Senior Computational Scientist - AI/ML for Drug Discovery

Placements24; Bloemfontein; Hybrid; ZAR 2,001,000 - 3,001,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote-first company culture

Competitive compensation and equity

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Computational Scientist to join a remote-first pharma AI team. You will develop ML models for drug discovery, analyze complex biological and chemical data, and collaborate with chemists, biologists, and data scientists.

PhD and 6+ years in ML, strong Python and ML library skills, cloud experience, and a track record of publications or patents are required. This is a global, collaborative research role with significant impact.

Qualifications

• PhD with ML focus in quantitative field required.
• Minimum 6 years applying AI/ML to complex problems, pharma/biotech preferred.
• Expertise in ML algorithms and deployment using TF, PyTorch or scikit-learn.
• Strong Python programming and data analysis libraries (NumPy, Pandas, SciPy).
• Knowledge of cheminformatics and/or bioinformatics data types.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP) is highly desirable.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills; strong communication.
• Publications and/or patents demonstrate scientific contributions.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and validate advanced ML models for drug discovery.
• Analyze large-scale biological, chemical, and clinical data with statistical methods.
• Collaborate with chemists, biologists, and other computational scientists to apply insights.
• Design computational experiments, evaluate models, and iterate to improve accuracy.
• Stay current with AI/ML, cheminformatics, and bioinformatics advancements.
• Build scalable pipelines and leverage cloud computing environments.

Skills

Machine learning mastery

Python programming

Research & publications

Remote collaboration

Analytical thinking

Education

PhD in Computational Chemistry, CS, Bioinformatics, Statistics, Physics, or related ML field

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

scikit-learn

NumPy

Pandas

SciPy

AWS / Azure / GCP

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a forward-thinking pharmaceutical company leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning for drug discovery, is seeking a highly skilled Senior Computational Scientist to join their remote-first research team. This pivotal role involves the development and application of advanced AI/ML models to analyze complex biological and chemical data, identify novel drug targets, predict compound efficacy and toxicity, and optimize drug design. The Senior Computational Scientist will work on cutting-edge projects, collaborating with data scientists, chemists, and biologists to accelerate the drug discovery pipeline. The ideal candidate possesses a strong foundation in computational science, extensive experience with machine learning techniques, and a passion for applying these tools to solve challenging problems in the pharmaceutical industry. This is an exceptional opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research from anywhere, as part of a highly collaborative and innovative global team.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and validate advanced machine learning models for drug discovery applications, including target identification, hit discovery, lead optimization, and ADMET prediction.
• Analyze and interpret large-scale biological, chemical, and clinical datasets using sophisticated computational and statistical methods.
• Collaborate closely with chemists, biologists, and other computational scientists to integrate AI/ML insights into the drug discovery process.
• Design and execute computational experiments, evaluate model performance, and iterate on model development to improve predictive accuracy.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in AI/ML, cheminformatics, bioinformatics, and their application in drug discovery.
• Develop and maintain robust and scalable computational workflows and pipelines, potentially utilizing cloud computing environments.
• Communicate complex technical concepts and findings clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Contribute to the intellectual property portfolio through patent filings and publications.
• Mentor junior computational scientists and contribute to the team's knowledge sharing and best practices.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Computational Chemistry, Computer Science, Bioinformatics, Statistics, Physics, or a related quantitative field with a focus on machine learning.
• Minimum of 6 years of relevant experience in applying AI/ML techniques to complex problems, with a strong preference for experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.
• Proven expertise in developing and deploying machine learning algorithms (e.g., deep learning, gradient boosting, random forests) using frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, or scikit-learn.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python and experience with relevant libraries for data analysis and scientific computing (e.g., NumPy, Pandas, SciPy).
• Strong understanding of cheminformatics and/or bioinformatics principles and experience working with relevant data types (e.g., molecular structures, genomic data, assay results).
• Experience with cloud computing platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) is highly desirable.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate scientific questions into computational solutions.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in a remote, cross-functional team.
• Demonstrated track record of scientific contributions through publications and/or patents.

Benefits

• Our client offers a highly competitive compensation package, including a generous base salary, performance-based bonuses, and equity options.
• As a remote-first company, we provide flexibility and support for employees to work from their preferred location.
• Comprehensive health benefits, a robust retirement plan, and generous paid time off are included.
• You will have the opportunity to work on challenging and impactful projects, utilizing cutting-edge AI/ML technologies to drive pharmaceutical innovation.
• We foster a culture of continuous learning, collaboration, and scientific excellence.
• Join a team that is shaping the future of drug discovery.