Senior Data Scientist - Life Sciences

Placements24; Kimberley; Hybrid; CAD 103,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-based bonuses

Stock options

Retirement savings plan

Annual development allowance

Fully remote with flexible hours

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Data Scientist with a Life Sciences focus for a fully remote role. You will build advanced statistical models and ML solutions for genomics and clinical data, design rigorous experiments, and translate results into actionable R&D decisions.

The ideal candidate has a PhD or Master’s in a quantitative field, 5+ years of experience, and strong Python or R skills with scikit-learn, TensorFlow or PyTorch.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master’s degree in a quantitative field.
• 5+ years of data science experience in life sciences.
• Proficiency in Python or R and relevant ML libraries.

Responsibilities

• Develop statistical models and ML algorithms for genomics, clinical trials, and real-world data.
• Design experiments and analyze complex datasets to extract insights.
• Collaborate with biologists, chemists and software engineers to drive R&D decisions.
• Create data visualizations and communicate findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Contribute to data infrastructure and best practices within the team.

Skills

Python

R

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Statistics

Machine Learning

Education

PhD or Master’s in Data Science/Statistics/CS/Bioinformatics

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a seasoned Senior Data Scientist with a specialization in Life Sciences to join their innovative, remote-first team. This role is crucial for extracting meaningful insights from complex biological and clinical datasets, driving data-driven decision-making across R&D initiatives. You will develop advanced analytical models, design experiments, and collaborate with biologists, chemists, and software engineers to tackle challenging scientific questions. The ideal candidate will possess a strong quantitative background, proficiency in statistical modeling and machine learning, and a deep interest in applying these skills to accelerate scientific discovery and development, working from anywhere within South Africa

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement advanced statistical models and machine learning algorithms for analyzing diverse life science datasets (e.g., genomics, clinical trials, real-world evidence).
• Design and conduct rigorous data analysis to identify trends, patterns, and predictive indicators relevant to research and development objectives.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to define project requirements, interpret analytical results, and provide data-driven recommendations.
• Create compelling data visualizations and communicate complex findings effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Contribute to the development of data infrastructure, tools, and best practices within the data science team.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Bioinformatics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in data science, with a significant focus on life sciences applications.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and experience with relevant libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Strong understanding of statistical modeling, machine learning techniques, and experimental design.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and collaboration skills, with the ability to work independently and effectively in a remote environment.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and comprehensive performance-based bonuses.
• Generous stock options package and retirement savings plan.
• Fully remote work arrangement with flexible hours.
• Annual allowance for professional development, including conferences and training courses.
• A dynamic, forward-thinking work culture that values innovation and scientific impact.