Astellas Pharma · 5 months ago
Scientist II, Discovery, Targeted Therapy
Cambridge, MA, 02138, United States
Full-time
Onsite
Mid, Senior LevelAstellas Pharma is a global pharmaceutical company dedicated to developing innovative therapies for patients. The Scientist II in Discovery, Targeted Therapy will lead oncology drug discovery initiatives, manage research programs, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to advance the oncology pipeline.
BiotechnologyHealth CareMedical
Responsibilities
Contribute to the strategic expansion of Astellas’ oncology pipeline by identifying promising drug targets and ensuring robust preclinical validation aligned with clinical development strategies
Conceive and manage oncology-focused drug discovery programs from early concept through preclinical development
Collaborate across multi-disciplinary teams including biology, chemistry, translational science, and clinical development to align scientific goals with strategic business objectives
Design and execute research studies that identify and validate therapeutic targets across a range of cancer indications focusing on GI & GU
Apply cutting-edge techniques in molecular biology, cellular assays, and in vivo models to support candidate selection
Utilize advanced analytical tools to interpret complex biological datasets, derive actionable insights, and present findings to cross-functional stakeholders and leadership
Develop deep understanding of tumor biology, resistance mechanisms, and biomarker development
Focus on emerging areas such as targeted protein degradation, synthetic lethality, or immune-oncology strategies to enhance therapeutic efficacy
Proactively foster strategic partnerships with leading academic institutions, clinical research centers, and biotech companies to accelerate the discovery of transformative cancer therapies
Qualification
Required
Proven track record of successfully designing, executing, and leading discovery-phase research programs targeting cancer biology
Ability to contribute to the strategic expansion of Astellas' oncology pipeline by identifying promising drug targets and ensuring robust preclinical validation aligned with clinical development strategies
Experience in conceiving and managing oncology-focused drug discovery programs from early concept through preclinical development
Ability to collaborate across multi-disciplinary teams including biology, chemistry, translational science, and clinical development to align scientific goals with strategic business objectives
Experience in designing and executing research studies that identify and validate therapeutic targets across a range of cancer indications focusing on GI & GU
Proficiency in applying cutting-edge techniques in molecular biology, cellular assays, and in vivo models to support candidate selection
Ability to utilize advanced analytical tools to interpret complex biological datasets, derive actionable insights, and present findings to cross-functional stakeholders and leadership
Deep understanding of tumor biology, resistance mechanisms, and biomarker development
Focus on emerging areas such as targeted protein degradation, synthetic lethality, or immune-oncology strategies to enhance therapeutic efficacy
Ability to proactively foster strategic partnerships with leading academic institutions, clinical research centers, and biotech companies to accelerate the discovery of transformative cancer therapies
Company
Astellas Pharma
Astellas Pharma is a global pharmaceutical research & development company.
Founded in 2005
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
Astellas Pharma has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (7)
2024 (4)
2023 (4)
2022 (2)
2021 (3)
2020 (5)
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
unknownKey Investors
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
2020-07-22Grant
2008-10-13IPO
Leadership Team
Amanda Hart
Head, Global Commercial Analytics and Reporting
Recent News
2026-01-07
Company data provided by crunchbase