AI Research Scientist
Virginia Commonwealth University
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Virginia Commonwealth University’s Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center seeks an AI Research Scientist to advance ML, DL, and large language models for cancer research, blending bioinformatics with full‑stack development and HPC/cloud deployment.
You will collaborate with investigators to translate cancer questions into scalable, reproducible AI solutions, build AI-enabled pipelines and apps, and contribute to Massey’s Data to Discovery initiative.
Qualifications
- Ph.D. in bioinformatics, computer science, biomedical informatics, or a closely related field or equivalent combination of education, experience, and training.
- At least 2 years of demonstrated experience in machine learning and deep learning.
- At least 2 years of experience working with large language models, including evaluation, retrieval-augmented generation, and deployment.
- Strong programming skills in Python and experience with ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX).
- Experience deploying models on HPC clusters and cloud environments.
- Experience with full-stack development including backend services, APIs, and databases.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to collaborate跨-disciplinary teams.
Responsibilities
- Develop and evaluate ML/DL approaches for cancer datasets (genomics, single-cell, spatial biology).
- Fine-tune, evaluate, and deploy large language models and foundation models for cancer research.
- Develop AI agents and language-model based systems for analysis and workflow automation.
- Build full-stack applications integrating AI models, workflows, and UIs.
- Deploy and optimize AI workloads on HPC and cloud platforms.
- Collaborate with Massey investigators on study design, analysis, and AI applications in cancer research.
- Contribute to reproducible AI workflows and software documentation.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
The Bioinformatics Shared Resource atMassey Comprehensive Cancer Center is seeking an AI ResearchScientist to develop and deploy advanced machine learning, deeplearning, and large language model solutions for cancer research.The ideal candidate will combine strong bioinformatics expertisewith full-stack development and HPC/cloud deployment experience andwill help expand AI-enabled research capabilities in support ofMassey's Data to Discovery initiative.
All full-time university staff are eligible forVCU’s robust benefits package thatincludes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holidayleave granted up front, generous tuition benefits, retirementplanning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash matchprograms, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundantopportunities for career development and advancement, andmore.
- Continuing education for undergraduate and graduate tuitionfora maximum of 6 credits per semester;
- Professional development opportunities encouraged and offeredfor employees as part of annual career development, e.g.certifications, seminars, courses, annual conferences,mentorship;
- 28 Vacation Days, 12+ State Holidays, and 4 Days tovolunteer;
- Medical, Dental and Vision Health Benefits to meet the needs ofemployees and their eligible family members from the Commonwealthof Virginia as well as optional FSA;
- Participation in the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) and otherretirement saving options;
- Parental and Caregiver Leave, Short Term Disability (STD),Disability Insurance, Voluntary Long Term Care Insurance, andEmployee Assistance Program.
Mission: To reduce the state cancer burden for all Virginians byaddressing the confluence between biological, social, and policydrivers through high-impact, cutting-edge research; person-centeredcare across the continuum, from prevention through survivorship;community integration; and training the next generation ofcommunity-centric researchers and healthcare professionals
Vision: To be a premier community-focused cancer center leading thenation in cancer health equity research and ensuring optimal healthoutcomes for all
We are the university for Virginia. We know that the uniquebackgrounds and life experiences of the VCU community are whatdrive the university forward. Together, we’re forging a future thatis built by us. Here, artists and engineers, doctors and designerscome together to reimagine the human experience and tackle theproblems of tomorrow.
VCU dates to 1838 with the formation of the Medical Department ofHampden-Sydney College, whose mission was to educate physicians incentral Virginia and which was later renamed Medical College ofVirginia. In 1968, Richmond Professional Institute merged with theMedical College of Virginia to become what is now known as VirginiaCommonwealth University.
Located in downtown Richmond, the state capital of Virginia, VCU enrolls more than 28,000 students in more than 200 degreeand certificate programs across its urban campuses: thedowntown Monroe Park and MCV campuses in Richmond; the Rice RiversCenter in Charles City, Virginia; satellite locations in Fairfax,Virginia, and Abingdon, Virginia; and a campus in Doha, Qatar, forthe School of the Arts.
Ignited by the energy of the city, we’re ready to lead industries —or disrupt them. We seek out the unexpected, the experimental, thenever-been-tried. VCU is designated as a research university withvery high research activity by the Carnegie Foundation, garnering more than $500 million in sponsored research from federaland other agencies in FY2024. The National Science Foundationranked VCU among the top 50 public research universities inthe country, and we are one of only 69 public universitiesnationwide to be designated by the Carnegie Foundation as“Community Engaged” with “Very High Research Activity.”
This research enterprise, and the influence of having one of the nation’s top-ranked public graduate arts schools, ensuresstudents receive unique educational experiences that equip themwith a creative mindset that sets them apart.
VCU’s contributions in talent, innovation and entrepreneurialism,regional stewardship and local culture shape the economic impactand overall quality of life in the region. VCU as a whole generates more than $9 billion in economic activity. It is the largestemployer in Richmond with more than 26,000 employees at VCU and VCUHealth, and it supports approximately 58,000 jobs in Virginia .In addition, Virginia classifies VCU with a Tier III status — thehighest possible status for universities and colleges — allowingVCU more flexibility in managing its operations to implement bestpractices and streamline processes. To learn about VCU’s finances,visit about.finance.vcu.edu.
VCU’s mission drives us to remain dedicated to the success andwell-being of our students, patients, faculty, staff andcommunity.
Welcome to VCU. A world unlike any other.
