Research Senior Data Scientist - Ajami Lab - Department of Neurology (Remote)

Responsibilities

The incumbent will develop and implement AI-driven computational research platforms to analyze complex biological datasets and identify therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative diseases. Responsibilities include creating database-to-deployment pipelines, performing advanced statistical analysis, and leading the communication of scientific findings through publications and conferences.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree in a quantitative field such as Computer Science, Statistics, or Engineering. A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in data science within biomedical or clinical research environments is required, along with proficiency in R, Python, and SQL.

Skills

• Python
• R
• SQL
• Machine Learning
• Data Mining
• Statistics
• Data Visualization
• Bioinformatics
• Single-cell analysis
• Spatial transcriptomics
• Artificial Intelligence
• GitHub
• Data cleaning
• Predictive modeling
• Algorithm development
• Multiomics

About this role

Join us as we translate today's discoveries into tomorrow's medicine!

Are you ready to be a part of breakthrough research?

About the Ajami Lab:

The Ajami Lab in the Department of Neurology at Cedars-Sinai investigates the
role of microglia and peripheral immune cells in neurodegenerative diseases,
including ALS, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. Our research
combines advanced experimental models, single-cell and spatial multiomics,
computational biology, and artificial intelligence to understand disease
mechanisms and identify novel therapeutic targets.

Role of the Research Senior Data Scientist:

The incumbent participates in biomedical research projects using programming,
data mining, statistics, machine learning, and visualization techniques to
invent new algorithms, methods, and software for data analysis. Responsibilities
include querying databases, data cleaning and quality control, supervised and
unsupervised machine learning, parametric and nonparametric statistical methods,
deploying, production models, and leading the communication of scientific
findings via peer-reviewed publications and scientific conferences. Writes
clean, performant, reusable code managed on GitHub to perform repeatable
analyses and to train and deploy models to multiple environments. Serves as a
resource 1-2 staff to assist with the development, evaluation, and/or
application of algorithms, methods, and software for data analysis.

The Research Senior Data Scientist will play a key role in establishing and
advancing an AI-driven computational research platform within the Ajami Lab.
Working closely with other data scientists, computational biologists, and
experimental researchers in the laboratory, this individual will develop and
implement advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches to
integrate and interpret complex, high-dimensional biological datasets.

The position will focus on developing AI-based analytical frameworks, predictive
models, and computational tools to uncover disease-associated cellular states,
identify molecular pathways and therapeutic targets, and generate testable
biological hypotheses across our ALS, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's
disease research programs.

The role will also involve integrating single-cell and spatial transcriptomics,
CITE-seq, spatial proteomics, and other multimodal datasets; developing scalable
and reproducible AI/ML pipelines; and collaborating with other scientists on
scientific publications, grant applications, and new research initiatives.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

* Invents, develops, evaluates, and applies computational and statistical
methods including artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms and
software for the analysis of biomedical data.
* Creates database-to-deployment pipelines for models using necessary
programming languages (primarily R, Python, SQL, neo4j).
* Creates sustainable data science infrastructure and adheres to data analysis
standard methodologies.
* Leads with the presentation and communication of scientific results through
laboratory meetings, scientific conferences, and peer-reviewed publications.
* Performs data cleaning, quality control, and analytical methods.
* Performs exploratory data analysis to gauge the need for or appropriateness
of advanced analytical methods.
* Leads discussions with senior research and/or lead research data scientists
and principal investigators to identify areas where data science can best be
applied to answer biomedical research questions.
* Tests and validates code to ensure adaptability of data applications with
version control through GitHub.
* Provides feedback to the lead for appraisals relating to research projects
and work performance.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

* Bachelor's degree in Computer Sciences, Machine Learning, Applied
Mathematics, Econometrics, Statistics, Engineering, Physics, or related
field, required.

Experience and Skills:

* Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in data science, healthcare, or
pharmaceutical industries or universities working with biomedical, clinical,
or biological data.
* Experience programming at an intermediate or advanced skill level with a
high-level programming language such as R or Python.
* Experience programming at an intermediate proficiency level in SQL.
* Experience with the development and evaluation of computational and/or
statistical methods including machine learning for data analysis.
* Work experience should include being an author or co-author on one or more
peer-reviewed scientific papers published in journals.

Cedars-Sinai is a leader in providing high-quality healthcare encompassing
primary care, specialized medicine and research. Since 1902, Cedars-Sinai has
evolved to meet the needs of one of the most diverse regions in the nation,
setting standards in quality and innovative patient care, research, teaching and
community service. Today, Cedars- Sinai is known for its national leadership in
transforming healthcare for the benefit of patients. Cedars-Sinai impacts the
future of healthcare by developing new approaches to treatment and educating
tomorrow's health professionals. Additionally, Cedars-Sinai demonstrates a
commitment to the community through programs that improve the health of its most
vulnerable residents.
Cedars-Sinai is one of the largest nonprofit academic medical centers in the
U.S., with 915 licensed beds, 2,993 physicians, 4,700+ nurses and thousands of
other healthcare professionals and staff. Choose this if you want to work in a
fast-paced environment that offers the highest level of care to people in the
Los Angeles that need our care the most.

About Cedars-Sinai

Hospitals and Health Care · 10,001+ employees · headquartered in Los Angeles, CA