Senior Research Scientist

SoTalent; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

SoTalent is seeking a Senior Research Scientist specializing in Agentic AI for Drug Discovery. The role involves developing AI systems to transform scientific research and automate workflows in drug discovery, requiring strong experience in agentic AI frameworks and collaboration across interdisciplinary teams.

Ideal candidates will have a PhD or equivalent experience, proficiency in Python, and a passion for applying AI to stem complex scientific challenges.

Qualifications

• PhD with 2+ years, or a Master's with 8+ years, or Bachelor's with 10+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience with Large Language Models and complex reasoning applications.
• Understanding of pharmaceutical research and drug discovery workflows.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop advanced agentic AI systems supporting drug discovery.
• Partner with scientists and researchers to understand workflow requirements.
• Stay current with advancements in agentic AI and generative AI.

Skills

Agentic AI frameworks

Python programming

Large Language Models

Machine learning

Scientific communication

Education

PhD in a scientific, computational, or quantitative discipline

Master's degree with relevant experience

Bachelor's degree with relevant experience

Tools

LangChain

AutoGen

CrewAI

Job description

Type: Full Time

Our Client is Looking an innovative Senior Research Scientist – Agentic AI for Drug Discovery to develop next-generation AI systems that transform scientific research and accelerate drug discovery. This role sits within a cutting-edge AI/ML organization focused on building autonomous AI agents capable of reasoning, planning, and executing complex scientific workflows across research and development.

Key Responsibilities

Agentic AI Development

• Design and develop advanced agentic AI systems that support critical drug discovery activities
• Build autonomous agents capable of reasoning, planning, executing tasks, and iterating based on outcomes
• Transform complex scientific workflows into scalable agent-driven solutions

Scientific Workflow Automation

• Develop AI solutions supporting:
• Target identification and validation
• Literature search and knowledge synthesis
• Hypothesis generation
• Experimental design and optimization
• Scientific data analysis
• Enable researchers to automate repetitive and knowledge-intensive tasks
• Build applications leveraging large language models (LLMs) for scientific reasoning and decision support
• Develop Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architectures integrating scientific literature, databases, and experimental data
• Enhance AI agents with advanced retrieval, summarization, and evidence-based reasoning capabilities

Agent Framework & Tool Development

• Design and implement new agent capabilities, including:
• Scientific tools and APIs
• Property prediction models
• Assay planning tools
• Data analysis functions
• Expand AI agent functionality across specialized scientific domains

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with scientists, researchers, and technical teams to understand workflow requirements
• Validate AI outputs and ensure scientific rigor and practical usefulness
• Iterate on agent design based on user feedback and emerging business needs

Innovation & Thought Leadership

• Stay current with advancements in:
• Agentic AI
• Generative AI
• Scientific automation
• Contribute to publications, presentations, and internal knowledge-sharing initiatives
• Drive innovation in AI-enabled scientific research

What We’re Looking For

Technical Expertise

• Strong experience working with:
• Agentic AI frameworks
• Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
• Hands‑on experience with frameworks such as:
• LangChain
• AutoGen
• CrewAI
• Similar agent orchestration platforms

AI & Data Science Capabilities

• Experience building:
• Knowledge retrieval systems
• Vector database solutions
• Embedding and search pipelines
• Strong understanding of machine learning and AI system design

Scientific Domain Knowledge

• Understanding of pharmaceutical research and drug discovery workflows
• Ability to translate scientific problems into computational solutions
• Familiarity with scientific datasets, literature, and research methodologies
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams
• Proven problem‑solving abilities and innovative thinking
• Passion for applying AI to solve complex scientific challenges

Qualifications

Required

• PhD in a scientific, computational, or quantitative discipline with 2+ years of relevant experience; OR
• Master’s degree with 8+ years of relevant experience; OR
• Bachelor’s degree with 10+ years of relevant experience
• Experience with Large Language Models and complex reasoning applications
• Proficiency in Python programming
• Experience with agent-based AI frameworks and RAG systems
• Understanding of scientific research and drug discovery processes

Preferred

• Experience within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or life sciences organizations
• Background in biology, chemistry, or disease biology
• Experience with reinforcement learning or AI planning algorithms
• Familiarity with scientific databases and research platforms
• Experience deploying AI solutions into production environments
• Publications or conference presentations related to AI, machine learning, or scientific research