Roche Postdoctoral Fellow (RPF) in Autonomous AI Systems

The Position

In Roche’s Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development organisation (pRED), we make transformative medicines for patients in order to tackle some of the world’s toughest unmet healthcare needs. At pRED, we are united by our mission to transform science into medicines. Together, we create a culture defined by curiosity, responsibility and humility, where our talented people are empowered and inspired to bring forward extraordinary life-changing innovation at speed.

Job mission

As a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department pRED Data & Analytics, you will focus on an exploratory research project on the development and enhancement of autonomous AI systems for scientific research. The system, which you are going to develop, is capable of autonomously designing, planning, and performing complex chemical experiments by leveraging large language models, such as GPT-4, and integrating capabilities like internet search and documentation search, code execution, and experimental automation.

This position is sponsored by the Roche Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme. 

The RPF Programme has the ambition to build and maintain the Scientific Leadership of the future and to provide leading Roche scientists with the opportunity to collaborate with talented postdoctoral researchers, and leading academic research groups, from around the world. One of the key aims is to advance basic science and technologies that will be published in top-rated, peer-reviewed scientific journals, if necessary preceded by priority patent applications.

The duration of RPF project is initially set for two years, with the possibility of extension for a third year. You will be based in Basel with stays at our academic partner. 

Your Impact

The EPFL Lausanne is Roche’s academic partner for this Postdoctoral Fellowship. The partnership with Prof. Schwaller’s group will provide further insights into the potential of AI-driven autonomous systems in revolutionizing the field of chemistry, by enabling faster and more efficient research methodologies.
In this position you will:

• Develop and improve an AI system which is able to produce an outline and make suggestions based on previously generated High-Throughput Experimentation data.

• Work on enhancing the AI's interaction with laboratory automation technologies, including robotic experimentation and application programming interfaces (APIs).

• Publish findings in top-rated, peer-reviewed scientific journals

Your profile

You are a highly motivated researcher with a postgraduate scientific degree in fields related to artificial intelligence, computer science, cheminformatics or a related field. You also have experience and expertise in the following:

• JavaScript and Python programming.

• Developing and working with large language models, particularly transformer-based models like GPT-4.

• Familiarity with laboratory automation technologies and their integration with AI systems.

• A strong track record of interdisciplinary research and the ability to work collaboratively within diverse teams.

• Demonstrated experience in experimental design, data analysis, and the application of AI in scientific research

You have very good interpersonal and communication skills, are able to build good working relationships, and are an outstanding teammate. Your experience and investigative attitude allow you to work independently, to design, perform, and interpret experiments, and to embark on new scientific methodologies.

You have been actively engaged in scientific research continuously since your PhD (MD or MD/PhD) and ready to start an RPF postdoctoral activity no later than 4 years after PhD (MD or MD/PhD)

When does it start?
The start date of this fellowship is based on your availability. Please clearly indicate your preferred starting date on your motivation letter.
All applications always need to include a CV, motivation letter, a publication list and .., and, if available, your PhD.

More information about the RPF Programme: https://careers.roche.com/global/en/the-roche-postdoctoral-fellowship-programme

If you still have questions, then please check our FAQs and videos on careers.roche.ch/faq

Our commitment

Roche commits to recognising talent and aptitude. We prioritize encouraging and supporting our employees in their personal journeys by providing a safe, creative space to help them reflect, make decisions and grow in their career. We are confident that we find the most innovative solutions by gaining different perspectives, asking and answering hard questions, and challenging the status quo. Roche embraces diversity and equal opportunity in a serious yet enthusiastic way; we are devoted to building a team that represents a range of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

Tags: RPF

Who we are

At Roche, more than 100,000 people across 100 countries are pushing back the frontiers of healthcare. Working together, we’ve become one of the world’s leading research-focused healthcare groups. Our success is built on innovation, curiosity and diversity.

Basel is the headquarters of the Roche Group and one of its most important centres of pharmaceutical research. Over 10,700 employees from over 100 countries come together at our Basel/Kaiseraugst site, which is one of Roche`s largest sites. Read more.

Besides extensive development and training opportunities, we offer flexible working options, 18 weeks of maternity leave and 10 weeks of gender independent partnership leave. Our employees also benefit from multiple services on site such as child-care facilities, medical services, restaurants and cafeterias, as well as various employee events.

We believe in the power of diversity and inclusion, and strive to identify and create opportunities that enable all people to bring their unique selves to Roche.

Roche is an Equal Opportunity Employer.