Job Description

ABOUT THIS ROLE

In Biogen’s Human Genetics group, we leverage cutting-edge data and insights from human genetics and genomics, disease biology, and real world patient and population cohorts to identify, validate, and prioritize novel drug targets, and to advance pipeline programs towards clinical development up until regulatory approval. For this, we closely collaborate with data scientists, biologists and clinical experts at Biogen as well as externally to impact decision-making at all stages of the drug discovery and development process.

We seek a highly collaborative statistical geneticist and/or quantitative geneticist with strong communication skills to join Biogen’s Human Genetics group. The individual will act as the scientific lead and champion of one to several early discovery projects and work within a team to implement and execute statistical genetics pipelines to lead early target identification and to support portfolio programs. This candidate will also be the scientific lead on several scientific research agreements and would be required to shape the project towards success, review the deliverables and approve the invoices. In addition, this role will work together with Research and Development Units scientists, in particular for Multiple Sclerosis and Ophthalmology, to help strategize and execute roadmaps based on human genetics and real-world evidence through hands-on program support to the units as a participating team contributor.

Biogen has made substantial investments into generating genetic and omics data from population-scale human research cohorts as well as participants of our clinical trials. The position will focus on how to best leverage these resources towards discovering new and improved treatments for neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases.

WHAT YOU’LL DO You will work independently and creatively in a cross-disciplinary environment to:

• Champion a cross-functional early-discovery team of scientists to leverage Biogen’s human genetics capabilities and apply them for research unit (RU) support
• Identify opportunities for new targets and to validate existing targets through establishing pipelines and leverage results from human data investments (e.g. champion recall studies, lead scientific research agreements)
• Support program teams as a contributing member/leader (pre-exploratory, exploratory and early Research pipeline) with focus on Multiple Sclerosis and Ophthalmology
• Design and execute innovative research studies
• Lead the analysis of genetic studies of CNS disease risk and progression
• Keep abreast of, and apply, state-of-the-art methods in statistical genetics
• Integrate genetics with omics and public/proprietary human molecular evidence
• Establish and mature therapeutic hypotheses and propose new drug discovery programs
• Collaborate within cross-functional teams to move pipeline programs forward
• Communicate findings to technical and non-technical audiences
• Drive and contribute to scientific manuscripts

Qualifications

WHO YOU ARE You have a strong analytical background in human genetics and are interested in applying your skills to drive drug discovery.

REQUIRED

• Strong understanding of biostatistics & statistical genetics methods
• Experience analyzing human genetic data (e.g. genotypes, exomes, and/or genomes)
• Expertise in statistical software & computer programming (e.g., Plink, R, and/or python)
• Outstanding written & oral communication
• Strong self-motivation and the ability to work within a cross-disciplinary team
• 10+ years of experience in the scientific field (Human/Statistical Genetics, Genetic Epidemiology, Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, or a related field)
• 3+ years of industry experience

EDUCATION

• Ph.D., M.D./Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent degree with a focus on Statistical Genetics, Genetic Epidemiology, Human Genetics, Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, or a related field

Additional Information

WHY BIOGEN? Biogen’s mission to find therapies for a broad range of devastating neurological and rare diseases is unique within the biopharmaceutical industry and this shared purpose is what connects us as a team. We work together to overcome obstacles and to follow the science. We are resilient as we strive to make an impact on our patients’ lives and on changing the course of medicine. Together, we pioneer. Together, we thrive.