Opportunity profile: AstraZeneca seeks world’s brightest ideas

Pharmaceutical company looks to back early career researchers in its R&D Postdoctoral Challenge

Top tips

• Unlike most postdoc fellowships, this scheme is highly focused on the idea rather than the CV of the person
• Applications will be read by scientists from diverse disciplines, so accessibility is key
• AstraZeneca is open to fundamental as much as applied research, but the ultimate aim of ‘treating to cure’ should be kept in mind
• This is a global competition and ideas from applicants from less well-resourced countries may well be particularly valuable

This year, AstraZeneca is adding a new competition to its existing postdoctoral programme. The R&D Postdoctoral Challenge is a competition to find a handful of early career scientists who will be able to develop their project ideas within AstraZeneca’s labs for three years, fully funded by the company.