AI​/ML Scientist – Antibody Discovery

We are seeking a PhD (or MS with relevant experience)-level AI/ML Scientist to join Specifica, an IQVIA company
, to drive our AI in Antibody Discovery program
.

We hire passionate innovators who drive healthcare forward through thoughtful and inclusive collaboration. If you want to discover a career with greater purpose, join us as we transform and accelerate research and development.

• Designs, trains, validates, and deploys predictive AI/ML models including protein and antibody language models for applications such as library design, hit triage, develop ability prediction, affinity ranking, and clonotype analysis.
• Executes antibody NGS data pipelines (Pac Bio, Illumina, Oxford Nanopore, Sanger), including heavy/light chain pairing, clonotyping, and longitudinal repertoire analysis.
• Performs hands‑on wet‑lab work (~50%) supporting antibody discovery campaigns including library generation, display selections, NGS sample preparation, and biophysical and functional assays.
• Generates and curates high‑quality experimental datasets and translates them into machine learning models that guide pipeline decisions.
• Architectures and manages scalable compute workflows on AWS (S3, EC2 CPU/GPU, HPC) for model training and inference.
• Develops, maintains, and deploys scripts, ML models, visualization tools, and cloud‑based dashboards for internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborates cross‑functionally with wet‑lab, informatics, and program management teams to translate data into actionable insights and design strategies.
• Performs data quality checks, ensures reproducibility through version control (Git), and maintains documentation per SOPs and company policies.
• Documents experimental data and computational outputs in Benchling (ELN) and other systems.
• Communicates effectively with project managers and stakeholders regarding timelines, risks, and deliverables.
• Leads and manages AI/ML programs end‑to‑end, independently driving project execution and identifying risks or scope changes.
• Trains and mentors junior staff in AI/ML and antibody analytics workflows.
• Participates in meetings, presents findings clearly, and contributes technical expertise to ensure timely project delivery.
• Supports continuous improvement of AI/ML pipelines, sequence analysis workflows, and computational infrastructure.
• Ensures all work complies with regulatory standards, SOPs, and company policies.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the functional manager.

• Strong knowledge of AI/ML methods for biological sequences, including classical ML, deep learning, and protein/antibody language models (e.g., ESM, AntiBERTa, AbLang, IgLM).
• Experience with model evaluation, calibration, and uncertainty quantification, particularly in low‑data biological settings.
• Hands‑on experience applying ML to antibody or protein sequence datasets.
• Strong familiarity with antibody biology, antibody discovery workflows, and sequencing technologies.
• Experience with AWS cloud services (S3, EC2 CPU/GPU) and high‑performance computing environments.
• Proven ability to build and operate scalable ML pipelines and high‑throughput data workflows.
• Experience combining wet‑lab and computational work (~50% lab‑based experience preferred).
• Strong programming skills and experience with data analysis and visualization tools.
• High attention to detail, strong problem‑solving skills, and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills across interdisciplinary teams.

• PhD in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Biophysics, Immunology, Molecular Biology, or a related field required.
• Thesis or postdoctoral work in antibody discovery, antibody engineering, antibody NGS analysis, or ML applied to protein/antibody sequences strongly preferred.
• Equivalent MS‑level experience may be considered with relevant hands‑on expertise.

We put our employees at the center of everything we do and are committed to providing benefits that meet diverse and evolving needs. We invest in programs that support physical, mental, emotional, financial, and social well‑being so employees can thrive at work and at home.

If you’re looking to unleash your potential, join IQVIA to help make the extraordinary possible.