Python Job: Internship for “Cynomolgus Monkey Body Map for Com

At Roche, 80,000 people across 150 countries are pushing back the frontiers of healthcare.

We believe it’s urgent to deliver medical solutions right now – even as we develop innovations for the future. We are passionate about transforming patients’ lives and we are fearless in both decision and action. And we believe that good business means a better world.

We commit ourselves to scientific rigor, unassailable ethics, and access to medical innovations for all. We do this today to build a better tomorrow.

The position

Pharmaceutical Sciences (PS) is a global function within Roche Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED). As a team member in Predictive Modeling and Data Analytics (PMDA) chapter of PS, you will work in close collaboration with scientists in pRED, using state-of-the-art bioinformatics and biostatistics tools and methods.

We are seeking an intern pursuing a master’s degree with expertise in advanced analytics and bioinformatics to help us explore its potential applications in healthcare. The main focus of the position is on exploratory research projects centered on the use of single-cell RNA sequencing data for computational safety assessments.

Studying tissue composition and function in non-human primates (NHPs) is crucial to extrapolate preclinical safety findings to humans. Recently, major single-cell/nuclei datasets became publicly available, covering the entire body or specific brain parts of the cynomolgus monkey (M. fascicularis), providing an invaluable resource for such comparative analyses. Through this project, we aim to process several large-scale public single-cell/nuclei cynomolgus datasets such that they meet internal standards and can be used in safety evaluations. Ultimately, this will serve to delineate species-specific expression, cell composition and spatial tissue patterns relevant for safety readouts and drug metabolism.

We are looking for individuals who are:

• Creative problem solvers, quick learners and comfortable experimenting with new approaches

• Demonstrate high productivity and enjoy dealing with ambiguity and applying novel methodologies

• Possess entrepreneurship, passion and curiosity for understanding and interrogating complex data.

In this position you will:

• Critically assess the cell type annotations of relevant single-cell/nuclei RNA-seq data such as the recently published cynomolgus body and neocortex atlases

• Reprocess the data as needed and adjust the annotations to meet internal standards and provide a solid reference for safety-related questions as well as cell deconvolution of spatial transcriptomics data

• Integrate the cynomolgus atlas datasets into internal databases and visualization tools to facilitate their usage across pRED

• Share gathered knowledge and data with Roche’s advanced analytics and safety assessment communities

You have experience and expertise in the following:

• Programming skills in Python, R, or similar are necessary

• Good understanding of molecular biology and genomics

• Familiarity with single-cell RNA sequencing are preferable

• Background in one of the following domains: biology, computer science, and mathematics or statistics, complemented by basic knowledge in the other domains

You have very good interpersonal and communication skills, are able to build good working relationships, and are an outstanding teammate. Your experience and investigative attitude allow you to work independently, to design, perform, and interpret experiments, and to embark on new scientific methodologies.

Qualifications Required:

• Currently enrolled in an MSc programme (or have graduated within the last 12 months) or have a Bachelor’s degree in bioinformatics or related discipline (e.g. computer science, biomedicine, biological sciences, biostatistics).

When does it start?

The start date of this internship is Q2 2023, or on availability. In case of specific preferences, please indicate your preferred starting date in your motivation letter.

All applications need to include a CV and a motivation letter.

Due to regulations non-EU/EFTA citizens must provide a certificate from the university stating that an internship is mandatory as part of the application documents.

If you still have questions, then please check our FAQs and videos on careers.roche.ch/faq

Tags: single cell sequencing, NGS, cynomolgus monkey, computational toxicology, computational safety

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