Specialist, Modeling & Informatics

• Implement and apply effective AI/ML and cheminformatics workflows to impact early target discovery space data analysis.
• Analyze, interpret, and summarize complex chemical biology data and utilize a variety of data visualization tools to communicate findings.
• Deliver optimized informatics algorithms and workflows to expedite drug discovery pipelines in the early target discovery space for small molecules, peptides, and targeted protein degraders.
• Leverage novel ML, statistics, and cheminformatics techniques to improve hit identification for different screening paradigms.
• Analyze and integrate internal and external knowledge to facilitate biological and chemical signature identification.
• Proactively engage with cross-functional teams of experimental and computational scientists and collaborate effectively to advance project and pipeline goals
• Continue research in areas of AI/ML and cheminformatics relevant to drug discovery, and evaluate new technology and software from commercial sources, open innovation, or external collaborations.
• Effectively communicate scientific results internally and externally through presentations and publications.
• Share AI/ML and/or data engineering knowledge to augment team skills and capabilities.

We are seeking an exceptional and highly motivated informatician to join the Cheminformatics group within Modeling and Informatics (M&I) at our our company. This role requires strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills and experience working in a cross-functional team environment. It involves both the development of innovative computational methods involving AI/ML and cheminformatics, as well as direct application of advanced computational approaches to the invention of novel medicines., Ph.D. in cheminformatics, bioinformatics, computational biology or chemistry, computer science, statistics or related fields

Required Experience and Skills:

• Experience applying cheminformatics or AI/ML approaches to problem-solving in drug discovery.
• Broad understanding of modern data science methods, particularly machine learning, e.g., predictive modeling, active learning, explainable ML.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, as well as problem-solving skills.
• Track record of scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals.
• Proficiency in scripting (Python and/or R), SQL, and cheminformatics toolkits (OEChem, RDKit, DeepChem).

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to develop and apply AI/ML to problems of chemical or biological interest.
• Experience with IT infrastructure such as database systems, cloud computing (such as Databricks, AWS), and high-performance computing in Linux environments.
• Expertise in machine learning libraries (TensorFlow, Keras, PyTorch, Pandas, Scikit-Learn).
• Experience with workflow applications and data analytics software (Pipeline Pilot, Knime, Spotfire).
• Experience with high throughput screening data analysis methods.
• Experience in chemical and biological signature identification and/or biomarker discovery.
• Familiarity with or experience with multiple therapeutic modalities (small molecules, peptides, ADCs, etc.)
• Experience working in multidisciplinary teams that include experimental scientists., Academic Research, Algorithms, Biological Data Analysis, Biomarker Discovery, Biovia Pipeline Pilot, Chemical Informatics, Computational Biology, Data Analysis, Data Management, Data Modeling, Data Visualization, Drug Discovery Research, KNIME, Machine Learning (ML), Python (Programming Language), Scientific Research, Scientific Writing, TIBCO Spotfire, Virtual Screening

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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The salary range for this role is $159,600.00 - $251,200.00

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.