Senior AI/ML Data Scientist_

Boston

**Job Description**

The Computational Toxicology group within the Nonclinical Drug Safety (NDS) division at our company is actively seeking an AI/ML data Scientist to contribute to the discovery and development of effective, safer therapeutics for patients. This key role will be instrumental in supporting NDS's broader mission to be at the forefront of AI/ML application and data science methodologies towards drug safety prediction. The ideal candidate will possess a strong foundation in Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML) and will be integral to the development of predictive ML models for safety and toxicology endpoints, using a variety of data modalities from drug discovery, preclinical development, clinical trials, and post-market surveillance. The candidate will implement AI methodologies to enable early safety hazard identification, generate viable hypotheses for mechanistic toxicology, and ensure the early adoption of these models into our company's discovery and development pipeline.

**Note:** This position is available in West Point, PA; Boston, MA; or South San Francisco, CA.

**Key job duties:**

+ Inform prioritization for in vitro and in vivo preclinical toxicology resources applying probabilistic, neural networks ML models, and generative AI methods.

+ Utilize LLM and Generative AI approaches to generate hypothesis for mechanistic toxicology.

+ 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/or 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.

**Education:**

+ Master's (with 4+ years) or Ph.D. in computer science, computational biology, cheminformatics, biomedical engineering, and related data science fields and relevant experience

**Required Experience and Skills:**

+ Fluency in python, R programing, standard python packages like pandas, numpy, matplotlib, and ML frameworks such as TensorFlow or PyTorch

+ Experience with various statistical ML techniques, including both supervised, and unsupervised learning as well as DNN architecture is required. First-hand experience using Generative AI and LLM methods in related data science field would be advantageous.

+ Experience with version control and related code reproducibility practices such as git, documentation

+ Self-motivated with a high level of autonomy

+ High interpersonal skills with a collaborative mindset

**Preferred Experience and Skills:**

+ Prior experience with high-performance or cloud computing environments (e.g., AWS) and data lake platforms (e.g., Databricks) plus

+ Experience with machine learning (ML) models deployment frameworks such as MLOps plus

**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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**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 (yworkday.com/msd/d/task/1422$6687.htmld)

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE (yworkday.com/msd/d/task/1422$4020.htmld)

**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 (ogosurvey.com/r/aCdfqL) 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 (eoc.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/22-088\_EEOC\_KnowYourRights\_10\_20.pdf)

EEOC GINA Supplement​

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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.

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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, 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”.

Under New York State, Colorado State, Washington State, and California State law, the Company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job. 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 salary range:

$122,800.00 - $193,300.00

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 (enefitsatmerck.com/) .

**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:**

1st - Day

**Valid Driving License:**

No

**Hazardous Material(s):**

No

**Required Skills:**

Cheminformatics, Data Modeling, Data Science, Data Visualization, Drug Discovery Process, Machine Learning, Machine Learning Algorithms, Machine Learning Model Management, Machine Learning Techniques, Project Management, Python (Programming Language), Python Automation, Python for Data Analysis, Software Development, Stakeholder Relationship Management

**Preferred Skills:**

Computational Biology, Computational Toxicology

**Job Posting End Date:**

07/31/2024

***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.**

**Job Posting End Date:** 07/31/2024

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.

**Requisition ID:** R302078