Protein Engineering Data Scientist - Join Our Innovative Team at IFF

Requisition ID: 498120

Job Description

Are you ready to be part of a paradigm shift in enzyme engineering? IFF is at the forefront, leveraging lab automation and AI to revolutionize the industry. We're implementing a cutting-edge, highly automated ML-based design pipeline and we're on the lookout for a talented Protein Engineering Data Scientist to accelerate our efforts. If you have the skills and passion, we hope it's you!

Who We Are

IFF is a global leader in biotechnology, having solidified our leadership by merging with DuPont’s Nutrition & Biosciences division in early 2021. Our Palo Alto laboratories boast a rich history that dates back to the pioneering days of industrial enzyme technology (Genentech/Corning: Genencor, 1982) and have since evolved to become the world market leader in sustainable bio-solutions (Danisco).

At IFF Health & Biosciences, our R&D team focuses on developing microbial production strains and engineering enzymes for diverse applications such as food & beverages, home & personal care, animal feed, and more. We are dedicated to providing sustainable solutions on an industrial scale, continually evolving and innovating to deliver top-tier products to our global customers.

Position Description

We are seeking an experienced machine learning oriented protein engineer. In this role, you will identify state-of-the-art data-driven methods for library design, tailor them to our needs, and implement them in business projects. Our team comprises machine learning experts, molecular biologists, biochemists, and automation engineers working together to ensure rapid deployment of improvements, allowing you to make a significant impact on our product value.

As a Protein Engineering Data Scientist, you will define and implement our design strategy, ensuring seamless integration with our high-throughput cloning and screening workflows. You will have the autonomy to explore and select preferred third-party technologies, and decide on components and models for internal development.

This position is based at our Palo Alto site, collaborating closely with IFF data engineers, protein, strain, and fermentation scientists across the US East Coast, the Netherlands, and Denmark, as well as our tech partners in Silicon Valley.

Job Requirements

• Define a data-driven strategy for enzyme library design that supports multiple engineering cycles per month.
• Implement a ML-driven workflow for high-frequency, high-volume design-clone-screen cycles.
• Maintain the platform, monitor and benchmark its performance, and suggest improvements.
• Engage with external partners and service providers in data science to enhance our capabilities.
• Document, communicate, and teach colleagues best practices.

Required Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent education and industry experience in Biological Sciences, Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Structural Biology, Data Science, or related fields.
• Experience in applied enzyme engineering.
• Comprehensive knowledge of deep learning, particularly protein language modeling, diffusion models, and/or genetic algorithms.
• Expertise in statistical inference.
• Proficiency in writing high-quality, structured, maintainable code.
• Strong written and oral communication skills and proven ability to work within a team environment.
• Productivity evident through publications and/or patents.

Bonus Qualifications

• Experience with modern LIMS, particularly Benchling.
• Experience analyzing biochemical assays and managing noise, bias, and experiment design.
• Experience with cloud-based ML frameworks (e.g., AWS Sagemaker) and MLOps.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, essential for collaborative goal achievement.

Salary range: $139,400 - $156,800, based on various factors including experience, skills, certifications, and location.

Why IFF?

We are a global leader in taste, scent, and nutrition, offering natural solutions and driving our growth strategy. At IFF, we believe that embracing your uniqueness unleashes our potential. We value diversity in ethnicity, nationality, race, age, gender, and veteran status. We strive for inclusivity, enabling each colleague to bring their authentic self to work, regardless of religion, gender identity, sexual orientation,