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Sr. Scientist, Bioinformatics, Translational Genome Analytics

Merck

Boston, MAHybridPosted 1 day ago$131,400.00 - $206,800.00
Full TimeSenior LevelBioinformatics & Data SciencePharmaceuticalH1B sponsorship
Original posting ↗

Summary

The Data, AI and Genome Sciences department seeks a talented data scientist with a strong quantitative and statistical foundation to join our Translational Genome Analytics team. In this role, you will bring rigorous statistics, machine learning, and modern AI to large, complex multi-omics datasets to understand the molecular basis of cancer and to nominate targets and biomarkers across our research portfolio.

Job description

Role Overview

The Data, AI and Genome Sciences department seeks a talented data scientist with a strong quantitative and statistical foundation to join our Translational Genome Analytics team. In this role, you will bring rigorous statistics, machine learning, and modern AI to large, complex multi-omics datasets to understand the molecular basis of cancer and to nominate targets and biomarkers across our research portfolio.

In This Exciting Role, You Will:

  • Analyze large-scale oncology datasets, including bulk RNA-seq, whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing (WES/WGS), and single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq), to understand disease biology and the mechanisms of disease progression and drug action.
  • Contribute to the nomination and prioritization of drug combinations for both oncology and immunology disease areas by weighing expression profiling, disease biology, mechanistic and functional-genomics evidence, and the competitive landscape together, and bring that evidence to program teams.
  • Apply rigorous statistics and integrate multi-omics and functional genomics data with prior biological knowledge, using network-based and machine learning approaches, to reach robust conclusions and a coherent picture of target and pathway biology.
  • Apply deep learning and single-cell foundation models to problems such as cell-type deconvolution, batch integration, patient stratification, and perturbation-response prediction.
  • Use modern AI, including LLM-based agents and retrieval over internal data, to accelerate evidence synthesis and analysis, and help bring these tools into routine, well-validated use.
  • Draw on human and real-world data to inform and reverse-translate discovery hypotheses, connecting preclinical findings to patient biology.
  • Collaborate closely across disciplines, including experimental scientists, AI and ML and data science teams, software engineers, and program teams, and deliver reproducible, well-documented research that supports Discovery Oncology.

Minimum Requirements

  • A BS in computational biology, bioinformatics, biostatistics, or a related quantitative discipline and a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience, MS and 3+ years of relevant experience, OR a Ph.D. in Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, Computational Biology, Statistics, Computer Science, Genetics, Mathematics, or a related STEM field.
  • A passion for solving problems in oncology and cancer genomics through computational methods, with a consistent focus on detail and execution.
  • Hands-on experience analyzing and biologically interpreting large-scale NGS datasets (bulk RNA-seq, WES/WGS, scRNA-seq), including experimental design, QC, and building analyses where no standard pipeline exists, and integrating multiple omics layers with prior biological knowledge.
  • A strong statistical foundation, spanning hypothesis testing, regression and mixed models, survival analysis, and dimensionality reduction, with sound judgment about confounding, batch effects, and multiple comparisons, and a track record of applying machine learning to biological data with judgment about where it adds value and where simpler methods suffice.
  • Strong technical skills, including R or Python, version control (Git), and Linux, with hands-on experience across cloud and data platforms such as AWS (S3), Nextflow, Databricks, and Posit.
  • Familiarity with major cancer genomics resources, such as TCGA, GTEx, CCLE, CPTAC, and DepMap.
  • A collaborative working style and excellent oral and written communication skills.

Preferred Experience and Skills

  • A Ph.D. in Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, Computational Biology, Statistics, Computer Science, Genetics, Mathematics, or a related STEM field.
  • Post-doctoral or relevant industry experience in cancer genomics or computational oncology, with a deep understanding of cancer biology and current research trends.
  • Experience applying or fine-tuning foundation models for single-cell or genomic data, and an interest in developing agentic AI and LLM-powered tools for biological analysis.
  • Network-based analysis of gene regulatory patterns and signaling pathways from NGS data.
  • A strong publication record.

Requirements

  • BS in computational biology, bioinformatics, biostatistics, or related quantitative discipline with minimum 5 years relevant experience, OR MS with 3+ years relevant experience, OR PhD in Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, Computational Biology, Statistics, Computer Science, Genetics, Mathematics, or related STEM field
  • Passion for solving problems in oncology and cancer genomics through computational methods
  • Hands-on experience analyzing and biologically interpreting large-scale NGS datasets (bulk RNA-seq, WES/WGS, scRNA-seq)
  • Experience with experimental design, QC, and building analyses where no standard pipeline exists
  • Experience integrating multiple omics layers with prior biological knowledge
  • Strong statistical foundation: hypothesis testing, regression and mixed models, survival analysis, dimensionality reduction
  • Sound judgment about confounding, batch effects, and multiple comparisons
  • Track record applying machine learning to biological data
  • Strong technical skills in R or Python, version control (Git), and Linux
  • Hands-on experience with cloud and data platforms such as AWS (S3), Nextflow, Databricks, and Posit
  • Familiarity with major cancer genomics resources such as TCGA, GTEx, CCLE, CPTAC, and DepMap
  • Collaborative working style and excellent oral and written communication skills

Benefits

  • Medical, Dental & Vision
  • 401(k) Matching
  • Retirement Benefits
  • Paid Holidays
  • Vacation
  • Sick Days
  • Annual Bonus
  • Long-Term Incentive

Company overview

Merck & Co., Inc., known as Merck in the United States and Canada and MSD (Merck Sharp & Dohme) internationally, is a premier American multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Rahway, New Jersey. Founded in 1891 as the U.S. subsidiary of the German Merck Group, the company became independent following World War I and has since grown into one of the world's largest biomedical companies, ranking fourth globally by revenue. Merck operates across three core business segments: pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and animal health products. The company is renowned for its groundbreaking research and development, having brought numerous life-saving medicines to market including Keytruda (pembrolizumab), a leading immunotherapy for cancer treatment that generated $29.5 billion in 2024 revenue, and Gardasil, a revolutionary HPV vaccine. With approximately 75,000 employees worldwide, Merck maintains a robust pipeline of innovative therapies focused on oncology, vaccines, hospital acute care, cardiology, neuroscience, virology, immunology, and diabetes. The company invests heavily in R&D, spending $17.9 billion in 2024 alone, demonstrating its commitment to advancing scientific discovery. Merck's legacy spans over 130 years of bringing hope to humanity through important medicines and vaccines, operating with a purpose to use leading-edge science to save and improve lives globally while fostering an inclusive workforce and responsible business practices.

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