Senior Scientist, Bioinformatics

Merck & Co. • Cambridge, MA

206d • Onsite

About The Position

The Data, AI, and Genome Sciences department is seeking a highly motivated and exceptionally skilled Spatial Transcriptomics Computational Expert to join our Translational Genome Analytics research team based in Cambridge, MA. This individual will play a crucial role in analyzing and interpreting complex spatial transcriptomics datasets generated using various cutting-edge platforms. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of computational biology, statistical methods, AI/ML and bioinformatics pipelines, with a proven track record of independently developing and applying advanced analytical approaches to extract meaningful biological insights from spatially resolved transcriptomic data. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research and drive discoveries in complex immunological diseases to inform novel target identification and mechanisms of drug action.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, Computer Science or a related field.
• Two (2) years of in-depth research experience with spatial transcriptomics, multi-omics data integration and analysis in such fields as data science, computational biology or bioinformatics.
• Demonstrable strong computational background with extensive experience in programming languages such as Python and R.
• Deep understanding of statistical principles and AI/ML algorithms relevant to high-dimensional data analysis.
• Proven experience in analyzing large-scale omics datasets, with a strong focus on transcriptomics and ideally including spatial transcriptomics data.
• Hands-on experience with various spatial transcriptomics analysis tools and packages (e.g., Seurat, Scanpy, Squidpy, Giotto, CellProfiler, HALO).
• Experience with cloud computing platforms (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud, Azure) and high-performance computing environments is highly desirable.
• Strong data visualization skills with experience using relevant software packages (e.g., ggplot2, matplotlib, Seurat/Scanpy visualization tools).
• Excellent problem-solving, critical thinking, and analytical skills.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with image analysis techniques relevant to spatial transcriptomics.
• Knowledge of specific biological domains relevant to the immune mediated disease or oncology in our Company's Research Lab.
• Experience in developing and deploying bioinformatics pipelines.
• Familiarity with database management and data warehousing concepts.
• Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git).
• A strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and optimize computational pipelines for the processing, quality control, normalization, integration, and analysis of spatial transcriptomics data (e.g., 10x Xenium/Visium, Nanostring CoxMx/GeoMx, MERFISH, seqFISH).
• Apply advanced statistical inference and AI/ML methods for spatial domain identification and characterization.
• Cell type deconvolution and spatial mapping.
• Identification of spatially variable genes and pathways.
• Analysis of cell-cell interactions and spatial relationships.
• Integration of spatial transcriptomics data with other omics datasets (e.g., single-cell RNA-seq, proteomics, imaging).
• Develop novel computational tools and algorithms to address specific challenges in spatial transcriptomics data analysis.
• Collaborate closely with experimental biologists to understand biological questions, design analysis strategies, and interpret results.
• Effectively communicate complex computational findings to both computational and experimental colleagues through clear visualizations, reports, and presentations.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in spatial transcriptomics technologies, computational methods, and relevant biological fields.
• Contribute to the preparation of manuscripts, presentations, and intellectual property filings.
• Maintain meticulous documentation of codes, pipelines, and analyses.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Industry: Chemical Manufacturing
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree