Associate Scientist, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, AI-Guided Functional Immunology

MSD; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 82,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid holidays and vacation

Job summary

MSD Malaysia is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Cambridge, MA, to advance AI-guided immunology research. The role involves developing interpretable ML methods that connect single-cell data with perturbation experiments and collaborating across data science and biology teams.

The successful candidate will have a PhD in a quantitative field, strong ML expertise, and experience with Python/PyTorch, CRISPR, and single-cell analyses.

Qualifications

• Must have a PhD in a quantitative discipline related to Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, AI/ML, CS, Immunology, Bioengineering, or Statistics.
• Strong track record of research productivity (publications/preprints/conference talks).
• Experience communicating complex concepts to multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Advance AI/ML methods linking single-cell models with perturbation data.
• Develop interpretable methods for predicting effects of genetic/chemical perturbations on cell states.
• Design perturbation experiments with experimental groups and integrate data into models.

Skills

Machine learning

Python

Deep learning

Single-cell omics

Biology data analysis

Foundation Models

CRISPR

Education

PhD in Computational Biology/ Bioinformatics/ AI/ ML/ CS/ Immunology/ Bioengineering/ Statistics

Tools

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Jupyter

Job description

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, AI-Guided Functional Immunology

Our AI/ML team develops biologically grounded and interpretable machine learning methods to accelerate target discovery across immunology.

What You’ll Do:

• Advance AI/ML methods that connect single-cell foundation models with functional perturbation data.
• Develop interpretable and reproducible computational approaches to predict how genetic and chemical perturbation of immune cells reshape cell states.
• Design and interpret perturbation designs together with experimental groups and feed the resulting data back into the models.
• Develop experiment-selection strategies (active learning, Bayesian optimization) that decide which knockouts the next round tests and characterize how a model-chosen training set biases its own evaluation.
• Design evaluations for out-of-distribution generalization held-out cell contexts, matched-decoy nulls, and the linear and mean baselines a foundation model must beat to earn trust.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across data science, immunology, functional genomics, and translational research.
• Communicate scientific findings through presentations, publications, and cross-functional discussions.

You Should Have:

• Strong expertise in machine learning, deep learning, and data science.
• Demonstrated research productivity through publications, preprints, or conference presentations.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to multidisciplinary scientific teams.

Educational Requirement:

Must currently hold a PhD OR Receive a Ph.D. no later than spring 2027 Ph.D. in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, AI/ML, Computer Science, Immunology, Bioengineering, Statistics, or a related quantitative discipline.

Required Experience Skills:

• Experience with single-cell omics analysis, representation learning, or biomedical data analysis.
• Strong expertise in machine learning, deep learning, and data science.
• Proficiency in Python and deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch.
• Experience applying and evaluating deep models on high-dimensional biological data (single-cell, imaging, or similar).
• Proficiency in Foundation Models, Perturbation Modeling, and/or Organoid Models.
• Experience with CRISPR and target discovery.

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Single-cell foundation models, transformers, and representation learning.
• Genetic perturbation modeling: CRISPR screens, Perturb-seq, or arrayed knockouts.
• Wet-lab experience, especially involving organoid, iPSC, or immune co-culture model systems.
• Background understanding of, or experience working in, immunology.
• Experimental design, active learning, or model benchmarking and evaluation.
• Publications in venues such as NeurIPS, ICML, ISMB/RECOMB, Cell Systems, Nature Methods, or related journals.

Salary:

The salary range for this role is: $82,000-$92,000 This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.

Benefits:

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days.

Contract Details:

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

Equal Employment Opportunity & Inclusion:

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.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit: EEOC Know Your Rights EEOC GINA Supplement.

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.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.

Job Posting End Date:

10/19/2026 A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.

About the Company:

Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal health products. The difference between potential and achievement lies in the spark that fuels innovation and inventiveness; this is the space where we have codified our legacy for over a century. Our success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare.