Senior Scientist, High Content Screening Analytics, Functional Genomics

Job Description

The Data, AI, and Genome Sciences department is looking for a passionate and talented computational biologist with expertise in the analysis of complex multi-readout and multi-scale genomics assays and imaging screens to join our Translational Genome Analytics research team.

In this role, you will be at the cutting-edge of discovery research, analyzing genome engineering and functional genomic screens at the bulk and single-cell scales and collaborating with cross-functional teams of computational biologists, data scientists, and colleagues in Discovery Research to drive target discovery in our drug development efforts across therapeutic areas, including oncology, neurology, and immunology.

The successful candidate will be a scientifically curious team player and self-motivated learner with previous knowledge of functional genomics-driven experimental strategies for investigating biology and an interest in developing and using technology solutions (algorithms/tools/etc) to aid in our interpretation of complex biological data.

This role is based at Research Labs in Cambridge, MA.

In this exciting role, you will:

DIRECTLY IMPACT OUR EARLY DISCOVERY EFFORTS THROUGH RIGOROUS DESIGN AND ANALYSES OF HIGH CONTENT SCREENS:

• Contribute to multiple stages of drug discovery by interrogating high-throughput functional genomics and cellular profiling assays, including in vitro and in vivo pooled/arrayed CRISPR, single-cell transcriptomics, optical pooled screens, cell painting, and proteomic datasets.

• Perform statistically rigorous quantitative analyses while employing reproducible research and data integrity practices on large-scale datasets from different types of high-content, high-throughput assays.

• Analyze, interpret, and summarize complex biological data and employ data visualization tools to facilitate communication of findings to stakeholders.

• Integrate findings from functional genomics screens and other data sets (including Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) data from, e.g., RNA-Seq, DRUG-seq, single cell RNA-Seq, spatial transcriptomics, WGS, CRISPR) with additional biological data streams to generate biological hypotheses and identify novel drug targets.

REPRESENT COMPUTATIONAL EXPERTISE IN CROSS-FUNCTIONAL TEAMS:

• Provide clear interpretation of high-throughput genetic screening data and propose pathways for further computational and biological validation to our partners and collaborators in Discovery branches across Therapeutic Areas.

• Engage with Discovery Teams to translate biological hypotheses into computational interrogations of functional genomics data as well as multi-omics molecular profiles and actively and iteratively drive experimental design decisions in collaborations.

• Work in a highly collaborative environment, tightly embedded in project teams across scientific disciplines and functions, bringing together genetics, chemistry, pharmacology, and molecular biology to accelerate the discovery of novel drug targets.

EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND GROW YOUR CAREER:

• Survey relevant literature on novel bioinformatics analysis methodologies and algorithms and introduce them into in-house workflows where appropriate.

• Keep up to date on other project-relevant literature (experimental and analytics topics in functional genomics space, specific disease biology, etc) and attend relevant conferences.

• Further your professional development by participating in workshops and seminars aimed at personal and professional growth.

Required Education and Experience:

• Ph.D. in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Biostatistics, Genetics, Immunology, Mathematics, Molecular Biology, Statistics, or related.

• Masters in areas mentioned above with 4+ years of experience.

• Bachelor’s in above areas with 8+ years of experience.

• Experience must be post-degree. Can be a mix of relevant academic or industrial experience.

Required Experience and Skills:

APPLIED EXPERIENCE:

• Demonstrated experience with the computational analysis and interpretation of large-scale functional genomics screens such as pooled/arrayed CRISPR-based screens, PRISM, and perturbational single-cell assays (e.g., Perturb-seq, optical pooled screening), etc.

• Demonstrated experience with computational analysis and biological interpretation of diverse large-scale NGS experimental datasets (e.g., RNAseq, WES, scRNAseq, spatial transcriptomics, cell painting etc.).

• Demonstrated experience with statistical hypothesis testing methodology and machine learning concepts and methods.

• Experience with integrating results generated from multiple data sources (e.g., different ‘omics data sets), and biological knowledge bases to customize analytical approaches for discovery research.

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

• Programming skills with application in statistical analysis and biological imaging (e.g., R, Rshiny, tidyverse, python), and ability to distill complex data into interpretable visualizations (using, e.g., ggplot2).

• Experience with AWS cloud computing infrastructure (e.g., S3, EBS, EC2, etc) and Linux environments.

• Experience with version control systems, such as Git (e.g., Github). Ability to adapt to and work with existing analytic frameworks.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Understanding the pros and cons of various analysis algorithms for functional genomics data, DNA-seq, RNA-seq, and/or single-cell RNA-seq.

• Previous experience with machine learning or statistical inference techniques.

• Familiarity with the data and analytic capabilities of public repositories of functional genomics data such as DepMap

• Familiarity with public databases, and repositories of DNA, RNA, protein, single-cell and spatial profiling data.

• Experience applying AI / machine learning methods for analysis of image-based biological readouts.

• Experience in computational analysis for image-based cellular and tissue assay readouts.

• Strong publication record.

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.

#EligibleforERP

Employees working in roles that the Company determines require routine collaboration with external stakeholders, such as customer-facing commercial, or research-based roles, will be expected to comply not only with Company policy but also with policies established by such external stakeholders (for example, a requirement to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to access a facility or meet with stakeholders).  Please understand that, as permitted by applicable law, if you have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and an essential function of your job is to call on external stakeholders who require vaccination to enter their premises or engage in face-to-face meetings, then your employment may pose an undue burden to business operations, in which case you may not be offered employment, or your employment could be terminated. Please also note that, where permitted by applicable law, the Company reserves the right to require COVID-19 vaccinations for positions, such as in Global Employee Health, where the Company determines in its discretion that the nature of the role presents an increased risk of disease transmission.

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

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:

EEOC Know Your Rights

EEOC GINA Supplement​

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

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, generally Tuesday, Wednesday and either Monday or 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”.

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

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

10/4/2024

*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.