Computational Biologist - Drug Discovery

Placements24; Queenstown; Hybrid; NZD 214,000 - 267,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental & vision insurance

Home office equipment allowance

Professional development support

Flexible remote work

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a highly skilled Computational Biologist to join their drug discovery team in a remote-first role. You will leverage computational methods to analyze biological data and identify targets from your home office.

You will collaborate with chemists and biologists worldwide, develop data pipelines, and stay at the forefront of bioinformatics to advance cutting-edge medicine. This position offers flexibility, impact, and opportunities for research-based bonuses and professional

Qualifications

• PhD in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, CS, Stats or related field.
• Experience applying computational methods to drug discovery or life sciences.
• Strong programming in Python or R with bioinformatics libraries.
• Ability to work effectively in a remote, multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Develop and apply computational models for large-scale biological datasets (genomics/transcriptomics/proteomics).
• Identify drug targets via bioinformatics and pathway modeling.
• Design computational studies for drug screening, lead optimization, predictive toxicology.
• Collaborate with medicinal chemists, biologists and pharmacologists to translate findings.
• Develop and maintain data analysis pipelines and databases.
• Stay updated on new computational biology techniques for drug discovery.

Skills

Python

R

Statistical modeling

Machine learning

Data mining

Remote collaboration

Education

PhD in Computational Biology or related field

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly skilled Computational Biologist to join their pioneering drug discovery team, operating in a fully remote capacity. This role is crucial for leveraging advanced computational and statistical methods to analyze complex biological data, identify therapeutic targets, and accelerate the development of novel pharmaceuticals. You will work with a world-class team of scientists and engineers, contributing to impactful research from your home office. This remote-first environment offers unparalleled flexibility and the opportunity to make significant contributions to saving lives through innovative scientific exploration, supporting research that originates conceptually from Queenstown but is executed globally.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and apply computational models and algorithms to analyze large-scale biological datasets, including genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics.
• Identify and validate novel drug targets through bioinformatics analysis and pathway modeling.
• Design and interpret computational studies for drug screening, lead optimization, and predictive toxicology.
• Collaborate closely with medicinal chemists, biologists, and pharmacologists to integrate computational findings into drug discovery programs.
• Develop and maintain robust data analysis pipelines and databases for drug discovery research.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and methodologies in computational biology and bioinformatics for drug discovery.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.
• Proven experience in applying computational methods to biological problems, particularly in drug discovery or related life sciences.
• Strong programming skills in languages such as Python or R, and experience with relevant bioinformatics libraries and tools.
• Expertise in statistical modeling, machine learning, and data mining techniques applied to biological data.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to effectively collaborate in a remote, multidisciplinary team environment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage research projects and deliver high-quality results independently.

Benefits

• Highly competitive annual salary and potential for research-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous allowance for home office equipment and professional development.
• Opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge drug discovery research with global impact.
• Flexible remote work schedule and a collaborative virtual team culture.