Applied AI and Machine Learning Scientist (Director)

Summary The successful candidate for the Applied AI / ML scientist position leads the technical evaluation, development, and application of AI across the Internal Medicine Research Unit (IMRU), translating advances in foundation models, agentic systems, multimodal AI, and related methods into reusable capabilities that strengthen scientific decision-making end-to-end. The role combines deep technical credibility with strong scientific judgment and is accountable for shaping the AI portfolio within the newly created AI for IM Discovery (AIM2) Discovery Center within the IMRU, defining governance and evaluation standards, assessing AI/ML capabilities in external (or internal) partnerships, and accelerating practical AI adoption across IMRU. This role is intended for a technically credible AI leader who can operate at the interface of machine learning, computational biology, and drug discovery, while remaining grounded in the realities of scientific decision-making. Success will require setting a clear strategy, directing high-value use cases, ensuring that solutions and partnerships are scientifically robust and trusted, and building reusable capabilities that improve the speed, quality, and coherence of evidence generation across the portfolio. Role responsibilities Provide AI/ML technical leadership for AIM2 and define a clear roadmap for how large language models, agentic systems, multimodal AI, and related methods will be applied to high-value scientific problems across Internal Medicine Research Unit (IMRU). Lead the technical evaluation and development of the AI capabilities in the AIM2, identifying, prioritizing, and shaping opportunities so that AIM2 focuses on areas where technically credible, reusable AI capabilities can create meaningful scientific or operational leverage. Provide senior technical and scientific direction across AIM2 Discovery Center, ensuring that proposed solutions are methodologically sound, fit for purpose, and grounded in biological, translational, and drug discovery context. Guide the development of reusable AI-enabled capabilities that strengthen scientific decision-making end-to-end, with emphasis on scientific rigor, technical quality, reproducibility, and practical utility across IMRU lines. Establish governance and evaluation standards for AI-built capabilities, including expectations for provenance, validation, guardrails, responsible use, and appropriate human oversight. Partner closely with IMRU Integrative Biology, IMRU line teams, MLCS, and Digital partners to ensure that AI efforts remain tightly aligned to real scientific needs and can be deployed in ways that are trusted, scalable, and adopted in day-to-day work. Shape and manage selected external partnerships relevant to AIM2 priorities, helping evaluate emerging technologies and collaborators while ensuring that external engagements remain aligned to Pfizer priorities and IMRU needs. Articulate the value and impact of the AI capabilities within IMRU to senior stakeholders, including technical differentiation, adoption trajectory, and return on investment of key initiatives to support strategic planning and decision making Build a strong technical culture within AIM2 and across IMRU, fostering scientific curiosity, high standards, collaboration, and continuous learning, while helping raise confidence in the responsible application of AI across IMRU.

Advanced degree in computer science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, computational biology, bioinformatics, statistics, engineering, life sciences, or a related quantitative or scientific field preferred. Typically, candidates at this level will bring substantial relevant experience, for example approximately 9+ years with a Master’s degree, 10+ years with a Bachelor’s degree, or 7+ years with a PhD, while recognizing that the right mix of scope, technical depth, scientific credibility, and impact matters more than degree alone.