Early Careers at AstraZeneca

Precision Medicine Academy

Location: Mississauga, Canada & Barcelona, Spain 

Salary: Competitive

Applications for our 2025 intake will open in late 2024

About Precision Medicine

Join a close-knit peer community and build a strong network

Precision Medicine is at the heart of what science can do at AstraZeneca. It combines the expertise of specialists from across the organisation, unlocking new potential approaches that put patients first, setting us apart from our competitors. Through advances in diagnostic testing, we are now able to identify how unique individuals respond to treatments, and match them with medicines that deliver the best outcome for them. Since 2014, we’ve been ranked among the top pharmaceutical companies for precision medicine approvals – proof of our world-class practices.

About the academy

Build a broad skill base with our rotational programme

The Precision Medicine Academy welcomes ambitious innovators with a passion for science and a genuine desire to make a difference in patients’ lives. Our aim is to develop fresh talent from a variety of science backgrounds into the future of precision medicine experts and leaders. You will be part of an organisation with over 250 diagnostic scientists and biosamples experts. 

Launched in June 2022, this three-year programme gives eager minds the chance to absorb every element of the activities conducted by the Precision Medicine and Biosamples organisation. Five different six-month placements will give participants a full 360° view of the science, breaking it down into engaging, informative modules.  This will include learning how to develop precision medicine strategies, understanding diagnostic technologies and developing approaches to implement testing in clinical trials to deliver critical data.

You’ll immerse yourself in science at our state-of-the-art research centres, readying yourself to influence active clinical programmes and collaborate with world-class research institutes and diagnostic partners. Your peers and mentors will be among the most talented and respected scientists in the field. Throughout your development, they will be there to support you in adding value to our work.  This is an environment designed to help you learn to identify opportunities to make the next scientific breakthrough.

However, your experience will go beyond pure science. You’ll also sharpen your soft skills for non-technical aspects of the job, refining how you communicate with professionals of every level and steer the decision-making of the business. You will also learn critical skills in leadership, team working and problem solving. You’ll have the independence to express your ideas, while also having conversations with your dedicated programme mentor about your progress and the paths open to you for the future.

At AstraZeneca, the people are as diverse and interesting as they are like-minded and connected. You really will enjoy the team you work with, as you seek to make medical breakthroughs together.  You’ll see the professional benefits of the network you build.  And there’s always opportunity to broaden your scientific horizons or dive deeper into an area where your skills fit. Here, you will kickstart your career and create connections that will last a lifetime.

What we're looking for:

• A bachelor’s, master’s degree, or equivalent.
• Scientists looking to move into precision medicine.
• Experience in and understanding of precision medicine preferred, including work experience or a precision medicine-related project (e.g., science communication, poster or presentation).
• Forward-thinking, motivated, and highly driven individuals with a real passion for science.
• Strong critical thinking, analytical, planning, organisational and time management skills.

If you appreciate precision medicine’s potential to improve patients’ lives – and the part we can play in creating better outcomes – we could have a great future together.