The R&D Postdoctoral Challenge
Innovative ideas to transform the treatment of some of the world’s most complex diseases
Applications for 2023 are now closed.
What is the R&D Postdoctoral Challenge?
Our ambition is to discover transformative breakthroughs that hold a key to transforming the treatment of some of the world’s most complex diseases. We’re now opening applications for our second R&D Postdoctoral Challenge, inviting final year MD and/or PhD students and Postdoctoral Researchers to propose their own innovative ideas to accelerate drug discovery and development. Shortlisted applicants will have the opportunity to pitch their research proposals to a world-leading judging panel with the potential to be awarded a fully funded postdoctoral position at AstraZeneca.
In 2022 we received submissions from almost 40 countries to the R&D Postdoctoral Challenge. Following a tough final event, our judges unanimously agreed to award fully funded postdoctoral research positions to each of our six finalists.
Participating in the R&D Postdoctoral Challenge has the potential to springboard careers whilst making a meaningful difference to patients and science. I’m delighted that all of our winners will have the opportunity to translate their ideas into reality while working at the forefront of scientific exploration as part of our vibrant postdoctoral community.
Christopher Rhodes, Chief Scientist, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic Disease, Biopharmaceuticals R&D and Chair of the Postdoctoral Researcher Programme, AstraZeneca
Hear from the Chair of the Postdoctoral Researcher Programme at AstraZeneca about how to write a successful application for the R&D Postdoctoral Challenge.
Programme details
Submission status: Closed
Submission deadline: 30-June-2023
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We are seeking proposals from outstanding final year MD and/or PhD students or Postdoctoral Researchers within three years of receiving their advance postgraduate degree (MD and/or PhD) by 31 December 2023. Candidates may be based anywhere in the world and have an innovative idea that could push the boundaries of science, in our focus areas of cardiovascular, renal & metabolic diseases, respiratory & immunology, common infectious and rare diseases. We are also interested in new innovative technologies to improve development of novel therapeutics and treatment approaches. Proposals will be critiqued based on scientific merit, and opportunity to create real impact for patients, society and business.
Successful candidates will be awarded a fully funded postdoctoral position, join our vibrant scientific community, and will have access to expertise, compounds, novel tools and technologies, and the mentoring support they need to turn their ideas into reality. They will access a world of learning opportunities, building the foundations of their professional networks that could last a lifetime.
Successful candidates will have the opportunity to conduct their research at one of our leading R&D facilities for two years (with an option for a third year) to pursue and develop the creative research ideas they propose – fully funded by AstraZeneca. They will be surrounded by a diverse group of amazing scientists, with the chance to challenge each other – and grow and develop together.
Academic and AstraZeneca mentors will support and coach successful candidates to develop their skills, and support them in learning new approaches, plus the support to rapidly learn new approaches to follow the science, innovate and make an impact. They will regularly present at internal monthly seminars and our annual workshop, and also attend external scientific conferences and seminars to present their work, eventually leading to quality publications in leading journals.
We are looking for passionate individuals in their final year of graduate studies (MD and/or PhD), or working as a Postdoctoral Researcher within three years of receiving their advance postgraduate degree (MD and/or PhD) by 31 December 2023, regardless of age.
Candidates must be keen to undertake pioneering R&D focused on preventing, modifying, and potentially curing disease for some of the world’s most complex diseases, proposing innovative ideas that align with our therapy areas – cardiovascular, renal & metabolic diseases, respiratory & immunology, rare disease – and/or our transformative science themes:
- Enhancing our understanding of disease biology
- Creating the next generation of therapeutics
- Better predicting clinical success
- Pioneering new approaches to engagement in the clinic and beyond
Postdoctoral Researchers need to be able to make a reasonable amount of scientific progress on their idea within the 2-3 year Postdoctorate time frame.
1. Submit your proposal
To submit your proposal go to our Bright Ideas platform and complete the application form. Please also read the guidance document which will ensure that you provide the required information. The deadline for submitting a proposal is midnight (GMT) on 30th June 2023.
Click below to preview the application form:
2. Shortlisting and video pitch
All proposals will go through an in-depth review by our senior scientists. Shortlisted candidates will be notified by the end of July and invited to participate in a 2-3 minute video pitch where they can provide more information about their proposal and clarify any questions. Not all shortlisted proposals will progress to the live Challenge pitch stage.
3: Live Challenge pitch
The live Challenge pitch will take place at the end of September in Gothenburg, Sweden, where ideas will be presented to a world-leading judging panel consisting of AstraZeneca and external life science leaders. The judging panel will critique the proposals and select those that they feel have greatest potential to prevent, modify, and hopefully in the future cure some of the world’s most complex diseases.
Watch the video below to see highlights from the 2022 R&D Postdoctoral Challenge
Click to see more R&D Postdoctoral Challenge videos
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FAQs
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Yes, we will accept proposals from students from across the world in their final year of their graduate studies (MD and/or PhD) and postdoctoral researchers within 3 years of receiving their advanced postgraduate degree (MD and/or PhD) by December 31st 2023, regardless of age. You are eligible if you have completed your PhD after 1st January 2020. If you don’t currently have a relationship with a university, academic institution or other research organisation and are successful in the Challenge, we will support you with finding a relevant academic supervisor for your project.
Our ambition is to discover transformative breakthroughs that hold a key to improving lives for people with some of the world’s most complex diseases – cardiovascular, renal & metabolic diseases, respiratory & immunology, and rare diseases.
We are always striving, searching for new knowledge and the next breakthrough as we aim to create the greatest and swiftest impact on disease. From enhancing our understanding of disease biology and discovering new ways to target the drivers of disease, to better predicting clinical success and pioneering new approaches to engagement in the clinic and beyond, we are building and investing in scientific capabilities and technologies to help us advance science and achieve the next generation of therapeutics.
Please refer to the guidelines document for detail on submission content and length.
It is possible but each proposal will be judged on its own merit, so one excellent proposal is better than multiple average proposals. If you do decide to submit multiple proposals, we request no more than three per submitter.
Applications will be evaluated by AstraZeneca’s most senior scientists based on their scientific merit and how well they address the R&D Postdoctoral Challenge.
The anticipated start date for the Postdoctoral positions will be Q1 2024, subject to AstraZeneca employee screening processes.
Entering the postdoctoral programme would not affect any rights to your original idea (‘background IP’).
Successful candidates will be assigned to an AstraZeneca mentor to best enable and develop the proposed research to meet the Challenge. An external academic collaborative mentor(s) can additionally be assigned as appropriate to the need of the scientific topic, contributing relevant expertise and knowledge to advance the research proposals. If you don’t currently have a relationship with a university, academic institution or other research organisation, we will support you with finding a relevant academic supervisor for your project.