Senior Director, Statistical Genetics

Job Description

The Precision Genetics group within the Data and Genome Sciences Department is recruiting a Sr. Director to lead the Statistical Genetics team based in Cambridge, MA.  We are seeking an experienced Statistical Geneticist with a proven track-record of delivering novel targets/biomarkers from analyses of Biobank scale human genetics data.

You will lead a team of statistical geneticists to create bespoke strategies for specific complex diseases across multiple therapeutic areas.  As such you will leverage our Company data assets along with public data resources to identify disease mechanisms with a goal to deliver novel targets with human genetics support.

You will serve as a strategic partner to our discovery and clinical colleagues and will shape the genetics strategies across our company's drug discovery portfolio. You will also assume a hands-on leadership role, implementing rigorous data analysis practices, aligning resources based on scientific priorities, and mentoring and developing team members. You will operate in a highly collaborative environment, partnering with peers across multiple locations and in the broader scientific community.

In this exciting role, you will:

• Manage, mentor and hire outstanding team members responsible for creating bespoke target discovery and precision medicine strategies across therapeutic areas

• Design and implement a cloud-scale discovery engine based on human genetics data which can be adapted quickly to understand disease mechanism, patient sub-populations and discover novel drug targets

• Conduct fit-for-purpose GWAS/RVAS from Biobank scale data (UKBB, FinnGen and others) and meta analyze summary statistics

• Perform post-GWAS analysis (Fine mapping, colocalization, functional enrichment, Mendelian Randomization, TWAS, PrediXcan, LDSC, V2G etc.)

• Integrate GWAS with RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, ChIP-seq, QTLs etc. to generate multiple layers of evidence to prioritize candidate targets and understand disease mechanism.

• Be at the cutting edge of emerging methods in statistical genetics

• Tackle complex projects, anticipate, and overcome challenges, and forecast timelines for deliverables to support pipeline objectives

• Collaborate with wet-lab biologists and disease area experts to validate disease mechanisms and patient sub-populations

• Communicate results to project teams, our company's scientific community, and the external scientific community through internal documents, presentations, and publications in leading journals

• Coding experience in R and/or Python and other statistical genetics software

Required Experience and Skills:

• Ph.D. in statistical genetics, genetic epidemiology, or related field, plus a minimum of 10 years post-PhD research experience

• A solid track record of 5+ years leading high-performing statistical genetics teams.

• Strong foundational knowledge of statistical/population genetics (GWAS, QTL mapping, heritability estimation, etc.)

• Demonstrated experience applying post-GWAS analyses to understand disease mechanisms (fine mapping, colocalization, functional enrichment, etc.)

• Demonstrated experience in generating SNP imputations models for endophenotypes (PrediXcan etc)

• Demonstrated expertise in using human genetics to deliver novel drug targets (Mendelian Randomization, TWAS)

• Ability to code in R/Python and establish best practices for reproducible data analyses.

• Strong ability to work and influence in complex matrixed organizations.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Experience in any if Neuroscience, Cardiovascular and Metabolic diseases, Immunology and/or other complex diseases

• Experience in integrating single-cell transcriptomics with human genetics for advancing insights of disease mechanisms

NOTICE FOR INTERNAL APPLICANTS

In accordance with Managers' Policy - Job Posting and Employee Placement, all employees subject to this policy are required to have a minimum of twelve (12) months of service in current position prior to applying for open positions.

If you have been offered a separation benefits package, but have not yet reached your separation date and are offer