Computational Scientist, Cambridge, MA

Job description

This is a new role in a new organization, Digital and Machine Learning, whose global responsibilities are to drive new business and scientific solutions to meet Sanofi Pasteur's mission to become the disruptive market leader in vaccines.

S/he will apply their solid mathematical / analytical skills to model scientific and business challenges, propose solutions, and role model quantitative thinking.

As a technical area expert in mathematics, s/he will work with stakeholders across. S/he will work in a centralized team of scientific and business experts and is expected to blend lateral influence with direct action.

S/he is expected to have a solid background in mathematics and/or machine learning regardless of education level achieved.

Machine Learning (ML) and Digital Solutions

·  Brings unconventional ideas from idea to Proof-of-Concept (POC), especially by combining machine learning techniques with laboratory approaches, and helps drive projects through to completion or to the clinic.
·  Challenges existing models and dogma by developing and/or identifying experiments to couple clinical outcomes to preclinical assessments
·  Develops and deploys contemporary and state-of-the-art machine learning platforms (e.g. deep learning platforms like Tensorflow/MXNet and the like)
·  Develops, deploys, and assesses the results of at-scale models at varying levels of model granularity for characterizing the biochemical, cellular, organ, and systems-level properties of vaccination, encompassing heterogeneous preclinical and clinical data.
·  Produces model designs and performs computational experiments with a ‘fail fast' spirit and considers the outlier result the most interesting result.
·  Generates IP and participate in the drafting of patent filings
·  Directs the production of high-quality analyses and codebases that extend the capabilities and impact of the team as a whole

Internal and External Networking

·  Participates in relevant Project Teams and proactively maintain an open interface and communication channel with relevant areas of the company.
·  Ensures transparent and cooperative liaison with other positions around innovation and artificial intelligence/big data within the wider Sanofi Group.
·  Ensures efficient and agile communication of key information, process and workflow operational element in various circumstances.
·  Develops and maintains an international network of experts in CSB/ML, key science, technology and innovation areas, including outside the typical vaccine industry.
·  Representations and interventions at the international/community level on relevant ML and infectious disease matters. Presents at conferences.
·  Leads by Influence to mentor diverse staff in the interpretation and generation of novel vaccine candidates performance data

Context of the job/major challenges

This position is key for achieving the mission of the newly formed Global Digital and Machine Learning group within Sanofi Pasteur: pioneering, testing and implementing innovative cutting edge biological science and novel ML technology solutions. This position will also be critical for the long-term ambition of Sanofi Pasteur R&D in the development of a comprehensive adoption of machine learning technologies across the company.

The major challenges related to the role are:

·  This is a role in a newly created group in the company.
·  The use of machine learning is new to the organization, hence will require education and might encounter resistance from in-house scientific experts (perception of threat).
·  The complexity and variety of the role: ability to switch smoothly between different scientific and operational disciplines and requirements; being able to marry deep scientific research and fast exploratory mindset with proper documentation.
·  Execute on a variety of timescales and merge results from many sub-disciplines and techniques to assess and design
·  The need to quickly transform an idea into an experiment and learn from the result to decide on the next step, which might be to kill the idea.
·  Creation of new scientific avenues or new business opportunities historically not explored by SP.
·  Tact, diplomacy, people skills, and excellent networking and communication (both oral and written) skills in general are important.

Sanofi Inc. and its U.S. affiliates are Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employers committed to a culturally diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; creed; religion; national origin; age; ancestry; nationality; marital, domestic partnership or civil union status; sex, gender, gender identity or expression; affectional or sexual orientation; disability; veteran or military status or liability for military status; domestic violence victim status; atypical cellular or blood trait; genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing) or any other characteristic protected by law.

#GD-SP

At Sanofi diversity and inclusion is foundational to how we operate and embedded in our Core Values. We recognize to truly tap into the richness diversity brings we must lead with inclusion and have a workplace where those differences can thrive and be leveraged to empower the lives of our colleagues, patients and customers. We respect and celebrate the diversity of our people, their backgrounds and experiences and provide equal opportunity for all.