Massey Comprehensive Cancer Ctr MBU
Massey Central Admin
The Bioinformatics Shared Resource at Massey Comprehensive CancerCenter is seeking a highly motivated AI Research Scientist tostrengthen the cancer center's capabilities in artificialintelligence and to accelerate the use of AI across cancerresearch.
The successful candidate will work at the intersection ofartificial intelligence, bioinformatics, and software engineeringto develop, adapt, fine-tune, and deploy machine learning, deeplearning, large language models, and biomedical foundation modelsfor cancer-focused applications. The position will support researchspanning cancer genomics, single-cell and spatial biology,multi-omics, tumor microenvironment studies, digital pathology, andprecision oncology.
As a core member of the Bioinformatics Shared Resource, thescientist will work closely with basic, translational, and clinicalinvestigators to translate cancer research questions into scalable,reproducible AI-enabled computational solutions. The position willalso help build the infrastructure and expertise needed to advanceMassey's Data to Discovery pillar.
- Develop, adapt, and evaluate machine learning and deep learningapproaches for cancer genomic, transcriptomic, single-cell, spatialomics, imaging, and other high-dimensional datasets.
- Fine-tune, evaluate, and deploy large language models and biomedical foundation models for cancer research applications,including data interpretation, knowledge integration, and scientific workflow support.
- Develop AI agents and language model-based systems to supportcancer bioinformatics analysis, research navigation, workflowautomation, and scientific decision-making.
- Build full-stack applications integrating AI models,bioinformatics workflows, databases, visualization tools, APIs, and user-facing interfaces.
- Deploy and optimize AI models and computational workflows oninstitutional high-performance computing clusters and cloudplatforms, and develop scalable training, inference, model-serving,and data-processing pipelines.
- Consult with Massey investigators on study design, projectscoping, analytical strategy, data interpretation, and applicationof AI to cancer research questions.
- Collaborate on cancer-focused studies involving multi-omics,tumor microenvironment, spatial biology, digital pathology,precision oncology, and related areas.
- Develop, validate, document, and maintain reproducible AI and bioinformatics workflows that can be incorporated into ongoing Bioinformatics Shared Resource services.
- Evaluate model accuracy, robustness, reproducibility, computational efficiency, and suitability for cancer researchapplications.
- Provide technical guidance and training to BISR staff,trainees, and investigators in the appropriate use of AI-enabledcomputational approaches.
- Contribute to manuscripts, grant proposals, scientificpresentations, progress reports, and dissemination of software andanalytical methods.
- Ph.D. in bioinformatics, computer science, biomedicalinformatics, computational biology, artificial intelligence, datascience, or a closely related field or equivalent combination ofeducation, experience, and training
- At least 2 years of demonstrated experience in machine learningand deep learning.
- At least 2 years of experience working with large languagemodels, including model evaluation, prompt design,retrieval-augmented generation, fine-tuning, agentic systems, ormodel deployment.
- Strong programming skills in Python and experience with modernmachine learning frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX, orcomparable platforms.
- Experience deploying computational models or applications onhigh-performance computing clusters and/or cloud environments.
- Experience with modern software development, including backendservices, APIs, databases, containers, version control, andfull-stack application development.
- Ability to work independently while contributing effectivelywithin a multidisciplinary cancer research and shared-resourceenvironment.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including theability to translate technical concepts for experimental,translational, and clinical cancer researchers.
- Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environmentof respect, professionalism and civility with a population offaculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds andexperiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU
- Experience applying AI or machine learning to cancer genomics,transcriptomics, single-cell data, spatial omics, biomedicalimaging, digital pathology, or multi-omics integration.
- Experience with biomedical foundation models, transformerarchitectures, multimodal learning, graph neural networks,diffusion models, or other generative modeling approaches.
- Experience developing agentic AI systems, tool-using languagemodels, or automated scientific analysis workflows.
- Experience with retrieval-augmented generation, vectordatabases, knowledge graphs, and biomedical or cancer knowledgeresources.
- Experience with precision oncology, tumor microenvironmentanalysis, biomarker discovery, or other cancer-focusedcomputational research.
- A record of scientific publications, open-source softwaredevelopment, or contributions to collaborative biomedical or cancerresearch.
- Experience supporting investigators through a research core,shared resource, or other collaborative scientificenvironment.
The Bioinformatics Shared Resource supports investigators acrossMassey Comprehensive Cancer Center and the broader VCU researchcommunity by providing expertise in cancer bioinformatics,computational biology, multi-omics analysis, single-cell andspatial biology, data integration, visualization, and emergingAI-enabled research methods.
The AI Research Scientist will join a multidisciplinary team andcollaborate with experimental, translational, and clinicalinvestigators on high-impact cancer research. The position offersan opportunity to help establish next-generation AI capabilitieswithin the cancer center, create broadly useful computationalplatforms, and accelerate the translation of complex cancer datainto biological and clinical insight.
The successful candidate will demonstrate scientific rigor,intellectual curiosity, strong collaborative skills, and acommitment to developing dependable and reproducible computationaltools for cancer research. The individual will be expected tobalance innovative AI research with the practical requirements ofdeployment, documentation, maintenance, data security,reproducibility, and user support in a shared-resourceenvironment.
Please let us know if you were referred by a current Masseyemployee to ensure we honor our commitment to the Employee ReferralProgram.
VCU is committed to hiring veterans! VCU will include a veteran’speriod(s) of military service in the calculation of their annualleave accrual rate. This may provide veterans with an increasedleave accrual!
Starting at $100,000 - commensurate withexperience
Exempt
40
No
Yes
Hybrid
Senior Scientist RS - Open
Massey HR
Masseyhr@vcu.edu
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