Principal Scientist — AI-Powered Discovery Neurodegeneration

Job Title and Location

Principal Scientist, Neurology Research – Cambridge, MA

Lead machine learning/AI-based discovery efforts for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS/FTD, and Multiple Sclerosis. Work with large-scale public and internal datasets from human brain tissue single‑cell, spatial omics (RNA, protein, lipids), fluid proteogenomics (CSF, plasma), and functional screening (CRISPR). Use state‑of‑the‑art AI methods to uncover causal molecular and cellular mechanisms and accelerate new target and biomarker discovery.

• Lead and implement full‑scale analyses, integration, and harmonization of omics datasets to deliver a decision‑grade resource for the neurology therapeutic area.
• Integrate single‑cell genomics with plasma and CSF proteomics and clinical outcomes from public and in‑house datasets to identify cell state shifts and molecular features linked to disease progression; refine patient selection criteria for future trial designs.
• Champion the "Everyday AI" initiative to establish baseline AI literacy across the neurology therapeutic area.
• Lead cross‑functional upskilling programs to ensure universal digital fluency and accelerate productivity by integrating AI tools into daily workflows.
• Lead authorship of impactful scientific publications.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Neuroscience or related quantitative/life science fields, followed by a Ph.D. in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Neuroscience or related fields.
• Basic Qualifications:
  • Minimum 4+ years of post‑Ph.D. experience in the biotech industry or academic institution.
  • Strong track record in computational biology applied to neurodegenerative diseases.
  • Deep expertise in analyzing large‑scale datasets including multi‑omics, single‑cell genomics, and spatial transcriptomics.
  • Proven experience in neurodegenerative disease research (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis, ALS/FTD).
  • Human brain genomics experience: analysis of single‑cell brain datasets and/or CSF/PBMC atlases.
  • Proteomic analysis of neurodegenerative disease patient tissue or biofluids.
  • Model systems knowledge: omics analyses in mouse and cellular models of neurodegenerative disease.
  • Advanced analytical workflows: discovery and quantification of cryptic splices in scRNA‑seq, long‑read, and spatial transcriptomics datasets.
  • AI/ML proficiency: use of AI/ML models to explore cell gene regulatory landscapes from single‑cell transcriptomics, ATAC‑seq, and cryptic splicing datasets.
  • Broad technical skills and deep foundational knowledge of neuroscience, bioinformatics, pharmacology, life science, and statistics.
  • Publication record with impact (co‑first/lead authorship).
  • Excellent communication skills; proven success in complex, multidisciplinary environments.
• Preferred Qualifications:
  • Highly motivated, collaborative, and independent in a fast‑paced research environment.
  • Ability to translate computational analyses with clarity to non‑computational stakeholders.

USD  –  per year, commensurate with experience.

• High‑quality health and wellness benefits, including preventive programs.
• At least 14 weeks of gender‑neutral parental leave.
• Comprehensive employee benefit programs and potential participation in company plans.

Sanofi Inc. and its U.S. affiliates are Equal Opportunity and affirmative action employers committed to a culturally diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, ancestry, nationality, marital status, domestic partnership or civil union status, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, veteran or military status, domestic violence victim status, atypical cellular or blood trait, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.