Senior Principal Scientist/Senior Director, Precision Bioinformatics
USA - California - San Diego (Science Park Road)
Job Description
The Precision Genetics group within the Data and Genome Sciences Department is recruiting a Sr. Principal Scientist, Precision Bioinformatics site lead for our San Diego based Companion Diagnostics (CDx) efforts. We are seeking an experienced computational biologist with a proven track-record in building a flexible AI/ML engine for strategies using relevant human data.
You will lead a team of bioinformaticians and data scientists to generate fit for purpose AI/ML models using a combination of our Company’s proprietary data assets and public data resources, to generate novel CDx models that can be deployed in clinical trials. You will also support preparation of regulatory documents in support of clinical trials. In addition, you will be the site lead for the DAGS function at San Diego and will have oversight of the biospecimen operations and biobanking.
You will serve as a strategic partner to our discovery and clinical colleagues and will shape data science and AI/ML driven discovery strategies across our company's immunology portfolio. You will also assume a hands-on leadership role, implementing rigorous data analysis practices, aligning resources based on scientific priorities, and mentoring and developing team members. You will operate in a highly collaborative environment, partnering with peers across multiple locations and in the broader scientific community.
In this exciting role, you will:
Manage, mentor and hire outstanding team members responsible for creating an end-to-end AI/ML engine that builds, evaluates, iterates, and tests performance of increasingly improved and stable models using relevant biological and clinical datasets.
Implement feature engineering engine to identify, extract, evaluate, and incorporate a comprehensive suite of multi-scale/multi-omic features derived from fit for purpose proprietary data assets to support rapid generation of AI/ML models.
Communicate complex AI/ML strategies and insights derived from biological data to stakeholders via compelling visualization using state-of-the-art best practice.
Identify appropriate public data sources to facilitate and augment AI/ML model building.
Oversee biospecimen and biobanking operations.
Tackle complex projects, anticipate, and overcome challenges, and forecast timelines for deliverables to support pipeline objectives.
Supervise the work of junior colleagues when appropriate.
Collaborate with experimental scientists in a matrixed environment to develop research plans, optimize resource allocation, and maximize efficiencies to best execute on programs.
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:
Ph.D. plus a minimum of 10 years research experience
A solid track record of 5+ years leading high-performance computational teams and developing top data science talent
Demonstrated expertise in leveraging computational analysis to derive precision medicine AI/ML models deployed in the clinic.
Ability to code in R/Python and establish best practices for reproducible data analyses
Strong ability to work and influence in complex matrixed organizations
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Ability to establish and maintain productive cross-site and high caliber external collaborations
Preferred Experience and Skills:
Experience in molecular diagnostics industry
Experience in biobanking and biospecimen operations
Familiarity with functional genomics analyses of human samples
Familiarity with animal models of immune-mediated diseases
NOTICE FOR INTERNAL APPLICANTS
In accordance with Managers' Policy - Job Posting and Employee Placement, all employees subject to this policy are required to have a minimum of twelve (12) months of service in current position prior to applying for open positions.
If you have been offered a separation benefits package, but have not yet reached your separation date and are offered a position within the salary and geographical parameters as set forth in the Summary Plan Description (SPD) of your separation package, then you are no longer eligible for your separation benefits package. To discuss in more detail, please contact your HRBP or Talent Acquisition Advisor.
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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”.
The Company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job in certain states and cities within the United States. Final determinations with respect to salary will take into account a number of factors, which may include, but not be limited to the primary work location and the chosen candidate’s relevant skills, experience, and education.
Expected US salary range:
$184,800.00 - $290,900.00Available benefits include bonus eligibility, long term incentive if applicable, health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and sick days. A summary of benefits is listed here.
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:
RegularRelocation:
Domestic/InternationalVISA Sponsorship:
YesTravel Requirements:
10%Flexible Work Arrangements:
HybridShift:
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11/18/2024*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.
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Hybrid Hybrid work Hybrid work model On-site US and Puerto Rico residents only
Benefits/PerksBonus eligibility Collaborative environment Diverse workplace Equal opportunity employer Flexible work Flexible work arrangements Hybrid work Hybrid work model Inclusion Inclusive environment Insurance Leadership role Mentoring Paid holidays Retirement benefits Separation benefits package Sick Days Vacation
Tasks- Collaborate with scientists
- Communicate Results
- Communicate strategies to stakeholders
- Communication
- Compliance
- Data Analysis
- Develop AI/ML models
- Develop research plans
- Innovation
- Lead a Team
- Lead bioinformatics team
- Leadership
- Mentoring
- Oversee biospecimen operations
- Resource Allocation
AI AI/ML Analysis Best Practices Biobanking Bioinformatics Clinical Clinical trials Communication Compliance Computational Computational Biology Data Data analysis Data Science Diagnostics Education Engineering Experimental Feature Engineering Functional genomics Genetics Genome sciences Genomics Immunology Inclusion Influence Innovation Leadership Manufacturing Matrixed environment Medicine Mentoring ML Molecular diagnostics Operations Organization Policy Precision Medicine Python R Regulatory Research Research Experience Resource Allocation Science Talent Acquisition Teams Visualization Written communication
Experience10 years
EducationAS Bioinformatics Business Data Science Engineering Genetics Immunology Ph.D. Science
TimezonesAmerica/Anchorage America/Chicago America/Denver America/Los_Angeles America/New_York Pacific/Honolulu UTC-10 UTC-5 UTC-6 UTC-7 UTC-8 UTC-9