Sr. Director/Exec. Director of Cheminformatics for Early Molecule Discovery

Role Summary

Sr. Director/Exec. Director of Cheminformatics for Early Molecule Discovery. Lead from the bench to apply cheminformatics, ML/AI, and related technologies to drive early molecule discovery, library design, hit identification, and hit-to-lead progression across multiple projects within Lilly’s Early Molecule Discovery team.

Responsibilities

• ‚ÄúLead from the bench‚Äù by judiciously building up and applying state of the art cheminformatics, ML/AI, and advanced analyses capabilities, to enable library design, hit identification, prioritization and hit-to-lead progression across multiple target classes and modalities.
• Provide scientific leadership and strategic guidance on cheminformatics and applied ML/AI approaches to drive data driven drug discovery.
• Encourage close collaborations and initiatives with computational colleagues, medicinal chemists and other cross function partners that culminate in the generation of well poised screening collections, quality models and testable hypotheses, enhancing our ability to deliver differentiated quality hits and leads.
• Ensure team success by providing guidance on the application of modern cheminformatics, ML/AI methods for: library design (e.g. diversity, focused, bridging, fragment, DEL collections); analyzing large datasets (e.g. from HTS campaigns or omics data sets) and building predictive (active learning) models from them; data mining internal and external data-sets/bases; enabling hit prioritization and expansion efforts; guiding ligand-/fragment-based design activities.
• Provide cheminformatics insight for new target identification and evaluation initiatives in the early space across a range of targets and binding mode types.
• Proactively investigate new technologies that have the potential to accelerate EMD‚Äôs ability to prosecute challenging targets and deliver quality differentiated leads.
• The candidate will also cultivate cross pillar collaborations with new technology, and Tech@Lilly colleagues to help guide and subsequently leverage transformative hit identification and hit-to-lead approaches.
• Develop‚ÄØsynthon-based‚ÄØsearch‚ÄØstrategies to allow teams to‚ÄØleverage‚ÄØever increasing virtual spaces without having to rely on brute force searches of fully enumerated spaces.
• Ensure the timely delivery of quality data, rigorous analyses and robust models to project teams to accelerate hit identification and chemical series evaluation/evolution efforts.
• To be adept at communicating results, and setting team as well as larger organizational goals and expectations.
• Engage with external teams upon the identification and elaboration of early lead molecules across multiple projects and mechanisms.

Qualifications

• PhD in Cheminformatics, Computational Chemistry, or related field with 7+ years relevant research and/or industrial experience.
• Track record of successfully applying and developing cheminformatics workflows and tools that accelerate hit finding, hit expansion, lead generation and library design efforts.
• Expertise in data analytics, ML/AI modelling in the context of cheminformatics and a solid grasp of statistical principles.
• Ability to create, sustain and model a culture of innovation, collaboration and dedication.
• Strong scientific programming skills (Python essential) and experience building data visualizations and dashboards (e.g., in Spotfire).
• Demonstrated growth mindset, whilst maintaining close collaboration among computational chemistry leaders, elevating the global computational chemistry team as a whole.
• Aptitude for building inclusive teams and commitment to mentoring early career computational chemists.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and effectively champion new technologies culminating in successful drug discovery applications thereof.
• Proactive in establishing and driving effective collaborations with medicinal chemists and scientists form other disciplines to achieve project goals and timelines.
• Ability to communicate effectively with team members, cross-functional colleagues and senior leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to inspire and lead scientists to work across teams, functions and sites to achieve aspirational goals that accelerate portfolio deliveries.

Skills

• Cheminformatics, ML/AI modeling, library design, hit identification, hit expansion, lead generation.
• Collaboration across computational chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and other disciplines.
• Data mining, predictive modeling, active learning, and data visualization.
• Communication of results and strategic goals to diverse stakeholders.

Education

• PhD in Cheminformatics, Computational Chemistry, or related field.

Additional Requirements

• Physical Demands/Travel: The physical demands of this job are consistent with a lab environment. There will be some travel associated with this role.
• Work Environment: This position‚Äôs work environment is in a Laboratory.