Associate Director, Computational Biology /Toxicology - Military Veterans

Job Description

The Precision Genetics group within the Data, AI and Genome Sciences (DAGS) Department is recruiting a Sr. Principal Scientist, Computational Biology lead for Cardiometabolic Discovery Research. We are seeking an experienced computational biologist with a proven track-record in applying human genetics to generate target/biomarker hypotheses and patient stratification strategies.

You will lead a team of bioinformaticians and data scientists to apply cutting edge AIML approaches to leverage our Company's investments in human genetics and other multimodal data to support drug discovery in the cardiometabolic disease space. Your work will inform discovery, translational medicine, companion diagnostics and clinical research.

You will serve as a strategic partner to our discovery colleagues in Cardiometabolic Discovery Research. 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 computational biology strategy and support discovery programs in Cardiometabolic diseases.
• Create the strategy and process for evaluating therapeutic targets and precision biomarkers from the perspective of genetics, causal disease biology drawing upon a combination of public and proprietary resources.
• Collaborate with scientists and clinicians to create the data science strategy for Cardiometabolic disease targets in discovery, being innovative and foreseeing the path to clinical trial.
• Leverage scRNASeq to contextualize target gene expression in the context of cell-types, disease biology and cardiac phenotypes.
• Evaluate opportunities across potential indications using diverse data sources
• Stay up to date on the application of AIML to cardiometabolic drug discovery strategy to prioritize target portfolio based on biological insights
• Proactively identify biomarker discovery strategies to support discovery program and generate patient stratification strategies using cutting edge AI/ML methods.
• 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.
• 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 of combined research experience in academia/pharma
• A solid track record of 8+ years leading high-performance computational teams and developing top data science talent

• Hands-on experience in integrating data from genetics, proteomics, single-cell transcriptomics and high-dimensional molecular data to derive insights into causal disease mechanism
• 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 is establishing academic and consortia partnerships
• Familiarity with animal models of cardiometabolic diseases
• Familiarity with CRISPR approaches for target validation

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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US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

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We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

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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".

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 - $290,900.00

Available 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

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully
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

Job Posting End Date:
12/23/2024
*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.