Python Job: RNA Data Scientist

In Roche´s Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development organization (pRED), we make transformative medicines for patients in order to tackle some of the world’s toughest unmet healthcare needs. At pRED, we are united by our mission to transform science into medicines. Together, we create a culture defined by curiosity, responsibility and humility, where our talented people are empowered and inspired to bring forward extraordinary life-changing innovation at speed.

This position is anchored into the Analytics chapter in Data & Analytics (D&A). D&A is a multidisciplinary team focused on data driven decision making. We do this by bridging strong domain knowledge to cutting edge data analytics, modeling and data science methods. We closely collaborate with our therapeutic areas and functions to convert hypotheses into innovative therapeutics.

The position holder will be member of the newly formed cross-functional RNAHub, where disease-biologists, nonclinical development experts, molecular biologists, molecule engineers, bioengineers and data scientists from various pRED functions join together to create and apply technologies that perturb RNA to discover drugs, biomarkers and targets.

The RNAHub takes a very data-centric approach, utilizing both artificial and human intelligence, that requires a high degree of data-literacy. In the RNAHub, we build a strong, collective and engaged community, where we employ, explore and evolve new ways of working in a research environment.

We are offering an outstanding opportunity to work with multidisciplinary teams of scientists dedicated to initiating and implementing novel drug discovery projects, and to jointly shape our future portfolio as a member of a broad network of drug discovery specialists.

Your Impact

• Shape, implement and evolve our RN.AI vision (design predictable RNA therapeutics with the help of a data centric formulation based on an expanding data space both in term of descriptors/features but also data points)

• Together with disease experts, chemical designers and safety & efficacy colleagues you translate scientific questions into machine learning formulations around mechanistic understanding, structure activity relationship, phenotype assessment or tissue delivery

• Solve oligonucleotide workflow challenges using strong skill levels for computational tasks involving analyses of RNA sequences using bioinformatic, imaging, and machine learning techniques

• Design and conduct analysis and develop pipelines and algorithms for large-scale datasets.

• Nurture trustful relationships and effective collaboration with internal and external partners.

Essentials:

• PhD in quantitative field (e.g. mathematics, statistics, computer science, bioinformatics, electrical engineering, biomedical/bioengineering, etc.) with significant computational experience.

• Extensive experience in end-to-end ML/AI development, including data engineering, data modeling, model training, model selection and evaluation.

• Extensive experience with feature engineering spanning both chemical with empirical descriptors (e.g. chemical properties and/or multi/spatial-omics and/or imaging)

• Experienced in Python or R (multiple programming languages a plus). Proficient skills using data science packages, for instance Pandas, Scikit-learn, numpy for Python, tidyverse, caret for R

• Experience with Machine Learning algorithms such as Random Forest, Gradient Boosting Machines, Neural Networks, and/or experienced with Deep Learning frameworks (Tensorflow, Pytorch, Keras) and modern architectures such as Resnet, Densenet, U-net, GAN. Working knowledge of inferential statistical analysis on controlled experiment or observational data is a plus.

Desirable:

• An absolute advantage is experience in designing predictive models within the RNA Therapeutics field at any stage: disease understanding, in-silico design, in-vitro or/and in-vivo safety and efficacy

• Strategic thinking, self-initiative and a strong sense of accountability with an ability and willingness to challenge, be challenged and learn

• High spirit of collaboration and ability to work in a highly self-managed manner in an agile matrix team with a sense of urgency and ability to deal with complex situations.

• Ability to radically simplify and prioritize for impact. You invest your time in things that accelerate progress for patients. You stop doing things that do not.

Roche commits to recognizing talent and aptitude. We prioritize encouraging and supporting our employees on their personal journeys by providing a safe, creative space to help them reflect, make decisions and grow in their career.

We are confident that we find the most innovative solutions by gaining different perspectives, asking and answering hard questions, and challenging the status quo. Roche embraces diversity and equal opportunity in a serious yet enthusiastic way; we are devoted to building a team that represents a range of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

At Roche, more than 100,000 people across 100 countries are pushing back the frontiers of healthcare. Working together, we’ve become one of the world’s leading research-focused healthcare groups. Our success is built on innovation, curiosity and diversity.

Basel is the headquarters of the Roche Group and one of its most important centres of pharmaceutical research. Over 10,700 employees from over 100 countries come together at our Basel/Kaiseraugst site, which is one of Roche`s largest sites. Read more.

Besides extensive development and training opportunities, we offer flexible working options, 18 weeks of maternity leave and 10 weeks of gender independent partnership leave. Our employees also benefit from multiple services on site such as child-care facilities, medical services, restaurants and cafeterias, as well as various employee events.

We believe in the power of diversity and inclusion, and strive to identify and create opportunities that enable all people to bring their unique selves to Roche.

Roche is an Equal Opportunity Employer.