About AstraZeneca:

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-centered biopharmaceutical company focusing on discovering, developing, and commercializing prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious diseases. But we’re more than a global leading pharmaceutical company. At AstraZeneca, we're dedicated to being a Great Place to Work and empowering employees to push the boundaries of science and fuel their entrepreneurial spirit.  

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About the Opportunity: 

As a Thesis Worker at AstraZeneca, you’ll find an environment that’s full of unique opportunities and exciting challenges. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to pursue your areas of interest whilst equally developing a broad skillset and knowledge base to get the best out of your experience. You’ll be working on meaningful projects to make an impact and deliver real value for our patients and our business. 

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Thesis work description:  

Background: Modern siRNA medicines are transforming the treatment of chronic and rare diseases by enabling longer-lasting effects, convenient dosing schedules, and multi-gene targeting. Building on recent breakthroughs—including the approval of self-injectable siRNA drugs—AstraZeneca is exploring innovative ways to further improve their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles. This thesis project centers on designing, synthesizing, and evaluating cyclic siRNA constructs to achieve enhanced drug stability and extend therapeutic action.

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What you’ll do: You will work hands-on in AstraZeneca’s state-of-the-art labs, synthesizing and modifying oligonucleotides. Using novel chemical techniques, you will lock siRNA strands into single cyclic structures, test diverse linkers and conjugation strategies (GalNAc, lipids, peptides), and assess their thermal, biophysical, and gene-silencing properties. The project will also explore multi-gene silencing by combining multiple sequences in one molecule.  

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Your impact: The main goal is to develop cyclic siRNA molecules that outperform traditional linear drugs in both stability and dosing, potentially enabling once-yearly injections for patients. Your work will directly advance targeting methods for chronic diseases and open new doors for supramolecular oligonucleotide design.

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Structure:

• Duration: 2026
• Credits: 60

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Essential Requirements:

• Enrolled in a Master's program within Chemistry.
• Lab experience.
• Excellent communication in English.

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