Principal Data Scientist

About the Department/Team:

• Would you like to join a GSK-wide community of data and analytics professionals, who are truly valued and appreciated for their knowledge and skills? This Principal Data Scientist role is an exciting opportunity to channel your passion for Innovation in the field of Statistics and Data Science to help shape the future of the Biostatistics function and transform the way in which GSK uses data and quantitative thinking to drive decision-making in R&D and clinical trials.
• Biostatistics is the single-largest functional group of Statisticians, Programmers and Data Scientists within GSK R&D, numbering approx. 1000+ permanent people in the US, UK, Europe and India.  Our work ensures that robust quantitative examination and statistical analysis is at the heart of R&D decision-making and enables scientists to make timely, data-driven choices about which potential new medicines and vaccines are most promising to add value for patients – ultimately making the development process more efficient and maximising success.
• We are investing in growing our cutting-edge statistical innovation and data science capabilities by creating the new Statistics & Data Science Innovation Hub (SDS-IH) led by Prof Nicky Best. The vision of SDS-IH is to be the catalyst for innovation and advanced data-driven decision making.
• SDS-IH’s mission is to build capability and deliver data-driven approaches to decision making across the organization.
• Achieving this vision requires us to adapt to new ways of working and rebalance skills across Biostatistics. 
• The SDS-IH team itself is a model for our vision, consisting of Statisticians and Data Scientists with a variety of different skills and backgrounds, working together to develop novel quantitative methodologies, systems and tools.
• You should have a broad interest in the application of data science to address varied business problems.  You will also need to have a strong grounding in R and/or Python and have experience of delivering value through predictive modelling, tools and applications.  A background in or history of working with biomedical and clinical data is a plus. You will need operate in matrix teams on a wide range of projects using agile ways of working collaboratively with other SDS-IH colleagues and partners from the wider Biostatistics, Data Science and R&D community.  You will be expected to help drive delivery and uptake of data science solutions across R&D, and to effectively communicate complex technical concepts to a range of stakeholders.

Years of Experience: 8+ years

Skill Set / Exposure: Data Science virtuoso with a solid foundation in R and Python programming.

Location: Bangalore (Hybrid Mode (3-4 days office)

Job Description:

In this role you will:

• Modelling: Identify the appropriate candidate models and approaches to address the business challenge and apply best practice model fit testing, tuning and validation techniques to assess model performance. Generate and compare relevant metrics to select most suitable model for the problem at hand.

• Data Wrangling: Perform techniques to validate the quality of source data, wrangle to a suitable clean state to address a given business problem and deal with missing data. Work with colleagues in Tech to build appropriate data pipelines to ensure the reproducibility and reusability of the newly derived data within GSK’s Data Fabric.

• Visualization: Design rich data visualizations and use them to communicate complex messages to business leaders at all levels of the organization in a clear and simple way, with the ability to respond effectively to highly challenging questions.

• Product: Oversee the delivery of tangible Data Science products in the form of model API’s, curated data and/or web applications.

• Influence: Continually highlight the business impact of SDS-IH’s work, both internally and externally.  Work with business stakeholders to identify new opportunities to use Data Science to improve operational decision-making.  Present at relevant Data Science and domain-specific conferences.

• Quality: Write clean, readable code. Ensure that SDS-IH deliverables are appropriately Quality Controlled and delivered to production standards. Stay on top of the latest Data Science and industry trends. As a technical lead, provide coaching and peer review to ensure that the team’s work reflects current best practice.

Qualifications & Skills:

• We are looking for professionals with these required skills to achieve our goals:
• MSc (preferred) or BSc degree (or equivalent) in STEM subjects (e.g. Computer Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Statistics, Bioinformatics, Engineering, Mathematics)
• Practical experience in delivering Data Science products/solutions to business stakeholders.
• Applied experience in R (Tidyverse) and/or Python:
• Data Wrangling and predictive modelling / Machine Learning (tidymodels, scikit-learn)
• Use of git for code management and production delivery: web applications; model APIs; package development; etc.
• Understanding of predictive modelling, the mathematical foundations of applied statistical, ML and AI algorithms.
• Experience of Pharma R&D, including drug development (preferred) or related healthcare industry, including clinical trial operations and regulatory compliance
• Excellent written, data visualization and verbal communication skills and demonstrated ability to effectively communicate complex technical concepts to different audiences.
• Experience of project leadership

Preferred Qualifications:

• If you have the following characteristics, it would be a plus:
• Advanced degree in STEM subjects (as above), i.e., graduate diploma, Masters or PhD
• Biomedical or Pharma knowledge
• Working knowledge and experience of app development
• Experience of Pharma R&D, including drug development (preferred) or related healthcare industry, including clinical trial operations and regulatory compliance.

Why GSK?

Uniting science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.

GSK is a global biopharma company with a special purpose – to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together – so we can positively impact the health of billions of people and deliver stronger, more sustainable shareholder returns – as an organisation where people can thrive. We prevent and treat disease with vaccines, specialty and general medicines. We focus on the science of the immune system and the use of new platform and data technologies, investing in four core therapeutic areas (infectious diseases, HIV, respiratory/ immunology and oncology).

Our success absolutely depends on our people. While getting ahead of disease together is about our ambition for patients and shareholders, it’s also about making GSK a place where people can thrive. We want GSK to be a place where people feel inspired, encouraged and challenged to be the best they can be. A place where they can be themselves – feeling welcome, valued, and included. Where they can keep growing and look after their wellbeing. So, if you share our ambition, join us at this exciting moment in our journey to get Ahead Together.

  
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