Director, Data Science & AI, Scientific Lead

Job Description

Our Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) capabilities are vital catalysts for our mission to invent new medicines that save and enhance lives. The Data, AI, and Genome Sciences (DAGS) function at our organization adopts an AI/ML-first approach to enhance target and biomarker discovery by driving the understanding of complex disease mechanisms.

As the Director of Data Science and AI, Scientific Lead, you will leverage your expertise in genomic technologies, multi-omics data integration, and disease biology to drive the development of multi-modal AI/ML modeling approaches, biological validation and insight generation for target and biomarker discovery. You will collaborate with Biologists, Computational Biologists, Data Scientists, Software Engineers, and AI/ML Scientists and Engineers as part of a cross-functional team dedicated to identifying therapeutic targets. You will report to the Executive Director and Head of AI/ML.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Drive the evaluation of cutting-edge, scalable data science and machine learning approaches to integrate multi-omics data and decode disease biology to drive novel target and biomarker discovery.

• Guide the development and validation of advanced AI/ML approaches leveraging high-throughput, deep-profiling and patient-derived tissue data to decode disease-relevant cellular interaction and cell-type specific molecular networks with the goal of novel target and biomarker discovery.

• Drive data strategy for foundation dataset for Foundation Models for disease biology discovery, collaborating with cross-functional teams to understand project goals and data requirements.

• Serve as a subject matter expert to AI/ML Scientists and Engineers, providing scientific oversight over multi-modal data integration and cutting-edge AI/ML model validation across several therapeutic areas.

• Clearly communicate results to project teams, our company’s scientific community, and the external scientific community through internal documents, presentations, and publications in leading journals.

Required Experience and Skills:

• PhD in a relevant field such as computational biology, bioinformatics, systems biology, or a related discipline, with 8+ years of experience in genomic technologies, multi-omics analysis, therapeutics sciences, and disease biology OR MS in above fields and 10+ years of relevant experience.

• Strong understanding of multi-omics data, including analysis techniques, algorithms, statistical approaches, multi-omics data integration, and relevant tools.

• Demonstrated expertise in decoding disease biology by leveraging advanced machine learning and statistical inference frameworks to analyze multi-modal (transcriptomics, epigenomic) and multi-scale (single cell and/or spatial) patient-derived data.

• Experience in applying state-of-the-art analytical approaches to leverage preclinical functional genomics approaches and high-throughput screens.

• Expertise in Python and best practices for reproducible data analysis.

• Excellent communication skills and ability to work collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary team.

Preferred Experience & Skills

• Hands-on experience with omics data generation is a plus.

• Experience with Knowledge Graphs, including graph databases and query languages, would be advantageous.

#EligibleforERP

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

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U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.

San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

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Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company.  No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails. 

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

Domestic/International

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Required Skills:

Business Intelligence (BI), Database Design, Data Engineering, Data Modeling, Data Science, Data Visualization, Machine Learning, Software Development, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Waterfall Model

Preferred Skills:

Job Posting End Date:

02/21/2025

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