Machine Learning Scientist

• Apply, fine-tune, and post-train foundation models (e.g., transformer-based, diffusion, VAE architectures) on single-cell RNA-seq data and other modalities to model disease cellular states
• Build state-of-the-art perturbation models using multi-modal perturbation data (small molecules, CRISPR, cytokines) and phenotypic data, with emphasis on CRISPR screen data (e.g., Perturb-seq).
• Develop mechanistic interpretability methods to infer gene networks and regulatory mechanisms via attention, graph-based, and/or causal representation methods, supporting downstream applications such as target identification.
• Deploy and run inference on generative AI models using proprietary datasets on cloud platforms.
• Establish clinically relevant benchmarking and evaluation frameworks to assess context generalization and guide model improvements.
• Stay current with the latest research in foundation models, representation learning (across biology, NLP, vision, and audio), and perturbation modeling.

• Collaborate with interdisciplinary scientists from biology, chemistry, and technology teams to translate research questions into cutting-edge ML solutions.
• Opportunity to collaborate with and co-develop platform modules alongside other Flagship Pioneering companies.
• Communicate technical concepts clearly to diverse scientific audiences.

• PhD in Computer Science, Computational Biology, or related field, OR Master's degree with 3+ years or Master's or Bachelor's degree with 6+ years of relevant ML research experience for drug discovery.
• Strong foundation in statistics, deep learning and generative AI.
• Experience with high-dimensional biological data analysis (bulk/single-cell RNA-seq, gene regulatory networks, PPI networks, multi-omics integration).
• Experience with chemical / CRISPR perturbation screen data (e.g., Perturb-seq), including analysis and modeling.
• Familiarity with single-cell foundation models (e.g., Geneformer, scGPT, scFoundation) and their downstream applications.
• Experience applying or fine-tuning pretrained foundation models or deep generative models for downstream biological tasks.
• Experience with cloud computing (AWS/GCP) and MLOps best practices.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work in interdisciplinary teams.

• Experience building agentic AI systems (e.g., LLM-based agents, tool use, multi-step reasoning workflows) for scientific discovery or data analysis.
• Familiarity with target identification and prioritization in drug discovery.

• Push Boundaries: We create a legacy with breakthrough science in service of patients.
• Inject Energy: We build strengths from different perspectives and tell it like it is
• Own it: We transcend our job descriptions and relentlessly follow through on our commitments.
• Go all out: We work quickly and with conviction.

Company Summary: Cellarity is a privately held, clinical-phase drug discovery startup using AI and single-cell omics to develop life-changing medicines that are unreachable by traditional methods of drug discovery. Our pipeline spans multiple exploratory programs across different indications, offering broad opportunities to apply machine learning to diverse disease areas. Cellarity is a product of Flagship Pioneering's venture creation engine, which has conceived and created companies such as Moderna (NASDAQ: MRNA), Generate:Biomedicines, and Lila Sciences.

Cellarity is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.

Recruitment & Staffing Agencies: Cellarity does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to Cellarity or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Cellarity’s internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of Cellarity, and Cellarity will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.

The salary range for this role is $132,000 - $209,000. Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including a candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience. Cellarity currently offers healthcare coverage, annual incentive program, retirement benefits and a broad range of other benefits. Compensation and benefits information is based on Cellarity's good faith estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future.