PhD Internship - Developing machine learning models to predict Huntington’s disease progression and treatment response using imaging, molecular and clinical data - RiSE for 9 months (m/f/d) Urgent Hiring
The Position
Who we are
At Roche, 98.000 people across 150 countries are pushing back the frontiers of healthcare. Working together, weve become one of the worlds leading research focused healthcare groups. Our success is built on innovation, curiosity and diversity, and on seeing each other`s differences as an advantage. To innovate healthcare, Roche has ambitious plans to keep learning and growing - and is seeking people who have the same goals for themselves.
At Roche, we believe it’s urgent to deliver medical solutions right now - even as we develop innovations for the future. We are passionate about transforming patients’ lives and we are fearless in both decision and action. And we believe that good business means a better world.
That is why we come to work every single day. We commit ourselves to scientific rigour, unassailable ethics, and access to medical innovations for all. We do this today to build a better tomorrow.
The Position
The RiSE program (Roche Internships for Scientific Exchange) is a highly competitive student research program at Roche. It offers the most talented postgraduate PhD and medical degree students the opportunity to be fully integrated into our interdisciplinary and international industry R&D environment. As a RiSE student you will enhance your competencies, gain valuable work experience with us, and eventually become part of a world-wide network of RiSE Alumni.
The Neuroscience and Rare Diseases Discovery and Translational Area (NRD DTA) is developing medicines for a range of serious neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, autism, spinal muscular atrophy, and Huntington’s disease.
As a RiSE student in the NRD DTA you will join our Clinical Imaging Group in Biomarkers and Translational Technologies at the Roche Innovation Center Basel, Switzerland and work with large-scale clinical neuroimaging datasets of Huntington’s disease patients. The goal is to develop a machine learning approach using artificial neural networks to predict the disease status and treatment responses. The data includes various MR imaging (MRI) modalities such as structural MR imaging, diffusion weighted MRI and resting-state functional MRI (fMRI), as well as variety of clinical characteristics and fluid biomarkers. You will be hosted and mentored by scientists with a background in neuroimaging, machine learning as well as biomarker and drug development who will guide you through your research and provide you with the required infrastructure and collaborative network.
During the internship your tasks will include:
- Get familiar with the complex data, which includes structural MRI, diffusion MRI, resting-state fMRI, and a collection of clinical and molecular markers
- Familiarize yourself with the internal software and hardware resources (including a high performing computing cluster) allowing distributed computing
- Landscape literature on the pathophysiology and treatment of Huntington’s disease, the state-of-the-art machine learning methods to predict disease progression and treatment response using the data mentioned above
- Process, clean and/or refine the existing strategies to prepare the imaging, clinical, and molecular datasets using state-of-the-art neuroimaging software and/or own software routines
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Implement SHAP-like models to investigate feature importance in predictions
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Build, test and validate the neural network models related to the aims of the project
- Interact with scientists in global cross-functional teams to present the results internally (various team meetings, scientific colloquia)
- Prepare the first draft of a scientific publication (conference and/or scientific journal)
Who You Are
You’re someone who wants to influence your own development. You’re looking for a company where you have the opportunity to pursue your interests across functions and geographies. You have a strong interest and background in machine learning model development and a deep understanding of strengths but also challenges and limitations of these methods. Further, you are eager to apply your knowledge in clinical research and in development of novel medicines. You are someone who likes new challenges and is ready to make the new ideas a reality.
Moreover you are/have:
- Enrolled in a PhD or medical degree program at a university and are looking to expand your experience with an industry internship.
- Background in neuroscience, clinical neuroimaging, engineering, physics, statistics or similar with strong interest in machine learning methods and their application in clinical development of medicines
- Solid skills in in writing custom scripts for data processing and analysis (in Matlab, Python, R or Shell)
- Prior knowledge of and experience with platforms and interfaces for artificial neural networks and machine learning such as Keras, Tensorflow, Pytorch etc. is considered beneficial
Information about application documents and start date:
The preferred start date of the internship is September; 2022 or upon availability.
Applications need to include a CV and a cover letter, as well as a letter from your academic supervisor supporting your application to the RiSE Program.
Please note that due to regulations non-EU/EFTA citizens have to provide a certificate from the university stating that an industry internship is mandatory as part of the university training.
Do you know what Roche stands for? Roche embraces diversity and equal opportunity in a serious way. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.
If you still have questions, then please check our FAQs and videos on careers.roche.ch/faq
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.