Research & Development (R&D) Lead

sïParadigm Diagnostic Informatics; Islamabad; On-site; PKR 1,500,000 - 3,000,000; Full time

Job summary

sïParadigm Diagnostic Informatics seeks a PhD-level Bioinformatics R&D Lead to define and drive our applied-research agenda at the intersection of bioinformatics, computational biology, and AI/ML.

This role leads research from concept to production, developing and validating computational methods for genomic and diagnostic data while coordinating with engineering teams to translate them into clinical-grade tools.

Qualifications

• PhD in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Genomics, or related quantitative field with research intersection of biology and computation.
• Minimum 3 years of post‑degree experience applying computational methods to biological/genomic data.
• Strong programming in Python and R; experience with bioinformatics workflow tools.
• Hands‑on experience analyzing large multi-omics datasets; ability to translate research into production-grade systems.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the bioinformatics R&D roadmap aligned with diagnostic products and business goals.
• Lead applied research combining bioinformatics with machine learning for genomics/diagnostics.
• Design, build, and validate reproducible bioinformatics pipelines and ML models on genomic and clinical datasets.
• Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary teams across bioinformatics, data science, and software/DevOps.
• Prototype rapidly, benchmark, and move research into production with engineering teams.
• Contribute to publications, patent applications, and regulatory/clinical submissions where applicable.
• Mentor developers and junior researchers to foster experimentation and rigor.
• Stay ahead of genomics and AI developments and represent technical thought leadership.
• Ensure research and data practices meet healthcare privacy, quality, and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Python

R

Machine learning

Bioinformatics

Genomics

Leadership

Team coordination

Education

PhD in Bioinformatics / Computational Biology

Tools

Nextflow

Snakemake

WDL/Cromwell

Linux

Job description

Role Summary

We are seeking a PhD-level Bioinformatics R&D Lead to define and drive our applied-research agenda at the intersection of bioinformatics, computational biology, and AI / machine learning. This person will lead research initiatives from concept to prototype to production — developing and validating computational methods for genomic and diagnostic data — and coordinate closely with our engineering teams to translate them into clinical-grade tools. This is a hands‑on leadership role that blends scientific rigor with practical delivery, open to exceptional candidates globally.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and own the bioinformatics R&D roadmap, aligning research priorities with the company's diagnostic products and business goals.
• Lead applied research combining bioinformatics / computational biology with machine learning and AI — e.g., NGS/genomic data analysis, variant interpretation, and predictive modeling for diagnostics.
• Design, build, and validate reproducible bioinformatics pipelines and ML models on genomic, multi-omic, molecular, and clinical datasets.
• Lead and coordinate a multidisciplinary team — bioinformaticians, computational biologists, data scientists, and software / DevOps engineers — delegating and assigning work across domains, including coding and engineering tasks.
• Rapidly prototype, benchmark, and move promising research into production alongside engineering teams.
• Contribute to publications, patent applications, and regulatory / clinical submissions where applicable.
• Mentor and technically guide developers and junior researchers, fostering a culture of experimentation and scientific rigor.
• Stay ahead of academic and industry developments in genomics and AI, and represent the company's technical thought leadership.
• Ensure research and data practices meet relevant healthcare data privacy, quality, and regulatory requirements.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Genomics, Systems Biology, Biostatistics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field — with demonstrated work at the intersection of biology/medicine and computation.
• Minimum 3 years of post‑degree experience applying computational methods to biological / genomic data (industry experience in biotech, diagnostics, or pharma preferred).
• Ability to work independently, drive initiatives with minimal supervision, and delegate and assign work across other domains (e.g., coding and engineering tasks) to the relevant teams.
• Strong machine learning / AI skills with hands‑on experience in modern frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, scikit‑learn) applied to genomics or biomedical data.
• Strong programming in Python and R, with experience using bioinformatics workflow tools (e.g., Nextflow, Snakemake, or WDL/Cromwell) in Linux environments.
• Hands‑on experience analyzing large, multidimensional genomics datasets (NGS, RNA‑Seq, transcriptomics, and similar).
• Demonstrated research excellence (publications, patents, or a strong applied‑research portfolio), and a proven ability to translate research into production‑grade systems and lead cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Domain experience in oncology / cancer genomics, hematology, molecular diagnostics, or multi‑omics integration.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS/GCP/Azure) and MLOps for scalable, reproducible analysis.
• Familiarity with clinical and regulatory frameworks (e.g., CLIA/CAP, FDA submissions, HIPAA / data privacy) and assay validation.
• Familiarity with healthcare data standards (e.g., EHR, HL7/FHIR).
• Prior experience building, leading, or mentoring a bioinformatics / computational biology team.