Senior Data Scientist, Translational Bioinformatics

Calico (Calico Life Sciences LLC) is an Alphabet-founded research and development company whose mission is to harness advanced technologies and model systems to increase our understanding of the biology that controls human aging. Calico will use that knowledge to devise interventions that enable people to lead longer and healthier lives. Calico’s highly innovative technology labs, its commitment to curiosity-driven discovery science and, with academic and industry partners, its vibrant drug-development pipeline, together create an inspiring and exciting place to catalyze and enable medical breakthroughs.

Position description:

Calico is seeking a Senior Data Scientist to join our efforts in advancing novel therapies through the drug development pipeline to clinical development. In this role you will work closely with translational scientists, external partners and collaborators to advance Calico’s translational programs targeting modulators of age-related diseases spanning a broad range of disease areas, including oncology and neurodegeneration. Our programs target fundamental biological processes, informed by aging biology, whose dysregulation may contribute to multiple diseases.

As a member of the Calico’s Computing team, you will work closely with a cross-functional group of computational biologists, machine learning engineers, data scientists, translational project leads, scientists, and biostatisticians to advance Calico’s pipeline. This role offers a unique opportunity to innovate at the leading edge of data science.

Position responsibilities:

• Analyze high-dimensional phenotypic data (genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics, and imaging, across multiple experimental conditions) to answer key questions for our development programs as they advance towards the clinic. This will involve translating insights across datasets including cell culture models, animal models, early stage human research, and public datasets.
• Develop and quantify novel biomarkers that capture the state of a disease, target engagement, or patient selection.
• Interface with translational scientists in both the Research and Drug Development organizations; recommend experimental strategies and appropriate designs to gather evidence; interpret experimental findings both as an individual contributor and subject-matter expert in data and disease.
• Work with other data scientists and engineers on the Computing team to design and build systems and visualizations to enable data exploration by drug developers and researchers across Calico.
• Communicate clearly and effectively in verbal, visual, and written form to stakeholders with varying levels of technical knowledge.

Position requirements:

• Ph.D. /MS in a quantitative field such as Computational Biology, Genomics, Computer Science, Bioinformatics, Statistics, Biological Sciences, or equivalent preparation and 4+ years of work experience.
• Demonstrated experience analyzing biological data and expertise in a disease area of interest to Calico (broadly defined as age-related disease, examples include oncology and neurodegeneration).
• Experience with testing statistical hypotheses using high-dimensional genomic or other omics data (e.g., bulk RNAseq, single-cell RNAseq, ribosome profiling, ATACseq/ChipSeq, metabolomics, proteomics, imaging).
• Fluent in R and/or Python with experience using industrial best practice (version control, unit testing, and package management).
• Experience in applying statistical methods, such as: generalized linear models, hazard models, maximum likelihood estimation, and false discovery rate control.
• Track record of effective cross-functional collaboration.
• Must be willing to work onsite three days a week.

Nice to have’s:

• 2+ years experience working on drug development in an industry setting.

Calico requires all new hires to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to the first date of employment.  As required by applicable law, Calico will consider requests for Reasonable Accommodations.