Process Chemistry

Degree discipline required: Any chemistry subject

Researchers in Process Chemistry provide a vital link between the discovery of a potential drug by Discovery Research, its evaluation in clinical research trials and ultimately its manufacture for the marketplace.

Prior to the selection of a new Candidate Drug, only a small quantity of the compound will have been synthesised; the synthetic route may be complex and may involve many stages. As soon as the pharmaceutical properties of the compound look promising, increasing amounts of material are quickly required for toxicity studies and for clinical trials work.   The main challenge for Process Chemists is to rapidly discover a safe, efficient and practical synthetic route.

As a drug progresses through Clinical Development, synthetic routes and processes will be refined and optimised. By the time a drug reaches the market a safe, robust and environmentally benign process must be delivered, to provide product of very high quality routinely.

Process Chemistry is pivotal in achieving the successful development of a new medicine.  Fundamental to this development is a solid understanding of synthetic organic chemistry and process development issues.  Process Chemists interact closely with personnel from different areas: including discovery scientists, manufacturing chemists, analysts, engineers, purchasing and safety experts, working towards a common goal.  In addition to being a talented synthetic organic chemist, the process chemist must therefore be an excellent communicator and team player.  

As a graduate chemist in Process R&D you would enter our comprehensive training programme to fully develop your chemical knowledge, process chemistry expertise and non-technical skills.  This will enable you to make a significant contribution to the discovery, design and development of viable routes to target candidate compounds for transfer to manufacture.

There will be opportunities to undertake secondments to other functions within the business such as, development manufacturing, medicinal or analytical chemistry, both in the UK and abroad. A career in Process Chemistry provides major challenges and rewards for a dynamic scientist and there are excellent opportunities to progress within AstraZeneca.

The application process -

During December and early January the chemistry-recruiting managers will short list candidates for first round interviews and if you are successful you will be contacted in January and invited to attend an interview. These are held in different locations around the UK and you will be able to select the interview times and venue via the website.  First round interviews last approximately one hour and contain a mixture of general and technical questions.  You will also be given the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.

Successful candidates will then be invited to a second round interview and these will normally take place at the end of February and into early March. These second round interviews will be at the AstraZeneca sites, giving you the opportunity to see our working environment and to meet and chat with recent new graduate chemists.

A series of technical and non-technical interviews will also be conducted throughout the day.  We believe the site visits are an important part of the interview process, offering you a good insight into working at AstraZenca and for this reason it is possible you may be invited to second round interviews at more than one site.