Saleh Alkhalifa ’15: Bridging Chemistry and Artificial Intelligence

Saleh Alkhalifa ’15 brought a unique perspective to Emmanuel College when he arrived in 2011. Having lived in Texas, Saudi Arabia, and Austria, he was no stranger to adapting to new environments.

“I remember a guest speaker saying, ‘If you can’t do the small things right, you’ll never be able to do the big things right,’” Saleh recalled.

That perspective would guide him well beyond the chemistry lab. Today, Saleh is a Director of Data Science at the biotechnology company Amgen, where he leads a team solving complex business problems using artificial intelligence, computational models, and automation tools. Along the way, he has carved out a career that sits—quite literally—at the intersection of life science, data science, and computer science.

“I think of my career as a Venn diagram,” he said. “And I sit right in the middle.”

From Tattoo Inks to Therapeutics

At Emmanuel, Saleh traded biology for chemistry after taking a general chemistry course with Professor of Chemistry Aren Gerdon—one of several faculty members who would become mentors. He dove into undergraduate research, presenting at national American Chemical Society conferences and conducting projects under the guidance of Professors Christine Jaworek-Lopes, Associate Professor of Chemistry; Dr. Faina Ryvkin, then Associate Dean of Natural Sciences and Professor of Chemistry; and Dr. Gerdon.

One early project focused on tattoo inks and dietary supplements—specifically, the trace metals that might lurk within them. “What piqued my interest was the lack of regulation,” he said. “Are the ingredients what they say they are? It wasn’t just about the ink. It was about learning how to ask the right scientific questions.”

That mindset—curiosity married to rigor—followed him to Amgen, where, early in his career, he found himself conducting quality assurance on vendor materials using the same techniques he’d honed as an undergraduate. “The ink research wasn’t just niche—it laid the foundation for how I think as a scientist,” he said.

Data as a Bridge

Saleh went on to earn master’s degrees in computational chemistry from Villanova University and computer science from Northeastern. The blend of disciplines gave him a unique array of skills: a chemist’s eye for precision, a data scientist’s toolkit, and a growing awareness that even the most sophisticated models were useless unless people actually use them effectively.

“You can build the most fascinating models,” he said, “but if they’re not actionable—if no one knows how to interact with them—they don’t matter. That’s where computer science, and user-centered design, come in.”

At Amgen, he advanced quickly from associate scientist to senior manager. In early roles, he combined chemistry and computation, conducting wet-lab experiments while applying data science to scale up the team’s impact. “It allowed me to go from solving one problem at a time to solving many,” he said.

One major focus was streamlining the labor-intensive process of FDA interactions. “Instead of doing everything automatically, we create tools to help accelerate the process,” he explained. “The idea was to save time and increase efficiency—not to replace humans but to support them.”

He also contributed to small-molecule discovery, filtering and evaluating compounds for therapeutic potential and improving manufacturing processes. Over time, his work expanded from technical problem-solving to broader strategic thinking. “I enjoyed the shift from solving narrow problems to broader ones across regulatory, quality, engineering, supply chain and more.”

Now, as a Director of Data Science, Saleh leads a team tasked with identifying and solutioning high-impact Generative AI use cases across Amgen. “Our mission is to stay science-based while delivering tangible value by accelerating processes, adapting to emerging technologies, and helping the business move faster and smarter.”

The shift from molecules to systems has been rewarding. “Early in my career, I focused on the small things,” he said. “Now, I’m looking at the big picture. But I couldn’t have gotten here without doing the small things first.”

He also wrote a book, Machine Learning in Biotechnology and Life Sciences, to help scientists pivot into data science without costly bootcamps or formal degrees. “It’s the book I wish I had when I was making that leap,” he said. “Everything is open-source. The code is online. I wanted to demystify the path.”

The AI Shift—and What’s Next

Saleh has had a front-row seat to the AI revolution in pharma, watching the technology evolve from simple pattern recognition to something far more autonomous. What once required hundreds of data points can now be achieved with just a few. Today’s models don’t just predict—they generate. And with the emergence of Agentic AI, they’re beginning to think.

“We’re moving into Agentic AI,” he said. “You give the tool a high-level goal, and it figures out the steps.”

Instead of feeding an algorithm every instruction—what database to pull from, what keywords to search—these models operate more like interns. “You kind of send them off,” he explained. “They’re going to be successful, they’ll hit most things, and they’re going to miss a few. They’ll come back for feedback, you give it, and then they go off and do it again.”

Still, he’s quick to note that these Generative AI tools are collaborators, not replacements. “It’s really a ‘trust but verify’ mindset,” he said. “Let them think with you, not for you.”

And while the rise of AI sparks both excitement and anxiety—about jobs, privacy, and ethics—Saleh remains pragmatic. “Every new technology replaces some tasks, but it creates others. My job didn’t exist two years ago. And a lot of what AI replaces are things people didn’t want to do anyway—drafting long reports, searching endlessly online. AI frees you up to do higher-value work.”

Emmanuel’s Lasting Impact

Asked what shaped him most at Emmanuel, Saleh didn’t hesitate: communication. “Knowing the science is one thing. But being able to explain it clearly? That’s what Emmanuel taught me. How to gather feedback, how to present, how to connect.”

He remains in touch with Professor Gerdon and other faculty. He’s returned to campus for talks and events. And when he runs into fellow alumni in Boston, they swap stories about shared professors and labs.

“It’s a close-knit community,” he said. “That connection is something really special.”

A New Kind of Leadership

Looking ahead, Saleh hopes to reshape and transform how Operations functions by embedding AI Agents directly into the business – turning insights into actions with unprecedented speed and precision. This is not just a novel approach; it’s a prototype for how future biotech companies might operate. “This isn’t just about keeping up with AI – it's about setting the pace by operationalizing it”.

As he continues to push boundaries, Saleh also reflects on the lessons that shaped his journey. “The real advantage isn’t just technical skill—it’s perspective,” he said. “Don’t rush into grad school. Go work. Get your feet wet. Explore. You’ll learn what you like—and what you don’t.”

And for those entering the world of data science: “Pair it with another field. That’s what sets you apart. That’s how you go from building models to shaping strategy.”