Do you want to help us improve human health and understand life on Earth? Make your mark by shaping the future to enable or deliver life-changing science to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges.
We seek a Senior or Principal Data Scientist to deliver a project at the intersection of machine learning and biology at Wellcome Sanger Institute. The position is for a two year fixed term contract working on a project funded by Open Targets within Mo Lotfollahi's team in our Cellular Genomics Programme.
About the Role:
The Project aims to leverage datasets internally generated at the Sanger Institute and publicly available data from human cells to create foundational models for cellular biology predicting cellular behaviours in response to different perturbations, to enhance our understanding of life's rules and improving health for all.
Your role will involve designing foundational models leveraging multi-modal readouts. This includes integrating and processing data from various sources to develop robust and versatile AI models. To achieve this, you will work with open-source software, proposing, developing, and maintaining new solutions to analyse and interpret large-scale single-cell datasets. We have access to unique data and are also in the position to generate data to train unique models. Additionally, we have substantial computational power and GPU resources to train large models efficiently.
Our teams are well-positioned to tackle this problem with experience in both generating and analysis of datasets, including millions of cells across multiple tissues and conditions (e.g., disease, healthy). This involves a detailed understanding of the training of large-scale ML models and a track record of undertaking large data-science projects.
What you'll be doing:
- Independently manage and lead machine learning projects and write outcomes in a scientific publication for submission to journals or machine learning conferences (ICLR, ICML, CVPR, etc).
- Be responsible for the design of machine learning tools according to requirements specified by the scientific leadership of the group.
- To communicate the results through other relevant means, for example, presenting posters at international scientific meetings and meetings with collaborators
- Collaborate with team members to propose, develop, and evaluate new machine learning models that enable understanding single-cell data and its application in drug discovery
- To take a full part in the general duties of the team, and to pass on skills and knowledge to other team members and visitors. To take part in wider Sanger Institute activities as appropriate
- To contribute to problem solving discussions with team members across the wider Institute as appropriate to solve complicated or multifaceted problems and generate novel ideas and new approaches.
Additional responsibilities for Principal Data Scientist:
- Lead writing scientific papers aimed at biotechnology and biology
- Write/support grant applications
- Take the lead and collaborate with Ph.D. students and postdocs on developing solutions for the interdisciplinary scientific problems in biology as well as engaging with key stakeholders and collaborators both within and outside the Institute
- Maintain a key understanding of the research portfolio within the team, and support in ensuring grants and key objectives are delivered.
About Us:
Open Targets is a public-private partnership involving the Wellcome Sanger Institute, a world-leading genomics institution, EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), a global leader in the management, integration and analysis of public domain life science data, and world-leading pharmaceutical companies GSK, Sanofi, MSD, Pfizer, and Genentech
The Open Targets (OT) research programme generates and analyses data to connect targets to diseases, assess the strength of this evidence, and help identify and prioritise targets for drug discovery. This includes evidence that causally links targets and diseases, as well as foundational data that helps us understand biological processes and disease progression more deeply.
You will work within an interdisciplinary team of life scientists and computer/ML scientists, with a shared objective of advancing biological research through these foundational models. This role will sit within the AI/ML Faculty group led by Dr. Mo Lotfollahi, and you will be responsible for delivering your portfolio of scientific research projects as part of the broader team strategy.
About You:
You will be supported in your personal and professional development and have the opportunity to lead peer-reviewed publications around using genetics and genomics approaches to guide drug discovery and present them at national and international conferences.
Essential Skills:
- MSc and/or Ph.D. or equivalent experience in a relevant quantitative discipline (e.g., Computer Science, Computational Biology, Genetics, Bioinformatics, Physics, Engineering, or Applied Statistics/Mathematics)
- Proven experience using advanced statistical techniques, machine learning, and modern deep learning techniques.
- Previous ML work experience in scientific/academic environment (RA/Internships are considered as work experience)
- Strong knowledge of Python, including core data science libraries such as Scikit-Learn, SciPy, TensorFlow, and PyTorch.
- Knowledge of software development good practices and collaboration tools, including git-based version control, python package management, and code reviews.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex machine learning algorithms and statistical methods to non-technical stakeholders.
- Experience working with cloud environments and tools, such as Amazon AWS S3, EC2, etc
- Evidence of related work experience as a researcher in the area of Machine learning
- Strong publication record
- Ability to quickly understand scientific, technical, and process challenges and breakdown complex problems into actionable steps
- Ability to work in a frequently changing environment with the capability to interpret management information to amend plans
- Ability to prioritize, manage workload, and deliver agreed activities consistently on time
- Demonstrate good networking, influencing and relationship building skills
- Strategic thinking is the ability to see the ‘bigger picture
- Ability to build collaborative working relationships with internal and external stakeholders at all levels
- Demonstrates inclusivity and respect for all
Additional essential skills for the Principal Data Scientist:
- Experience in supervision (PhD students and Postdoctoral Fellows)
- Experience in writing manuscripts for publication
- Experience working with cloud environments and tools, such as Amazon AWS S3, EC2, etc
- Relevant solid publication record in either machine learning or application of machine learning in biology
Relevant publication of the groups:
- Birk, S, et al. Quantitative characterization of cell niches in spatially resolved omics data. Nature Genetic (2025)
- Lotfollahi, M. et al. Mapping single-cell data to reference atlases by transfer learning. Nature Biotechnology (2021)
- Lotfollahi, M. et al. scGen predicts single-cell perturbation responses. Nature Methods (2019)
- Lotfollahi, M. et al. Biologically informed deep learning to query gene programs in single cell atlases. Nature Cell Biology (2023)
Other Information:
Salary per annum (dependent upon skills and experience):
Principal Data Scientist - £53,717-£63,815
Senior Data Scientist - £44,905-£53,349
Application Process:
Please upload your CV and a cover letter outlining how you meet the criteria set out above.
Closing date: 6th July 2025
Hybrid Working at Wellcome Sanger:
We recognise that there are many benefits to Hybrid Working; including an improved work-life balance, with more focused time, as well as the ability to organise working time so that collaborative opportunities and team discussions are facilitated on campus. The hybrid working arrangement will vary for different roles and teams. The nature of your role and the type of work you do will determine if a hybrid working arrangement is possible.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world. We have a supportive culture with the following staff networks, LGBTQ+, Parents and Carers, Disability and Race Equity to bring people together to share experiences, offer specific support and development opportunities and raise awareness. The networks are also a place for allies to provide support to others.
We want our people to be whoever they want to be because we believe people who bring their best selves to work, do their best work. That’s why we’re committed to creating a truly inclusive culture at Sanger Institute. We will consider all individuals without discrimination and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, where everyone can thrive.
Our Benefits:
We are proud to deliver an awarding campus-wide employee wellbeing strategy and programme. The importance of good health and adopting a healthier lifestyle and the commitment to reduce work-related stress is strongly acknowledged and recognised at Sanger Institute.
Sanger Institute became a signatory of the International Technician Commitment initiative In March 2018. The Technician Commitment aims to empower and ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working in higher education and research, across all disciplines.
Every year the Wellcome Sanger Institute supports the visits of dozens of overseas researchers from across the globe to the Genome campus to collaborate, share insights and to undertake ground-breaking scientific research. Our reliable in-house service provides expert advice and guidance to support current and prospective staff, and visitors at various points of their journey. We are able to provide guidance through your entire journey, from initial visa application through to extensions and applications of Indefinite Leave to Remain, the service is proud to support your personal applications and those of your dependants and family members.
For more information about our immigration service visit: https://www.sanger.ac.uk/about/careers/global-mobility-and-immigration-service/
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