AI Scientist, Foundational Modelling

Ensocell; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading life science company in Cambridge is seeking an innovative AI Scientist to join their Data Science & Genomics team. The role focuses on leveraging AI to analyze spatial and single-cell genomics data, impacting the development of novel therapies. Ideal candidates will have a PhD and a strong background in AI/ML, with a collaborative spirit and problem-solving skills.

Qualifications

• PhD degree in relevant fields required.
• Track record in AI innovation through peer-reviewed publications.
• Strong programming skills in Python and experience with AI models.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement advanced AI models for genomics data.
• Collaborate with biologists to align AI outputs with biological insights.
• Curate and preprocess datasets from diverse tissues and diseases.

Skills

AI innovation

Problem-solving

Collaboration

Education

PhD in Computer Science, AI, ML, Computational Biology, or related field

Tools

Python

TensorFlow

PyTorch

AWS

Job description

The Opportunity

At Ensocell we are building AI models to elucidate the pathogenesis of chronic diseases and to use that knowledge to develop pioneering new therapies.

We are seeking an innovative and highly skilled AI Scientist to join our Data Science & Genomics team. In this role, you will focus on leveraging foundational AI architectures to analyse spatial genomics and single-cell genomics human disease data to elucidate a deeper understanding of disease pathology. Your work will directly impact the development of novel disease mechanisms, the selection of therapeutic targets, and the discovery of novel biotherapeutics. You will bring your computer science background and AI/ML expertise to create and shape the development of our AI platform based on analysing large-scale genomics data.

What this role will Involve

• Design and implement advanced AI models based on transformers, variational autoencoders (VAE), etc. to integrate and model spatial and single-cell data.
• Evaluate and refine foundational model architectures, incorporating appropriate learning strategies and performance metrics.
• Contribute to AI architecture development by proposing innovative ideas and optimising existing frameworks for biological applications.
• Assemble, curate, and preprocess single-cell and spatial datasets from diverse tissues and diseases, leveraging the Human Cell Atlas and Ensocell proprietary large-scale resources.
• Collaborate with biologists, biotherapeutics discovery teams, and disease experts to align model outputs with meaningful biological insights.

What we expect from you

Qualifications and Skills

• PhD degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, or a related field.
• Track record in AI innovation through peer-reviewed publications in method development (e.g., ICLR, NeurIPS, ICML, Nature, Science, Cell or similar).
• Expertise in training and inference of large AI/ML models on GPUs, including transformer and VAE architectures.
• Experience with spatial and single-cell data modelling and their application to biological questions.
• Strong programming skills in Python, TensorFlow/PyTorch, and familiarity with AWS cloud infrastructure.
• Demonstrable track record of applying AI to solve complex biological challenges and translate outputs into biologically meaningful hypotheses.

Competencies and Behaviours

• A team player who proactively and directly communicates and collaborates with other team members.
• Highly developed problem-solving skills.
• Ability to organise own workload and manage competing priorities.

About Ensocell

Ensocell is a new venture capital-backed life science company at the intersection of single cell genomics, spatial genomics, AI, and drug discovery. Our mission is to decode the complexities of human disease biology, identify novel therapeutic intervention points, and develop precision therapeutics targeting these intervention points to create transformational new medicines. Ensocell has research teams in Cambridge, UK, and Alameda, California (USA).

At Ensocell, we foster a vital, interdisciplinary, and collaborative scientific culture. We are seeking talented, highly motivated, and intellectually curious individuals to join our team and share in our mission. Ensocell supports a welcoming and inclusive work environment that encourages openness and diversity.

Note to recruitment agencies: we are not looking for assistance at this stage so please contact the HR department only at [e-mail] if you think you can help in the future.