Senior AI Scientist/Lead AI Scientist

📋 Description

• • At Owkin, we are on a mission to revolutionize drug discovery and development by building the first Biology Super Intelligence (BASI). This ambitious endeavor involves integrating powerful biological large language models, multimodal patient data, and sophisticated agentic software. At the core of this ecosystem is Owkin K, an AI copilot, and our novel LLM fine-tuned for biological applications, Owkin Zero. These tools empower researchers, clinicians, and drug developers to gain deeper insights into complex biological systems, validate scientific hypotheses with greater accuracy, and accelerate the delivery of life-saving diagnostics and therapies.
• • As a Senior AI Scientist/Lead AI Scientist, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of AI-driven scientific discovery. You will lead the development of our groundbreaking AI Scientist, an autonomous agentic system engineered to navigate the intricate landscape of drug discovery. This is a unique opportunity to move beyond traditional machine learning roles focused on single-task optimization. Instead, you will be instrumental in constructing "scientists in a box" – intelligent agents capable of sophisticated reasoning over vast biological datasets, autonomously designing experiments, and driving therapeutic breakthroughs. You will be at the very heart of Owkin’s mission, architecting the core engine that will power the discovery of the next generation of life-saving therapeutics, fundamentally changing how we approach biological challenges.
• • Your day-to-day responsibilities will be multifaceted and deeply engaging. You will be tasked with architecting and implementing advanced agentic systems. This involves designing sophisticated AI agents that exhibit multi-step reasoning capabilities, can effectively utilize external tools, and possess mechanisms for self-correction to refine their outputs and strategies. A critical aspect of your role will be to bridge the gap between AI and wet-lab experimentation. You will develop innovative frameworks that enable these AI agents to not only propose novel hypotheses but also to design "optimal experiments" that can be rigorously validated in a laboratory setting, thereby creating a seamless loop between computational prediction and empirical validation.
• • You will also be responsible for scaling the "hacker" approach to AI development. This means rapidly prototyping and iterating on agentic architectures, demonstrating an ability to move swiftly and precisely from initial conceptualization and theoretical design to production-grade code. This agile development methodology is crucial for staying ahead in the fast-paced field of AI research and application. Furthermore, you will provide scientific leadership within the team and the broader organization. This includes maintaining a keen awareness of the latest advancements at the frontier of Generative AI and agentic workflows, actively contributing to the scientific community through the publication of high-impact research at the intersection of AI, Biology, and Chemistry, and fostering a culture of innovation and knowledge sharing.
• • The ideal candidate embodies a "hacker spirit" – a proactive and resourceful mindset that drives innovation. You are not someone who waits for the perfect dataset to be provided; instead, you are adept at building the necessary tools and methodologies to discover and leverage data effectively. You possess a deep sense of curiosity and are driven by the profound challenge of automating the scientific method itself. Your independence and self-motivation will be key assets in this role, allowing you to tackle complex problems with creativity and determination. You are comfortable working in a dynamic environment where rapid iteration and problem-solving are paramount.
• • Owkin is a pioneering AI company dedicated to unraveling the complexities of biology. We are building the world's first Biology Super Intelligence (BASI) by integrating cutting-edge biological large language models, diverse multimodal patient data, and advanced agentic software. Our core offerings include Owkin K, an AI copilot, and Owkin Zero, a specialized LLM fine-tuned on biological data. These powerful tools are designed to assist researchers, clinicians, and drug developers in achieving a deeper understanding of biological processes, validating scientific hypotheses more effectively, and accelerating the development of novel diagnostics and therapies.
• • This role offers an exceptional opportunity for professional growth and impact. You will be at the forefront of developing next-generation AI systems that have the potential to revolutionize medicine. You will gain invaluable experience in architecting and deploying complex agentic AI systems, working with state-of-the-art LLMs, and applying AI to solve some of the most challenging problems in biology and drug discovery. Your contributions will directly influence the direction of our research and development efforts, enabling you to leave a significant mark on the field and contribute to the creation of life-saving treatments.