Senior Director

Job Description

Position Description:

Senior Director, Neuroscience Translational Analytics

The Translational Genome Analytics group within the Data and Genome Sciences Department is recruiting a Senior Director to lead a Neuroscience Translational Analytics team, based in Cambridge, MA. We are seeking an experienced data scientist with deep expertise in discovering novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases and other nervous system disorders of relevance to our expanding Neuroscience portfolio.

You will lead a growing team of data scientists to inform our Neuroscience drug development pipeline. As such, you will leverage advanced AI/ML approaches to integrate deep multi-modal patient profiles, human genetics and functional genomics data to decode causal disease mechanisms to discover novel therapeutic targets and precision biomarkers across our Neuroscience portfolio.

You will shape data science and AI/ML driven discovery strategies across our company’s Neuroscience portfolio and serve as a strategic partner to scientists from across our Discovery, Preclinical, Translational Medicine and Global Clinical Development organizations. You will also assume a hands-on leadership role, implementing rigorous data analysis practices, aligning resources based on scientific priorities, and mentoring and developing talented members of the Neuroscience Translational Analytics team. 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:

• Adopt cutting-edge and scalable data science and bioinformatics approaches to integrate muti-resolution genetic, transcriptomic, proteomic, epigenomic and imaging data derived from patient tissues, cerebrospinal fluid, serum to decode disease biology, identify therapeutic targets and discover patient stratification biomarkers in complex diseases of the nervous system

• Deploy advanced AI/ML approaches to leverage spatial and single-cell multi-omics data derived from tissue samples spanning disease and healthy controls in order to decode disease-relevant cellular interactions and cell-type specific molecular networks with the goal of novel target and biomarker discovery in complex neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. AD, PD, ALS) and other nervous system disorders

• Integrate patient-derived data with high-throughput genetic and chemical screens in translationally-relevant preclinical models, including pooled/arrayed CRISPR, PerturbSeq, Optical Pooled Screens, Cell Painting and proteomic readouts to decode causal disease biology and prioritize novel therapeutic targets

• Mentor and hire outstanding computational biologists and data scientists responsible for analysis of a wide variety of patient-derived and preclinical data to advance our company’s Neuroscience portfolio.

• Continually enhance our foundational Neuroscience data assets by building upon existing and expanding collaborations with academia and industry partners

• Collaborate with internal peers in diverse functional areas (Neuroscience, Information Technology, in vitro and in vivo pharmacology, chemistry, clinical and translational biomarkers) 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

Travel

• Up to 10% travel is required

Position Qualifications:

Education Minimum Requirement:

• Ph.D. plus a minimum of 7 years post-doctoral research experience

Required Experience and Skills:

• A solid track record of 4+ years building/leading high-performance computational and AI/ML teams and developing top data science talent in biopharma or related industry with a specific focus on complex neurodegenerative diseases

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

• Experience with in applying state-of-the-art analytic approaches to leverage preclinical functional genomics approaches (e.g., pooled/arrayed CRISPR screens, PerturbSeq, etc) to decode causal disease biology

• Strong ability to code in R/Python and best practices for reproducible data analyses

• Deep understanding of complex neurodegenerative diseases and/or neurological disorders with knowledge of the latest research and trends in the field

• 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:

• Familiarity with drug discovery across multiple modalities (e.g., small molecule, biologics, etc.)

• Familiarity with high-throughput genetic/chemical screens in translationally-relevant preclinical models of neurodegenerative diseases

• Familiarity with biomarker discovery in neurodegenerative and neurological disorders using imaging, tissue/CSF/serum molecular profiling technologies

• Familiarity with single-cell and spatial transcriptomics atlases for neurodegenerative diseases

• Familiarity with academic-industry partnerships or consortia with a focus on neurodegenerative and neurological disorders

NOTICEFORINTERNALAPPLICANTS

InaccordancewithManagers’Policy-JobPostingandEmployeePlacement,allemployees subjectto thispolicyarerequiredtohaveaminimumoftwelve(12)monthsofserviceincurrent positionprior toapplyingfor openpositions.

If youhavebeenofferedaseparationbenefitspackage,buthavenotyetreachedyour separationdateandareofferedapositionwithinthesalaryandgeographicalparametersasset forthintheSummaryPlanDescription(SPD)ofyourseparation package,thenyouarenolonger eligible foryourseparationbenefitspackage.Todiscussinmoredetail,pleasecontactyour HRBP or Talent Acquisition Advisor.

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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”.

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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

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Required Skills:

Artificial Intelligence (AI), Biomarkers, Data Science, Drug Development, Drug Target Identification, Machine Learning, Multiscale Modeling, Nervous System, Neurodegeneration, Neuroscience, Omics Technologies, Single Cell Analysis, Single-Cell Genomics, Spatial Analysis, Transcriptomics

Preferred Skills:

Early Drug Development, Human Genetics

Job Posting End Date:

12/9/2024

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