Senior Data Scientist (AI/ML) in Data, AI & Genome Sciences

Job Description

Our Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning (AI/ML) capabilities are critical accelerators to our mission of delivering towards inventing new medicines that save and improve lives. Core to the Data, AI, and Genome Sciences (DAGS) function is an AI/ML-first approach to improving target and biomarker discovery, validation and selection, and elucidating complex disease mechanisms. Your work will contribute to the advancement of our understanding of complex diseases and support the development of innovative therapeutic strategies. You will be part of a cross-functional team of computational biologists, bioinformaticians, data scientists, software engineers, and machine learning engineers that strive to identify therapeutic targets.

Primary Responsibilities

We're looking for a Data Scientist who thrives at the intersection of biology, data science, and machine learning. In this role you'll join an AI-first team that blends multi-omics data, foundation-model inference, and graph-based reasoning to build transparent, mechanistic models of disease-relevant cellular responses. Your work will directly inform therapeutic hypotheses, guide experimental design, and translate complex biological signals into actionable insights that accelerate the next generation of medicines.

• Integrate single-cell multi-omics and perturbation data with biomedical knowledge graphs to generate actionable insights.
• Apply graph-based causal reasoning to design and run virtual mechanistic experiments, revealing how perturbations propagate through cellular networks.
• Partner with cross-functional teams (experimentalists, platform engineers, AI/ML colleagues) to define research questions, determine data needs, and craft end-to-end solutions.
• Develop and validate biological-inference methods for complex, multi-modal datasets, ensuring models capture underlying biology.
• Translate model outputs into interpretable results and combine them with orthogonal data to build, simulate, and evaluate in-silico experiments.
• Stay current with advances in biology and AI, proactively incorporating new techniques into the workflow.

Education Requirements:

• PhD (or equivalent) in Molecular Biology, Computer Science, Physics, Computational Biology, Data Science, AI/ML, Biomedical Engineering, Genetics/Genomics, Bioinformatics, Mathematics, Statistics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related STEM field with 0-3+ years of post-doctoral or industry experience; or Master's with 4+ years of relevant experience; or Bachelor's with 7+ years of relevant experience.

Required Experience and Skills:

• Strong background in computational biology or bioinformatics, with proven ability to derive biological insights from complex, multi-modal data.
• Proficiency in Python and ML frameworks (PyTorch, sklearn), SQL, and statistical analysis of single-cell and multi-omics data.
• Familiarity with foundation models or Bayesian statistics applied to graph-structured data is a strong plus
• Deep interest in life-science problems and disease biology, with a willingness to learn and teach.
• Excellent communication skills and a track record of collaboration in multidisciplinary teams.

#EligibleforERP

Required Skills:
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Bayesian Statistics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Data Modeling, Data Science, Foundation Models, Graph Neural Network (GNN), Knowledge Graph, Machine Learning (ML), Mathematics, ML Frameworks, Omics, PyTorch, Scientific Research, Single Cell Analysis, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Transformer Model

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

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As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

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We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills 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, 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 salary range for this role is
$144,800.00 - $227,900.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee's position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at ;br>
You can apply for this role through (or via the Workday Jobs Hub if you are a current employee). The application deadline for this position is stated on this posting.

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

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:
01/29/2026
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