Clinical Modeling & Analytics Innovation Scientist

Astellas Pharma; Northbrook (IL); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

A global pharmaceutical company seeks a Clinical Modeling & Analytics Innovation Scientist to enhance clinical trial strategies using AI and advanced analytics. This role requires a strong background in statistics and programming with at least a PhD and relevant industry experience. The successful candidate will develop predictive models and collaborate with multiple teams to optimize clinical operations. This position offers a hybrid work model and an attractive salary range of $125K – $170K.

Benefits

Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

Generous Paid Time Off

401(k) match

Annual Corporate Bonus

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Statistics/Biostatistics, Data Science, AI, or related fields.
• 3+ years in pharma/biotech or healthcare settings (PhD) or 6+ years (MS).
• Strong skills in programming for data analysis and visualization.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize clinical trial planning.
• Develop predictive models for patient recruitment and retention.
• Contribute to protocol development and decision-making.

Skills

Statistical modeling

Artificial Intelligence

Machine Learning

Data Science

Programming in R/Python

Education

PhD in Statistics/Biostatistics or related field

MS in Statistics/Biostatistics or related field

Tools

R

Python

SQL

SAS

Job description

Overview

Do you want to be part of an inclusive team that works to develop innovative therapies for patients? Every day, we are driven to develop and deliver innovative and effective new medicines to patients and physicians. If you want to be part of this exciting work, you belong at Astellas!

Astellas Pharma Inc. is a pharmaceutical company conducting business in more than 70 countries around the world. We are committed to turning innovative science into medical solutions that bring value and hope to patients and their families. Keeping our focus on addressing unmet medical needs and conducting our business with ethics and integrity enables us to improve the health of people throughout the world. For more information on Astellas, please visit our website at www.astellas.com.

This position is based in Northbrook, Illinois. Remote work from certain states may be permitted in accordance with Astellas’ Responsible Flexibility Guidelines. Candidates interested in remote work are encouraged to apply.

Purpose And Scope

The Clinical Modeling, Analytics & Operational Excellence team is a high-impact innovation team that applies advanced analytics, real-world data, modeling & simulation, and AI/ML to solve critical challenges in clinical development. This team designs and implements predictive models for patient recruitment and retention, optimizes trial feasibility and site selection, assesses novel clinical endpoints, simulates study outcomes to guide protocol design, and develops innovative operational strategies to reduce execution risk and accelerate timelines.

The Clinical Modeling & Analytics Innovation Scientist will shape the future of data-driven clinical development by pioneering innovative solutions at the intersection of AI/ML, advanced analytics, modeling and simulation. This position collaborates closely with colleagues across clinical, biostatistics, real-world data, clinical operations, and digital/IT to improve feasibility assessments, enhance enrollment forecast, deepen data exploration and optimize trial decision-makings. In addition, the Clinical Modeling & Analytics Innovation Scientist will be at the forefront of innovation, developing novel methodologies and driving adoption of emerging technologies (e.g., generative foundational models, digital twins, and advanced imaging analytics) to transform clinical trial strategy and execution.

Essential Job Responsibilities

The Clinical Modeling & Analytics Innovation Scientist

• Contributes to cross-functional initiatives by collaborating with cross-functional teams and applying clinical modeling & simulation, advanced analytics, and AI/ML to trial design, feasibility, and execution optimization.
• Implements and delivers simulation and predictive models to inform and optimize clinical trial planning, protocol development, patient recruitment and retention across therapeutic areas.
• Contributes to the development and maintenance of clinical modeling & data strategy and roadmap dedicated to specific business areas.
• Collaborates with medical, biostatistics, real-world data, and operational teams to embed clinical modeling & analytics insights into protocol development, portfolio planning and decision-making.
• Stays current with emerging technologies, proposes and develops innovative modeling and analytics methodologies, and leads or contributes to internal training and external publications and presentations.

Qualifications

Required:

• Advanced degrees in Statistics/Biostatistics, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Epidemiology, Computational Biology, Informatics, or related quantitative disciplines.
• PhD with minimum 3+ years of experience or MS with minimum 6+ years of experience in pharma/biotech, CROs or healthcare settings.
• Deep understanding of quantitative theories in statistical modeling, AI/ML and independent project experience from planning to delivery.
• Strong hand-on skills with one or more programming languages (i.e., R, Python, Julia, SAS, SQL etc.) for data manipulation, analysis and visualization.
• Familiar with various data sources (i.e., clinical trials, RWD), and relevant standards (CDISC, OMOP, CTMS etc.) in clinical development and operations.

Preferred:

• Experience with development and deployment of generative AI solutions (i.e., LLMs or foundational models), digital twins or medical imaging analytics etc.
• Track record of quantitative expertise in advanced analytics, modeling & simulation and AI/ML, i.e., with publications and presentations.
• Experience with MLOps and workflow development within cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP etc.).
• Exposure to multiple therapeutic areas (i.e., oncology, ophthalmology, rare disease etc) and therapeutic modalities (i.e., small molecules, antibodies, bispecific, ADCs or targeted protein degradation, cell & gene therapy, etc.).

Salary Range

$125K – $170K (NOTE: Final salary could be more or less, based on experience)

Working Environment

• At Astellas we recognize the importance of work/life balance, and we are proud to offer a hybrid working solution allowing time to connect with colleagues at the office with the flexibility to also work from home. We believe this will optimize the most productive work environment for all employees to succeed and deliver. Hybrid work from certain locations may be permitted in accordance with Astellas’ Responsible Flexibility Guidelines.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off options, including Vacation, Sick time, plus national holidays including Heritage Days, and Summer and Winter Breaks
• 401(k) match and annual company contribution
• Company paid life insurance
• Annual Corporate Bonus and Quarterly Sales Incentive for eligible positions
• Long Term Incentive Plan for eligible positions
• Referral bonus program

EEO

Astellas is committed to equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment. EOE including Disability/Protected Veterans