Associate Principal Scientist – Metabolism Bioscience Research, CVRM
About this opportunity
Are you an expert in the skeletal muscle biology? Would you like to apply your research expertise to accelerating innovative science and turn ideas into life changing medicines? Join us to discover future treatments of Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic (CVRM) diseases!
We are seeking a passionate and accomplished Associate Principal Scientist with expertise in skeletal muscle physiology, metabolism and drug discovery to join our vibrant research community Metabolism Bioscience division within Research and Early Development CVRM. The position is primarily based at AstraZeneca’s Global R&D site in Gothenburg, Sweden. For exceptional candidates, placement at our Gaithersburg, US site will be considered.
CVRM is one of the three main therapeutic research areas within BioPharmaceuticals AstraZeneca which deliver candidate drugs into clinical development. The CVRM Bioscience department has a dynamic environment that fosters collaboration and innovation. We are a team of professionals who are passionate about advancing science to discover and develop novel therapeutics that will benefit patients suffering from obesity, diabetes and their co-morbidities.
Accountabilities
This scientific leadership role offers an exciting opportunity to set strategic direction and shape the future of obesity and weight management, with a focus on mechanisms underlying healthy body weight loss and maintenance. You will:
Apply your expertise in skeletal muscle physiology and metabolic diseases to drive scientific and technical innovation, advancing new therapeutic interventions.
Lead multidisciplinary project teams across Gothenburg (Sweden), Cambridge (UK), and Gaithersburg (US), as well as external collaborators, to deliver key experimental data and progress the drug project portfolio.
Champion novel approaches to drug discovery in healthy weight loss and body weight maintenance, facilitating scientific debate and innovation through leadership and mentorship within the CVRM Research community.
Contribute to the evolution of research strategy within the Metabolism Bioscience division.
Play a lead role in the selection and validation of research targets, taking projects from discovery through to early clinical development, and serve as bioscience lead on discovery projects.
Raise the scientific profile of CVRM both internally and externally through high-impact publications, conference presentations, and collaborative initiatives.
Report directly to the Head of Metabolism Bioscience Division.
Essential Skills/Experience
PhD and postdoctoral experience in life sciences or equivalent relevant industry experience.
3-5 years’ drug discovery experience in academia, biotech, or pharmaceutical industry following postdoctoral research.
Deep expertise in skeletal muscle biology and physiology, including in vitro and in vivo assay development.
Strong scientific knowledge of metabolic diseases and mechanisms of body weight regulation, alongside a strong track record of leading laboratory-based research.
Experience in new model development, laboratory techniques, and enthusiasm for performing hands-on science.
Demonstrated scientific leadership reflected by a robust publication record, external presentations, and collaborations.
Proven ability to manage multifaceted projects and establish research collaborations, leveraging a broad professional network.
Desirable Skills/Experience
Significant experience with in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo technologies to assess multiple target classes.
Track record as a Project leader or Bioscience lead, conducting, planning, and guiding complex scientific projects within multidisciplinary teams.
Demonstrable ability to manage multiple concurrent projects or tasks.
Extensive network and collaboration experience within the metabolism research field.
AstraZeneca is committed to making a difference by fusing data and technology with scientific innovations to achieve breakthroughs. We empower our teams to explore the biology of complex diseases, making bold decisions without fear of failure. Our inclusive environment fosters collaboration across academia, biotechs, and industry, leveraging diverse global knowledge for swift impact on disease. With opportunities for continuous learning and career development, AstraZeneca is where curious minds thrive as we push the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines.
Ready to make an impact? Apply now to join our team! Welcome with your application no later than 25 August 2026.
Date Posted
11-aug.-2026
Closing Date
10-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 193 comparable Principal Drug Discovery & Preclinical Research roles across 31 biopharma companies.
Salary context
65 of 193 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 193 comparable roles
+ 6 more countries
Seniority mix
193 of 193 peers have a known seniority level
Therapeutic area mix
28 of 193 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"
No black box, no LLM guesswork: a deterministic score built from four normalized attributes. Here's this role's own peer group at different match levels, so you can see the mechanism, not just the result.
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.