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Group Head Biologics Virtual Screening – Large Molecules Research

• Location: Barcelona
• 50% Remote working and up to 5% of travel expected
• Job type: Permanent, Full time

About the job

Our Team:

Within Large Molecules Research (LMR) we utilize cutting-edge protein engineering technologies for the discovery and optimization of next-generation protein therapeutics. The team has an impressive track record of patents and publications in high-impact journals. You will be a part of our global AI Innovation team which is part of LMR’s Digital Biologics Platform (DBxP). As a global organization, we are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of computational and AI-based protein engineering to design innovative new medicines.

Main responsibilities:

• Lead a global team of AI & computational scientists (PhD level) with members from multiple locations (e.g. Germany, Belgium, France, Spain & US) within the AI Innovation department of LMR.
• Drive the implementation & evolution of cutting-edge virtual screening design & biologics property prediction methods for Antibody, NANOBODY® and additional protein-based modalities.
• Provide support to LMR portfolio and innovation projects utilizing the de novo & synthetic library design platform to discover and optimize novel biologics under consideration of resource & timeline planning, external costs, and prioritization.
• Mentor, upskill and develop a PhD-level team of AI scientist & focus on retention of key talents in highly competitive environment.
• Take a leading role for the implementation and execution of the digital strategy in the area of biologics virtual screening, AI-based methods for biologics property prediction and computational multiparametric optimization of complex multi-specific protein therapeutics within LMR.
• Evaluate external landscape, initiate, and drive external partnerships & collaborations for AI-based virtual screening, property prediction and multiparametric optimization.
• Oversee, plan, and manage budget for external collaborations, method validations and project support.
• Lead cross functional and interdisciplinary workstreams as well as external collaborations in the field of biologics virtual screening, property prediction & multiparametric format optimization.
• Manage key internal and external interfaces to key stakeholders and collaborators including LMR wet lab & project teams, Digital R&D, therapeutic units, academia, and external partners.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in machine learning, AI and related computational methods for biologics optimization and apply them to enhance the company’s competitive edge.
• Represent Sanofi at external conferences and increase its footprint with publications and patents.

About you

• Experience:
  • Ph. D. in a field of computational life sciences, AI/ML or computational protein design (e.g. bioinformatics, computer science, biophysics, computational biology, or life sciences with strong expertise in data science).
  • Outstanding expertise in latest AI-based & computational methods for protein design, property prediction and multiparametric biologics optimization.
  • Strong experience working in the field of computational Antibody/NANOBODY® engineering in a Biopharma setting including interactions and coordination of interdisciplinary project and wet lab teams.
  • Strong track record in method development for protein property prediction & computational protein engineering.
  • Strong publication and/or patent track record in the field of ML/AI-driven computational protein design & optimization.
  • Solid understanding of biophysical and biochemical methods for characterization of protein-based therapeutics.

• Soft skills:
  • Passion to collaborate with others, self-development with a focus on scientific know-how, sharing knowledge, results orientated ways of working and talent development.
  • Leadership skills to work international and cross-functional in and outside of the department and organization.
  • Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders, to communicate effectively and to work in a global and matrix organization.
  • Background in project management (timelines, budget, project updates and strategies)
  • Experience in leading, upskilling and developing a team of experts.
  • Strategic thinking and long-term planning ability.
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills including ability to successfully interface with senior management.
  • Ability to make timely decisions and to defend the needs of the section and department.
  • Open mindset of act for change by challenging current status.

• Technical skills:
  • Strong expertise in latest state of the art methods for AI-based computational protein design & optimization including protein language models, geometric deep learning approaches, multiparametric optimization and generative sequence/structure generation.
  • Deep understanding on of multi-specific protein formats (Antibody- & NANOBODY®-based) including structural components and the efficient exploration of huge design spaces under consideration of multiple optimization criteria.
  • Deep expertise with protein structure or sequence featurization/embeddings and protein language models.
  • Knowledge of antibody/NANOBODY® structure, function & engineering.
  • Proven experience on developing and applying computational methods for the prediction of antibody/NANOBODY® biophysical properties and multiparametric optimization.
  • Proficiency in Python and related libraries for machine & deep learning, data science and protein design.
  • Ability to develop, benchmark and apply predictive algorithms for protein property prediction and virtual screening.
  • Experience in handling, curating, and managing large biological data sets and data bases.
  • Expertise in developing and maintaining computational pipelines and automation of workflows.
  • Comfortable working in cloud and high-performance computational environments.
• Languages:
  • Fluent in English, oral and written.

Pursue progress, discover extraordinary

Better is out there. Better medications, better outcomes, better science. But progress doesn’t happen without people – people from different backgrounds, in different locations, doing different roles, all united by one thing: a desire to make miracles happen. So, let’s be those people.

At Sanofi, we provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, or gender identity.

Watch our ALL IN video and check out our Diversity Equity and Inclusion actions at sanofi.com