Jobs / United States / Astrazeneca Pharmaceuticals Lp
Senior Scientist, Oncology Targeted Discovery
Astrazeneca Pharmaceuticals Lp · 🇺🇸 US - Gaithersburg - MD
Sponsorship verdict
Sponsorship possible
One solid signal, not two — worth applying, and worth asking about sponsorship early.
- Employer is on a government sponsor recordThe US Department of Labor certified 99 H-1B/E-3 labor condition applications for this employer between Oct 2025 and Jun 2026 (latest Jun 2026) — the step every H-1B hire needs first. USCIS also records 31 H-1B approvals in FY2023. Source: LCA disclosure data (US Department of Labor (OFLC)).
- The posting doesn’t mention sponsorshipSilence isn’t a refusal — ask the recruiter before investing much time.
- No salary bar for this routeH-1B has no fixed salary bar: the employer must pay at least the prevailing wage for the role and area. Cap-subject employers enter a lottery weighted by wage level. Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/29/2025-23853/weighted-selection-process-for-registrants-and-petitioners-seeking-to-file-cap-subject-h-1b, rules effective 2026-02-27.
- What Astrazeneca Pharmaceuticals Lp paid sponsored hires in similar roles10 certified filings for “Scientist, Cancer Immunology, Oncology Research” (Biochemists and Biophysicists) in MD: $104k–$138k, median $130k. Most were filed at wage level II (60%) — 2 lottery entries, ≈31% projected selection odds for cap-subject employers. Source: US Department of Labor LCA disclosure data (Oct 2025 – Jun 2026).
- Confirmed live todayWhen a source last listed this job as open.
US H-1B: cap-subject employers enter a lottery weighted by wage level — Level I gets 1 entry, Level IV gets 4 (DHS projected selection odds ≈15% at Level I to ≈61% at Level IV). Universities and non-profit research employers are cap-exempt. The $100,000 fee for new petitions from abroad is currently blocked by a court order (appeal pending).
A verdict summarises public evidence; it is not legal advice and never a guarantee — the employer and the immigration authority decide. Sign in to factor in where you can already work.
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Sponsor Radar — Astrazeneca Pharmaceuticals Lp
The US Department of Labor certified 99 H-1B/E-3 labor condition applications for this employer between Oct 2025 and Jun 2026 (latest Jun 2026) — the step every H-1B hire needs first. USCIS also records 31 H-1B approvals in FY2023. Source: LCA disclosure data (US Department of Labor (OFLC)).
Past sponsorship or register membership never guarantees sponsorship for this vacancy or for you. Full Sponsor Radar for Astrazeneca Pharmaceuticals Lp →
About the role
Senior Scientist, Oncology Targeted Discovery At AstraZeneca, we turn ideas into life-changing medicines. Working here means being ambitious, thinking big and working together to make the impossible a reality. We’re passionate about the potential of science to address the unmet needs of patients around the world. We commit to those areas where we believe we can really change the course of medicine and bring big new insights to life. AstraZeneca’s vision in Oncology is to push the boundaries of science to change the practice of medicine, transform the lives of patients living with cancer, and to ultimately eliminate cancer as a cause of death. A broad pipeline of next-generation medicines is bringing novel concepts in oncology to address unmet medical need. Opportunity We are seeking a highly motivated, independent Senior Scientist (lab-based) with a proven track record in cancer research and extensive laboratory experience to join our Target Identification and Validation group in Gaithersburg, MD, USA. As a Senior Scientist in Oncology Targeted Discovery within the Oncology R&D Department, you will lead target validation efforts for tumor-targeted therapies, such as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and targeted radioconjugates. You will work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to advance pipeline programs and deepen our understanding of all aspects of target biology. Main Duties and Responsibilities • Act as target validation lead for one or more pipeline programs • Work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to ensure the timely generation and dissemination of critical program data to enable milestone progression decisions • Design, conduct, and analyze in vitro experiments using an array of biochemical, molecular, and cellular biology techniques to validate new targets and dissect the mechanisms of action of novel cancer therapeutics • Remain current with relevant technical and scientific expertise in cancer biology, disease modeling, and therapeutics • Be highly collegial, collaborative, and data-driven, with a passion for learning and growth Essential Requirements • Ph.D. with 2+ years of experience, or Masters with 7+ years of experience, in a relevant field • Solid understanding of cell biology, molecular biology, and/or biochemistry in the context of cancer • Strong laboratory bench skills in mammalian cell culture and molecular and cell-based experimental techniques, such as flow cytometry, western blotting, qPCR, ELISA, fluorescence microscopy, cell cytotoxicity assays, and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing • Ability to work well independently, with minimal supervision, and collaboratively with other teams • Excellent communication, organizational, , and problem solving, skills in a fast-paced matrix environment • Commitment to ensuring that one’s own work and the work of peers comply with Good Laboratory Practice; Safety, Health, and Environment standards; all other relevant internal AstraZeneca standards; and external regulations Desired Requirements • Prior experience in the biopharmaceutical industry is viewed favorably • Expertise in laboratory automation techniques • Experience with computational analysis of large data sets, such as transcriptomics or proteomics • Knowledge of tumor-targeted therapy (e.g., ADC) biology and resistance mechanisms is viewed favorably Why AstraZeneca? At AstraZeneca when we see an opportunity for change, we seize it and make it happen, because any opportunity no matter how small, can be the start of something big. Delivering life-changing medicines is about being entrepreneurial - finding those moments and recognising their potential. Join us on our journey of building a new kind of organisation to reset expe