About the position
The Lead Scientist will serve as a technical and scientific leader for high-visibility initiatives that enable large-scale research through cloud computing and Generative AI (GenAI). This role will guide adoption of advanced computational capabilities across a complex research ecosystem and lead a cross-organizational GenAI Community of Practice. The ideal candidate combines deep scientific expertise with experience leading multi-stakeholder initiatives at scale.
Responsibilities
- Serve as lead for a high-profile, large-scale initiative providing access to cloud and GenAI resources across a distributed research community
- Provide scientific and technical leadership to accelerate research outcomes through adoption of cloud and GenAI technologies
- Guide national- or enterprise-level efforts to integrate advanced computational capabilities into research workflows
- Lead and coordinate a GenAI Community of Practice, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing across a large, diverse population of scientists, technologists, and stakeholders
- Facilitate cross-organizational collaboration to identify research needs, prioritize use cases, and share best practices for responsible and effective use of GenAI
- Engage with senior leadership, researchers, and technical teams to communicate strategy, progress, and impact of cloud and GenAI initiatives
- Represent the initiative in scientific, technical, and stakeholder forums, including working groups, workshops, and briefings
- Contribute to development of guidance, frameworks, and best practices for cloud and GenAI use in research environments
- Support governance, coordination, and continuous improvement of large-scale research enablement efforts
Requirements
- Advanced degree (PhD strongly preferred) in biomedical science, computational biology, data science, computer science, or a related scientific discipline
- 10+ years of experience
- Demonstrated experience leading large-scale scientific, technical, or research enablement initiatives
- Strong background in scientific research and familiarity with modern computational approaches, including cloud computing and GenAI
- Experience guiding adoption of new technologies within research or scientific organizations
- Proven ability to lead and coordinate cross-organizational communities, working groups, or collaborative networks
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with scientists, technologists, and senior leadership
- Local to Washington, DC metro area
Nice-to-haves
- NIH experience
- Onsite 2 days a week
- Experience supporting research initiatives in large, complex, or regulated environments
- Experience establishing or leading Communities of Practice or cross-institutional collaborations
- Familiarity with responsible AI, ethical considerations, or governance in research contexts
- Experience working at the intersection of science, technology, and strategy
- Background in cloud-based research platforms or large-scale data ecosystems