Director of Bio Machine Learning - 136085

UCSD Layoff from Career Appointment : Apply by 09 / 12 / 2025 for consideration with preference for rehire. All layoff applicants should contact their Employment Advisor.

Special Selection Applicants : Apply by 09 / 23 / 2025. Eligible Special Selection clients should contact their Disability Counselor for assistance.

The qualifications of this posting have been slightly modified as of 9 / 09 / 2025

DESCRIPTION

The Ideker Laboratory is in the Division of Human Genetics and Precision Medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine. We are a vibrant research team of 30-40 staff, postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduate students known for its dynamic and collaborative environment. We perform bioinformatics research coupled with wet-lab investigations, working in the areas of network biology, data-driven hierarchical modeling, and machine learning applied to biomedicine. We also support multiple open-source software projects, some with 100K+ users. One of the main research goals of the Ideker Lab is to create artificially intelligent, mechanistic models of cancer for translation of patient data to precision diagnosis and treatment. We are advancing this goal by developing "visible" predictive machine learning approaches to model the flow of genetic information to translate genotype to phenotype and, importantly, to identify the molecular functions and mechanisms by which these predictions are made.

The Ideker Laboratory is recruiting a Senior BioMachine Learning (BioML) Scientist to lead machine learning R&D for the ADAPT project, a new precision cancer therapy initiative funded by ARPA-H. The overall goal of the ADAPT project is to use advanced AI / ML technologies to deliver the right therapy to the right patients at the right time. ADAPT will revolutionize cancer treatment by using predictive biomarkers and interpretable AI / ML to create dynamical cancer treatment strategies and personalized therapies for patients with metastatic cancers.

Under direction, the Senior BioMachine Learning Scientist will oversee AI / ML research projects and objectives toward the successful completion of the APRA-H ADAPT program goals. This role will require expertise in bioinformatics, machine learning, systems biology, and project leadership, with a deep understanding of modern cancer biology. In particular, this position will :

• Lead the design and implementation of deep learning approaches for drug recommendation in cancer.
• Serve as a computational lead in interdisciplinary teams, collaborating with biologists, oncologists, statisticians, and other computational / ML scientists to translate computational findings into therapeutic strategies.
• Design, debug, and optimize algorithms and computational techniques to analyze complex, multimodal datasets, including genomic, proteomic, and transcriptomic, and clinical data.
• Develop multi-modal data fusion pipelines for biomarker discovery and therapy recommendation.
• Create and validate computational tools to track tumor changes and adapt therapy plans in real-time using insights from biomarker data.
• Create and oversee a central benchmarking platform for standardizing AI / ML models.
• Contribute to the creation and maintenance of a central cancer treatment and analysis platform, ensuring accurate and timely data availability for clinicians and researchers.
• Provide guidance to junior researchers, including PhD students and postdocs, fostering expertise in bioML and its applications in oncology.
• Lead the development and dissemination of robust, scalable bioinformatics software, ensuring alignment with FAIR data principles and accessibility to the broader research community.
• Prepare detailed reports, publications, and presentations showcasing progress on ADAPT program goals, and represent the lab at national and international conferences.
• Collaborate closely with the Ideker Lab's Program Manager to identify and pursue new funding opportunities, align lab objectives with emerging trends in precision medicine, and contribute to grant proposals to support long-term research initiatives.
• In addition to the main ADAPT initiative, we expect that this position will work on and potentially lead other projects within the Ideker Lab research portfolio as needed.

Additional Information : Applies advanced computational, computer science, data science, and CI software research and development principles, with relevant domain science knowledge where applicable, to perform highly complex research, technology and software development which involve in-depth evaluation of variable factors impacting medium to large projects of broad scope and complexities. Designs, develops, and optimizes components / tools for major HPC / data science / CI projects. Resolves complex research and technology development and integration issues. Gives technical presentations to associated research and technology groups and management. Evaluates new hardware and software technologies for advancing complex HPC, data science, CI projects. May represent the organization as part of a team at national and international meetings, conferences and committees. Assists in the design, implementation and recommends new hardware and software technologies for advancing complex HPC, data science, CI projects. May lead a team of research and technical staff.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Nine years of related experience, education / training OR Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training. Bachelor's, Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, or related discipline strongly preferred.

Advanced knowledge of HPC / data science / CI.

Highly advanced skills, and demonstrated experience associated with one or more of the following : HPC hardware and software power and performance analysis and research, design, modification, implementation and deployment of HPC or data science or CI applications and tools of large-scale scope.

Demonstrated ability to regularly, effectively communicate with unit-level management.

Demonstrated ability to communicate technical information to technical and non-technical personnel at various levels in the organization and to external research and education audiences.

In depth skills and experience in independently resolving complex computing / data / CI problems using introductory and / or intermediate principles.

Self-motivated and works independently and as part of a team.

Advanced experience working in a complex computing / data / CI environment encompassing all or some of the following : HPC, data science infrastructure and tools / software, and diverse domain science application base.

In depth ability to successfully work and / or lead multiple concurrent projects. Demonstrated research and technology project leadership and management skills.

In depth experience assessing a broad spectrum of technical and research needs and demands and establish priorities, delegate and / or lead development of solutions to meet such needs.

Demonstrated advanced experience in one or more of the following : optimizing, benchmarking, HPC performance and power modeling, analyzing hardware, software, and applications for HPC / data / CI.

Advanced knowledge of deep learning model architectures and modern AI / ML technologies.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of modern cancer biology, omics, and systems biology.

Demonstrated ability to initiate research proposals and acquire funding.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

Pay Transparency Act

Annual Full Pay Range : $119,400 - $230,800 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)

Hourly Equivalent : $57.18 - $110.54

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).