AI Research Engineer

Bioengineering

Full Time

85111BR

Job Summary

We are seeking a skilled AI Research Engineer to help our team implement and utilize large language models for intelligent querying and data exploration. You will apply methods like Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and fine-tuning to handle large datasets comprising thousands of documents (e.g., ~1,000,000 pages of PDF). Additionally, the incumbent will support real-world clinical data analysis by extracting insights from clinical notes using LLM technology.

The final salary and offer components are subject to additional approvals based on UC policy.

Your placement within the salary range is dependent on a number of factors including your work experience and internal equity within this position classification at UCSF. For positions that are represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range will be guided by the rules in the collective bargaining agreement.

The salary range for this position is $104,600 - $157,000 (Annual Rate).

To learn more about the benefits of working at UCSF, including total compensation, please visit: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html

Department Description

The Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences is a joint department that reports to both the School of Medicine (SOM) and the School of Pharmacy (SOP). Its faculty perform high-quality basic, translational and clinical research in the fields of drug development, pharmacogenomics, therapeutic engineering and computational biology. It educates PharmD, MD professionals and PhDs in bioengineering and therapeutic sciences.

The Zhao Lab in the Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences advances drug development and regulatory science through cutting-edge research in pharmacometrics, drug delivery modeling, and artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools that will closely impact drug development and regulatory decision-making.New technologies are required to keep pace with the plethora of drugs, biologics and medical products that have emerged in recent decades. Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to revolutionize regulatory science, offering unprecedented opportunities to enhance medical product review processes, analyze vast amounts of clinical trial data, and assess post-market surveillance data with greater precision. In parallel, AI is transforming drug discovery and development by identifying novel drug targets, modeling the pharmacological activity of molecules, optimizing drug design, and gaining deeper insights into disease mechanisms. Our lab is working to build new AI-based tools and computational models to streamline regulatory science and accelerate drug development. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies, we aim to create more efficient or novel pathways for bringing safe and effective therapies to market, while also advancing our understanding of complex diseases and therapeutic interventions.

***Note: This is a 1-year Full-time Contract role.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, AI, Computational Linguistics or related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Minimum 3 years of related experience.
• Intermediate knowledge of secure software development.
• Advanced skills associated with software design, modification, implementation and deployment, including object-oriented programming concepts.Solid programming skills and proficiency in relevant AI and NLP frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to understand functional needs and how systems can support those needs. Demonstrated ability to develop conversion and system implementation plans.
• Demonstrated ability to interface with management on a regular basis.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute technical narrative to grant proposals.
• Thorough experience with identification and use of code libraries and open-source forums. Proven hands-on experience developing, fine-tuning, or deploying large language models.
• Experience with planning for deployment and creation of feedback mechanisms.
• Demonstrated software repository skills. Demonstrated testing and test planning skills.
• Thorough experience with common programming tools. Demonstrated ability to follow software specifications.
• Demonstrated effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate technical information to technical and non-technical personnel at various levels in the organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree
• Self-motivated and works independently and as part of a team. Able to learn effectively and meet deadlines.
• Strong interest in healthcare, regulatory science, or pharmaceutical research fields.

About UCSF

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. It is the only campus in the 10-campus UC system dedicated exclusively to the health sciences. We bring together the world's leading experts in nearly every area of health. We are home to five Nobel laureates who have advanced the understanding of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, aging and stem cells.

Pride Values

UCSF is a diverse community made of people with many skills and talents. We seek candidates whose work experience or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence - also known as our PRIDE values.

In addition to our PRIDE values, UCSF is committed to equity - both in how we deliver care as well as our workforce. We are committed to building a broadly diverse community, nurturing a culture that is welcoming and supportive, and engaging diverse ideas for the provision of culturally competent education, discovery, and patient care. Additional information about UCSF is available at diversity.ucsf.edu

Join us to find a rewarding career contributing to improving healthcare worldwide.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

Organization

Campus

Job Code and Payroll Title

007300 APPLICATIONS PROGR 3

Job Category

Clinical Systems / IT Professionals, Research and Scientific

Bargaining Unit

99 - Policy-Covered (No Bargaining Unit)

Employee Class

Contract

Percentage

100%

Location

San Francisco, CA

Campus

Mission District (SF)

Work Style

Fully On-Site

Shift

Days

Shift Length

8 Hours

Additional Shift Details

Monday - Friday; 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM