Computer-Aided Drug Design Data Science AI/ML Expert

Job Description Summary

At Global Discovery Chemistry (GDC) of Biomedical Research in Cambridge, MA, we are at the heart of Novartis' purpose. We are seeking a highly motivated and passionate researcher with a strong scientific background in data science and/or computational chemistry, a curious mindset, and cultural agility to invent innovative medicines and advance the frontiers of drug discovery.

 

Job Description

Internal Job Title: Senior Expert I/Senior Expert II, Data Science

Position Location: Cambridge, MA, onsite

About this role:

At Global Discovery Chemistry (GDC) of Biomedical Research in Cambridge, MA, we are at the heart of Novartis' purpose. We are seeking a highly motivated and passionate researcher with a strong scientific background in data science and/or computational chemistry, a curious mindset, and cultural agility to invent innovative medicines and advance the frontiers of drug discovery.

Your Responsibilities:

• Collaborate in a multidisciplinary team to discover and develop novel therapies across various disease areas.

• Apply, develop, and integrate state-of-the-art machine-learning, cheminformatics, and physics-based algorithms to accelerate and impact our portfolio projects.

• Utilize data science and statistical methods to develop scientific hypotheses and contribute to data-driven drug discovery.

• Combine machine learning with physics-based methods to build and automate advanced computational workflows, enhancing our medicinal chemistry projects.

• Communicate scientific results at project and group meetings, decision boards, and external conferences.

• Contribute to patent inventorship with novel ideas, scientific publications, and presentations.

• Participate in global initiatives shaping the future of drug discovery at Novartis.

What you will bring to the role: 

• PhD in data science, machine learning, computational chemistry, engineering or related field. Candidates with an in-lab experience combined with strong computational and/or data science experience are also encouraged to apply.

• 2+ years’ experience in scientific software development/programming, e.g. SOTA ML/scientific software libraries, RDKit, ML Ops, and the scientific Python tech stack.

• Demonstrated track record of initiating, leading, or being a key contributor to cutting edge research in data science, machine learning, computational chemistry, or life sciences

• An attitude of curiosity, innovation, teamwork, and receptiveness to diverse perspectives, coupled with a passion for personal and professional growth

• Critically interpret results, build new experimental hypotheses, take calculated risks and smart decisions

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented, matrixed environment

• Excellent oral and written communication, and strong influencing skills

Desirable Skills:

• Experience in computer-aided drug design, e.g. structure/ligand-based drug design, molecular dynamics, virtual screening, pharmacophore modeling

• Experience working with project teams in an industrial drug discovery setting

Why Novartis: Our purpose is to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s lives and our vision is to become the most valued and trusted medicines company in the world. How can we achieve this? With our people. It is our associates that drive us each day to reach our ambitions. Be a part of this mission and join us! Learn more here: https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture

You’ll receive: You can find everything you need to know about our benefits and rewards in the Novartis Life Handbook: https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits-rewards

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion / EEO: The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers and take pride in maintaining a diverse environment. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. We are committed to building diverse teams, representative of the patients and communities we serve, and we strive to create an inclusive workplace that cultivates bold innovation through collaboration and empowers our people to unleash their full potential.

Novartis Compensation and Benefit Summary: The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $119,700 to $222,300 for Senior Expert I, and $132,300 to $245,700/year for Senior Expert II; however, while salary ranges are effective from 1/1/25 through 12/31/25, fluctuations in the job market may necessitate adjustments to pay ranges during this period. Further, final pay determinations will depend on various factors, including, but not limited to geographical location, experience level, knowledge, skills, and abilities. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a sign-on bonus, restricted stock units, and discretionary awards in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits (including 401(k) eligibility and various paid time off benefits, such as vacation, sick time, and parental leave), dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

Join our Novartis Network: If this role is not suitable to your experience or career goals but you wish to stay connected to hear more about Novartis and our career opportunities, join the Novartis Network here: https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network

You’ll receive: You can find everything you need to know about our benefits and rewards in the Novartis Life Handbook: https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits-rewards

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams' representative of the patients and communities we serve.

 

EEO Statement:

The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers who are focused on building and advancing a culture of inclusion that values and celebrates individual differences, uniqueness, backgrounds and perspectives. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects the world around us and connects us to the patients, customers and communities we serve.

 

Accessibility and reasonable accommodations

The Novartis Group of Companies are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to us.reasonableaccommodations@novartis.com or call +1(877)395-2339 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

 

Salary Range

$119,700.00 - $222,300.00

 

Skills Desired

Apache Hadoop, Applied Mathematics, Big Data, Curiosity, Data Governance, Data Literacy, Data Management, Data Quality, Data Science, Data Strategy, Data Visualization, Deep Learning, Machine Learning (Ml), Machine Learning Algorithms, Master Data Management, Proteomics, Python (Programming Language), R (Programming Language), Statistical Modeling