BioPharmaceutical Development, Cell Cultures & Fermentation Sciences Internship

Introduction to the role:

Exciting Internship Opportunities in Upstream Bioprocess Development.

Join our dynamic Upstream Bioprocess Development (UBD) team within the Cell Culture and Fermentation (CCFS) Department. We are seeking three highly motivated individuals willing to join one of the world’s leading biopharmaceutical companies for a summer internship. These will be 10-12-week paid placements in Cambridge, UK starting early to mid June 2025. Our mission? Delivering innovative bioreactor processes for recombinant protein production, vital for human therapeutics. Our team focuses on producing materials for in-vitro and in-vivo studies and developing scalable, robust processes. We are comprised of three subgroups.

• Early Expression and Supply (EES): We're at the forefront of generating therapeutic proteins, primarily antibodies, for early-stage projects. Utilizing a cutting-edge, high-yielding Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell based transient expression system, we support both small scale (shake flasks) and larger scales (6–18L rocking bioreactors) material generation.

• Cell Culture & Process Design (CCPD): Through process development and optimisation our goal is to maximise productivity and provide robust, scalable processes for the production of therapeutic proteins, using clonal CHO cell lines, suitable for both clinic and market supply. We operate from 15mL to 5L scales, employing automated, high-throughput bioreactor systems. Our focus areas include improved process monitoring and control, and diversification into new more continuous modes of production.

• Large Scale Bioreactors and Process Analytics (LSBPA): We scale up clonal recombinant CHO cell line processes to deliver large quantities of therapeutic proteins to support formulation development and in-vivo studies. We offer a centralised titre assay service and supply media and feeds to CCFS teams.

Internship Projects:

• Project 1 (EES): Hone your skills by optimizing AZ's transient process! From plasmid production to rocking bioreactor expression, your contributions will be pivotal.

• Project 2 (CCPD): Dive into cell culture optimization! Discover conditions enhancing CHO cell productivity while maintaining top-notch quality. Gain hands-on experience in recombinant protein production, from mammalian cell culture techniques to using shake flasks and/or bioreactors.

• Project 3 (LSBPA): Develop a chromatographic method for His-tagged protein quantification! Work with state-of-the-art chromatographic tech, providing quick, high-quality analytical data.

What you will gain:

• Industrially-relevant experience in biopharmaceutical development.

• Working within a team, training in relevant lab techniques, data analysis, presentations, and experiment documentation.

Accountabilities:

Design and conduct experiments for Projects 1, 2, or 3.

Analyse data and document findings electronically.

Present outcomes and propose future recommendations.

Engage with departmental meetings and present your work.

Skills/Experience Required:

For all projects: Applicants must currently be undergraduates (in second year or above) or graduates, with their degree being in biological sciences, chemical/biochemical engineering, or a related field, with practical lab experience. Candidates will have familiarity with the MS Windows environment, and Microsoft Office.

Project 1: Experience in molecular biology, cell culture, bioreactor operation.

Project 2: Experience in mammalian cell culture, protein expression, or mammalian cell bioreactor systems.

Project 3: Expertise in analytical assay design and optimization.

Embark on this transformative journey with us! Our collaborative environment is designed to help you grow professionally and personally, surrounded by passionate individuals eager to make a difference. If you're passionate about biopharmaceutical development and eager to make an impact, we want you.

Additional information:

Applications are now open until 28/02/2025. Start date 02/06/2025 - 29/08/2025 and you can expect to hear from us by the end of March 2025.

Virtual interviews will be scheduled between 31st March - 18th April.

Apply now and join us on this exciting journey.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

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 authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.