthesis to join our Oligonucleotide Chemistry and Targeted Delivery Team within the Discovery Sciences department at AstraZeneca in Gothenburg, Sweden. In a collaborative environment across therapy areas, you will get the opportunity to apply your expertise in synthetic chemistry to contribute and play a significant role in advancing the oligonucleotide therapeutic field.
We have been curious about oligonucleotides as a new modality since 2012 and our scientific interest has only grown. Therefore, we are now poised to exploit on the wealth of expertise from across our R&D units and through a new matrix organization to develop proprietary Oligonucleotide Therapeutics. We offer a highly rewarding scientific environment along with an inclusive, dynamic, and team-focused atmosphere – with a goal to design and develop the oligonucleotide therapeutics of the future.
What you will do:You will contribute to projects with a focus on developing oligonucleotide drugs to support AstraZeneca pipeline. By applying cutting-edge technologies and methodologies, you will synthesize innovative nucleotide/oligonucleotide compounds conjugated oligonucleotide therapeutics.
As an expert in synthetic chemistry, you will apply your expertise in compound purification and characterization, propose experimental strategies and troubleshoot challenges to succeed in your role. You will also be involved in oligonucleotide synthesis process in close collaboration with the team and other groups at AstraZeneca.
This position offers the opportunity not only to be creative in solving a wide range of synthetic challenges but also to learn advanced techniques and participate in biological evaluation of synthesized compounds through active collaboration with multiple experts across AstraZeneca functions. This strong network of experts will help to ensure a high-impact publication track record. Therefore, the position offers the ability to maintain a competitive research output.
Essential requirements:The successful candidate will demonstrate a passion for driving scientific questions and is a scientifically critical individual capable of receiving and analyzing input from multiple fields and deciding on focused course of action. You should also be able to work independently and have a positive, result-oriented, and problem-solving attitude. Excellent English is required, both spoken and written, and ability to operate effectively in a multi-disciplinary research environment. We also believe that you enjoy teamwork, have a collaborative nature and will be an encouraging colleague to all.
You also have:
PhD in Organic Chemistry
Advanced and up to date knowledge in synthetic strategies, techniques and reactions
Ability to design and execute experiments autonomously
Knowledge of synthetic chemistry related to oligonucleotides, oligo building blocks and/or synthesis of advanced organic molecules. Knowledge in oligonucleotide therapeutics, design and data analysis is a plus
Desirable requirements:
Scientific excellence as shown by previous work, publication list or references from scientific mentors
Post-doc experience
Why AstraZeneca?At AstraZeneca, we follow the science to explore and innovate. We are committed to treating, preventing, modifying and even curing some of the world's most complex diseases. Our team is driven by our desire to understand and reveal new insights. We are always learning from those living with diseases and harnessing digital, data science & AI to fast-forward our research. Join us as we push the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines. What’s next? If this sounds like the place and role for you – apply today! We look forward to get to know you better! Welcome with your application no later than August 16, 2026.
Date Posted
16-juli-2026
Closing Date
16-aug.-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.
Job details
How this role compares
Computed from every other active Drug Discovery & Preclinical Research role in our database, not just this employer's listings.
We currently track 188 comparable Senior Drug Discovery & Preclinical Research roles across 30 biopharma companies.
Salary context
62 of 188 peers report a salary range (USD, annualized)
Peers share this role's job function and a matching or adjacent seniority level -- not necessarily the same therapeutic area or country.
Where these roles are based
Top locations among the 188 comparable roles
+ 6 more countries
Seniority mix
188 of 188 peers have a known seniority level
Therapeutic area mix
29 of 188 peers have a known therapeutic area; the rest are genuinely unlabeled, not hidden
Similar opportunities
The closest matches from our peer group, ranked by how similar they are, not how well you'd qualify for them -- treat this as market context, not a guaranteed shortlist; a weak match is labeled as one below.
How we calculate "similar"
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Every comparison starts from the same 100-point budget: 25 for working in the same function, 40 for the same therapeutic area, 20 for the same or adjacent seniority, 15 for the same country. A dimension we can't confirm on both sides contributes nothing, never a guess, never a free pass.
0 points, never a partial guess. A role we know almost nothing about beyond its function bottoms out at 25%; it never inflates to 100% just because there's little to compare against. Seniority uses a defined ladder (Associate → Manager → Associate Director → Senior → Principal → Director → Senior Director → Executive/VP) so "Director" and "Senior Director" count as adjacent, but "Director" and "Executive/VP" do not.