Associate Director, Data Science – Imaging and AI Research Full Time

Our Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning (AI/ML) capabilities are critical accelerators to our mission to 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. As Associate Principal Data Scientist for Imaging you will build state-of-the-art algorithm for medical imaging datasets such as pathology slides, cell painting, CT, and MRI scans to derive clinically relevant insights for disease biology and target discovery. 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:

• Drive research, design, and development of cutting-edge, high-performing AI/ML algorithms leveraging multimodal medical imaging datasets, particularly foundation models to support diverse downstream tasks.
• Contribute to the development of software and reusable AI/ML capabilities that can be integrated into AI/ML applications.
• Collaborate with cross-functional team to identify research questions, data requirements, and develop appropriate machine learning solutions.
• Stay up to date with the latest advancements in medical image analysis, machine learning, and computer vision, and proactively propose innovative approaches to enhance our capabilities.
• Publish research findings in relevant conferences and journals, and actively contribute to the scientific community through knowledge sharing and collaboration.

Required Experience and Skills:

• PhD in Computer Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field with 4+ years industry experience, MS with 8+ years of experience, or BS with 12+ years of experience.
• Strong background in machine learning, deep learning, generative AI, and computer vision applied to large-scale medical imaging.
• Extensive experience in designing and developing state-of-the-art novel machine learning algorithms particularly foundation models and representation learning to support downstream tasks.
• Demonstrated experience in programming languages such as Python, and experience with deep learning frameworks and libraries like PyTorch.
• Solid understanding of medical imaging modalities, image processing techniques, image segmentation, and image registration.
• Interest in life sciences problems and disease biology, and willing to learn from and teach others.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work collaboratively in multi-disciplinary team.

Preferred:

• Relevant publications in scientific journals and experience contributing to research communities, including NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, etc

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:
10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:
Hybrid

Shift:
Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:
No

Hazardous Material(s):
N/a

Required Skills:
Machine Learning, Software Development

Preferred Skills: