New

Research Science Specialist - Scientific AI, Life Sciences

McKinsey & Company
parental leave, paid time off
United States, California, Palo Alto
Jun 17, 2025
Research Research Science Specialist - Scientific AI, Life Sciences Job ID: 98634 As a member of McKinsey's global Scientific AI team, you will apply your expertise at the intersection of scientific disciplines (e.g., chemistry, medicine, computational biology, protein engineering, materials science, biostatistics, physics) and artificial intelligence (e.g., machine learning, generative AI, foundation models) to shape and scale the firm's scientific innovation capabilities. Do you want to work on complex and pressing challenges-the kind that bring together curious, ambitious, and determined leaders who strive to become better every day? If this sounds like you, you've come to the right place. Your Impact You'll be working in one of our offices in North America in our Life Sciences practice. As a member of McKinsey's global Scientific AI team, you will help revolutionize how clients approach research and development in innovation-driven sectors such as Life Sciences, Specialty Chemicals, Global Energy & Materials, Agriculture, Advanced Industries, and Sustainability. Your work will include applying cutting-edge research methods, leveraging diverse data sources, and utilizing advanced analytics to help clients unlock new value through science-driven innovation. Your time will be divided between internal capability building, research to inform product development, and direct engagement with client teams. You will help shape new tools, develop research-backed insights, and bring scientific rigor to client engagements. Your core responsibilities will entail: * Conducting domain-specific research, landscape research, data analysis, transformation, and analytics to support the design, development, and maintenance of innovative assets * Delivering distinctive domain-specific knowledge to client service teams and clients, including the identification of the approach for domain-specific solutions * Providing scientific and technical leadership in the creation, dissemination, and evolution of proprietary knowledge and assets including supporting manuscript drafting/publication * Providing deep research expertise and help shape the problem to support complex client and client service team challenges including expertise on cutting edge approaches * Collaborating with product development teams by offering knowledge insights and data extraction capabilities; contributing to product roadmaps at a cellular or system level * Keeping up to date with domain specific trends * Leading ideation sessions, formulating hypotheses, and driving experimentation * Working as part of interdisciplinary teams to deliver high-impact results * Mentoring and coaching junior team members, contributing to team development and capability growth Your Growth Driving lasting impact and building long-term capabilities with our clients is not easy work. You are the kind of person who thrives in a high performance/high reward culture - doing hard things, picking yourself up when you stumble, and having the resilience to try another way forward. In return for your drive, determination, and curiosity, we'll provide the resources, mentorship, and opportunities you need to become a stronger leader faster than you ever thought possible. Your colleagues-at all levels-will invest deeply in your development, just as much as they invest in delivering exceptional results for clients. Every day, you'll receive apprenticeship, coaching, and exposure that will accelerate your growth in ways you won't find anywhere else. When you join us, you will have: Continuous learning: Our learning and apprenticeship culture, backed by structured programs, is all about helping you grow while creating an environment where feedback is clear, actionable, and focused on your development. The real magic happens when you take the input from others to heart and embrace the fast-paced learning experience, owning your journey. A voice that matters: From day one, we value your ideas and contributions. You'll make a tangible impact by offering innovative ideas and practical solutions. We not only encourage diverse perspectives, but they are critical in driving us toward the best possible outcomes. Global community: With colleagues across 65+ countries and over 100 different nationalities, our firm's diversity fuels creativity and helps us come up with the best solutions for our clients. Plus, you'll have the opportunity to learn from exceptional colleagues with diverse backgrounds and experiences. World-class benefits: On top of a competitive salary (based on your location, experience, and skills), we provide a comprehensive benefits package, which includes medical, dental, mental health, and vision coverage for you, your spouse/partner, and children. Your qualifications and skills * PhD degree preferred with 1+ year or Masters degree with 3+ years of relevant experience in biology, chemistry or computer science * Deep expertise in your scientific domain, including familiarity with key data sources, databases, and latest cutting-edge methodologies (i.e., experimental and/or computational) * Experience in understanding and translating technical publications and reviews published code reviews to assess suitability * Strong publication record or evidence of scientific thought leadership * Excellent project management skills and the ability to drive complex, cross-functional initiatives to completion * High level of professionalism, integrity, and independence * Comfort working in ambiguous and fast-paced environments, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences Please review the additional requirements regarding essential job functions of McKinsey colleagues. Apply Now Apply Later FOR U.S. APPLICANTS: McKinsey & Company is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Certain US jurisdictions require McKinsey & Company to include a reasonable estimate of the salary for this role. For new joiners for this role in the United States, including all office locations where the job may be performed, a reasonable estimated range is $140,000 - $143,400 USD -to help you understand what you can expect. This reflects our best estimate of the lowest to highest [salary/hourly wages] for this role at the time of this posting, ensuring you have a clear picture right from the start, though it's important to remember that actual salaries may vary. Factors like your office location, your unique blend of experience and skills, start date and our current organizational needs all play a part in determining the final figure. Certain roles are also eligible for bonuses, subject to McKinsey's discretion and based on factors such as individual and/or organizational performance. Additionally, we provide a comprehensive benefits package that reflects our commitment to the wellness of our colleagues and their families. This includes medical, mental health, dental and vision coverage, telemedicine services, life, accident and disability insurance, parental leave and family planning benefits, caregiving resources, a generous retirement contributions program, financial guidance, and paid time off. FOR NON-U.S. APPLICANTS: McKinsey & Company is an Equal Opportunity employer. For additional details regarding our global EEO policy and diversity initiatives, please visit our McKinsey Careers and Diversity & Inclusion sites. Job Skill Group - CSS Associate Job Skill Code - RSSS - Research Science Specialist Function - Technology Industry - Chemicals;High Tech;Life Sciences Post to LinkedIn - #LI-DNI Posted to LinkedIn Date - LinkedIn Posting City - LinkedIn Posting State/Province - LinkedIn Posting Country - LinkedIn Job Title - Research Science Specialist - Scientific AI, Life Sciences LinkedIn Function - LinkedIn Industry - LinkedIn Seniority Level -