Director, Genomic Data Science

Position:Director, Genomic Data Science

Make a more meaningful impact to patients’ lives around the globe

Here you’ll have the chance to create a meaningful difference to patients’ lives. With science at its heart, this is the place where breakthroughs born in the lab become transformative medicines – for the world’s most sophisticated diseases.

There’s no better time to join our global, growing enterprise as we lead the way for healthcare and society. Our inquisitive culture is uniquely open and collaborative. Here, you’ll be surrounded by forward-thinking minds from a diverse set of backgrounds who think differently about the world.

Diverse Minds. Go further with bold new opportunities.

A highly visible opportunity to lead the Centre for Genomics Research’s (CGR) Genomics Data Science team. CGR is an interdisciplinary organisation focused on leveraging population-scale human multi-modal genetics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and health data to inform better decision making across drug discovery R&D.

What You’ll do

We are seeking a dynamic leader to head our growing team of data scientists, machine learning specialists, and data visualization developers. In this role, you will collaborate with industry-leading experts in human genomics and leverage multi-omic data from over 1.5M genetically diverse individuals – one of the largest collections of human genetics data in the world. You will design and implement cutting-edge methods for analysing large-scale genomics data and lead a team that has been instrumental in driving innovative scientific insights into disease biology, validating new drug targets, elucidating early disease processes and enhancing opportunities for patient stratification.

As the Director of Genomic Data Science, you will oversee the Genomic Data Science team, executing existing data science and machine learning strategies while ensuring technical excellence. Your leadership will encompass line management, demand planning, and team resourcing, serving as a role model by staying abreast of the latest data science and machine learning methodologies.

You will be part of a dynamic team within CGR's multidisciplinary research environment, working closely with cross-functional experts in statistical genetics, multi-omics, translational science, functional genomics, drug discovery, pre-clinical modelling, and clinical development. This collaboration significantly contributes to the broader objectives of the company-wide Genomics Initiative, ensuring its success and alignment with corporate goals. Your role is pivotal in advancing our genomics capabilities and driving our mission to innovate in the field of genomics and AI, and you will work closely with CGR leadership in translating this vision into impactful data science-driven solutions.

In this role, you will be:

• Leading teams to translate disease biology problems into appropriate machine learning frameworks across drug discovery project portfolio.

• Identifying new opportunities to maximise the discovery potential from the growing data, tools, and expertise resources in the wider organisation.

• Building strong relationships with senior and executive stakeholders to ensure the utilisation of genomics information and insights.

• Promoting ongoing knowledge and awareness of trends, best practices, and new developments in genomics, data science, and AI, influencing functional practices and strategy.

• Overseeing a portfolio of Data Science, ML, and AI projects with defined scopes across multiple geographical locations.

• Driving and contributing to scientific publications, publishing data and code internally and externally.

• Defining training standards for junior colleagues, focusing on genomics and machine learning best practices and principles.

• Leading within the AstraZeneca data science community to develop genomics best practices and cross-functional opportunities that drive value.

• Driving the technical implementation of existing strategies to deliver innovative solutions that address scientific challenges.

• Maintaining a well-developed knowledge of genomic data science and staying abreast of technical advances in the international community.

• Ensuring own work, and work of team, is compliant with Good Laboratory Practice, Safety, Health and Environment standards and all other internal AstraZeneca standards and external regulations

Essential Criteria

• PhD degree (or equivalent experience) in Machine Learning, Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, or a related quantitative discipline

• Established scientific reputation through a track record of peer-reviewed publications in high-impact scientific journals, patents, technical white-papers or equivalent

• Strong programming experience and technical expertise demonstrated by previously published data science software projects

• Over 8 years of experience in large-scale data analysis, applied statistics, or machine learning building and leading successful teams

• Proven prior experience in developing innovative machine learning and deep learning systems using established frameworks (e.g. scikit-learn, PyTorch, TensorFlow, Keras)

• Ability to communicate effectively with team members and non-experts, both verbally and through documentation

• Ability to carry out duties under minimal supervision

• Excellent interpersonal skills and willingness to work within a team in a quickly evolving environment

• Understanding or curiosity about the potential of genomics to impact drug discovery

Desirable Criteria

• Previous experience in a similar role

• Familiarity working on genomics studies involving one of AstraZeneca’s core therapeutic areas (e.g. Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic; Respiratory & Immunology; Rare Diseases; Oncology).

• Integration of multiple -omics data types

• Familiarity with Generative AI models (e.g. LLMs)

• Experience in high performance and/or cloud computing 

• Experience directing or project-leading external collaborations

• Ability to provide leadership and guidance to deliver project goals through others

Why AstraZeneca?

At AstraZeneca we’re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. There’s no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients and society. An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration. Always committed to lifelong learning, growth and development.

So, what’s next?

Complete your application before the below closing date.

Where can I find out more?

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AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorisation and employment eligibility verification requirements.