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Associate Director, Machine Learning

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Merck

3mo ago

Applications are closed

  • Job
    Full-time
    Mid & Senior Level
  • Data
    Research & Development
  • South San Francisco

Requirements

  • Ph.D. (with 4+ years) or Master’s (with 8+ years) in computer science, computational biology, cheminformatics or related data science fields with relevant years of experience
  • Proven experience in applying traditional machine learning methods as well as, Deep Neural Networks, Generative AI and LLM on data from pharmaceutical or other industry sectors
  • Fluency in python, R programing, standard python packages like Pandas, NumPy, Matplotlib, and ML frameworks such as TensorFlow, Pytorch
  • Experience with version control and related code reproducibility practices such as git documentation
  • Experience with Linux and high-performance or cloud computing environments (e.g., AWS) and data lake platforms (e.g., Databricks)
  • Self-motivated with a high level of autonomy
  • Exceptional communication, presentation, and collaboration skills to effectively distill complex technical concepts for a broad range of stakeholders is necessary
  • High interpersonal skills with a collaborative mindset
  • Domestic travel 10-20% is required
  • Experience with ML models deployment frameworks such as ML-Ops
  • Prior experience working in a multidisciplinary environment within the Pharmaceutical Industry, and other healthcare sectors

Responsibilities

  • Individual contributor role, requiring mentorship of junior scientists
  • Prepare ML model-ready dataset by curation, integration, and harmonization of multimodality data from the internal and external domains, in partnership with the subject-matter experts within NDS and our company's Research IT teams
  • Apply probabilistic, neural networks ML models, and generative AI methods to inform prioritization for chemistry and toxicology resources
  • Leverage LLM and generative AI models (e.g. GAN, VAE) to understand mechanisms of toxicity, identify molecules with desired drug-like properties, to prioritize animal resources
  • Work collaboratively with colleagues across multiple sites and functional areas to deploy, utilize, and increase the visibility of ML approaches in selection of chemical series with a high probability of success, and enable prioritization of in vivo resources
  • Upscale NDS staff on the utility of predictive AI/ML approaches in drug safety
  • Stay abreast with new AI approaches and regulatory landscape in the field of predictive toxicology

FAQs

What locations are available for this position?

The position is available in South San Francisco, CA or West Point, PA based on candidate preference.

What is the primary focus of the Associate Director, Machine Learning role?

The primary focus is to contribute to the discovery and development of effective, safer therapeutics for patients using AI/ML methodologies in drug safety prediction.

What level of education is required for this role?

A Ph.D. (with 4+ years of experience) or a Master’s degree (with 8+ years of experience) in computer science, computational biology, cheminformatics, or related data science fields is required.

What specific skills are needed for the role?

Required skills include experience with traditional machine learning methods, Deep Neural Networks, Generative AI, LLM, fluency in Python and R, experience with ML frameworks (such as TensorFlow and PyTorch), as well as proficiency in cloud computing environments like AWS.

Is prior pharmaceutical industry experience necessary?

While not explicitly required, prior experience working in a multidisciplinary environment within the pharmaceutical industry and other healthcare sectors is preferred.

What are the travel requirements for this job?

Domestic travel of 10-20% is required.

Will there be opportunities for mentorship in this role?

Yes, this is an individual contributor role that also requires the mentorship of junior scientists.

What are the expected salary range and benefits for this position?

The expected salary range is $167,700.00 - $263,900.00, and available benefits include bonus eligibility, health care, retirement benefits, and paid time off.

What types of ML models will be utilized in this role?

The role involves applying probabilistic models, neural networks, generative AI methods, and large language models to inform prioritization for chemistry and toxicology resources.

Is experience with version control systems required?

Yes, experience with version control and related code reproducibility practices such as Git documentation is required.

What is the company’s approach to diversity and inclusion in hiring?

The company is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace and does not discriminate based on race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.

What is the work model for this position?

The role follows a hybrid work model, requiring three days on-site per week, with Friday designated as a remote-working day unless business-critical tasks necessitate on-site presence.

Science & Healthcare
Industry
10,001+
Employees

Mission & Purpose

At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world – and today, we are at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We foster a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operate responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable and healthy future for all people and communities. For more information,