Researcher (60 Months Fixed Term Contract - Wits SBIMB)

AJ Personnel; Parktown (NC); On-site; USD 36,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Wits Health Consortium is seeking a senior postdoctoral researcher in genomics and bioinformatics to lead independent research projects focused on African populations and non-communicable diseases. You will supervise students and early career scientists, perform GWAS and population genetics analyses, and contribute to grant writing and publications.

Location is Parktown, with an emphasis on building research capacity, data processing pipelines, and collaborative reporting for manuscripts and

Qualifications

• PhD in Genomics, Bioinformatics, Life Sciences or a related field.
• 7+ years postdoctoral research experience in Genomics or Bioinformatics.
• Publication record and funding success.

Responsibilities

• Develop research protocols, analysis plans, and data management documentation.
• Lead project planning meetings and contribute analytical input.
• Assist with grant proposals and ethics submissions.
• Maintain organised records of analysis and project documentation.
• Lead training for students and early career scientists.
• Publish research findings and draft manuscripts.

Skills

Postdoctoral experience

Genomics

Bioinformatics

Data analysis

Education

PhD in Genomics, Bioinformatics, Life Sciences or related field

Tools

R

Python

Bash

Git

Job description

Division: Sydner Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience

Main purpose of the job

To perform bioinformatics and computational genomics research and provide support to research projects focused on African populations, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and population genetics. The role is to perform independent research and to support Researcher activities by performing data processing, analysis, documentation, and contributing to research outputs, while building independent research capacity and publishing research. This includes supervising postgraduates and guiding young postdoctoral fellows. Apply for grants to support research activities.

Location: 9 Jubilee Road, Parktown

Key performance areas

• Develop research protocols, analysis plans, and data management documentation
• Participate and manage project planning meetings and contribute analytical input
• Assist with the preparation of grant proposals and ethics submissions
• Maintain organised records of analysis and project documentation
• Management of data and analytical workflows
• Implement standard bioinformatics and statistical genetics pipelines under guidance
• Perform data cleaning, quality control, and basic exploratory analysis
• Manage the harmonisation of datasets across projects or sites
• Report analytical challenges to team members
• Implement standard bioinformatics and statistical genetics pipelines
• Lead and train others on the components of genomic analyses, such as GWAS, population structure analysis, or polygenic risk score
• Perform functional annotation and summary analysis
• Generate figures, tables, and summaries for reports and publications
• Contribute and lead internal research reports and progress updates
• Lead drafting methods, results, and supplementary material for manuscripts
• Draft and develop project proposals
• Publish research findings
• Apply for research funding
• Supervise and mentor Students and early career Scientists
• Participate in research meetings, journal clubs, and seminars

Required minimum education and training

• PhD in Genomics, Bioinformatics, Life Sciences or a related field

Required minimum work experience

• 7 Years Postdoctoral Research experience in Genomics or Bioinformatics
• Demonstrated experience in genome-wide association studies (GWAS), statistical genetics, or human genetics research
• Publication record and funding success

Desirable additional education, work experience and personal abilities

• Sound understanding of population genetics and human genomic variation, particularly in African populations
• Experience in scientific publication of research findings
• Record in securing research funding
• Experience performing and supporting genomic analyses for non-communicable disease research (e.g. cardiometabolic disease, cancer, neurological or metabolic traits)
• Experience in GWAS, quality control pipelines, basic population structure analysis, and interpretation of genetic results
• Advanced experience using bioinformatics tools, scripts, and pipelines in R, Python, and/or Bash
• Sound experience with high-performance computing environments and version control systems

Closing date: 16 October 2026

Note: No CV will be accepted after the closing date

Please note: WHC, in accordance with its Employment Equity goals and plan, will give preference to suitable applicants from designated groups as defined in the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 and subsequent amendments thereto AJ Personnel is only responsible for advertising and the response handling on behalf of their client Wits Health Consortium AJ Personnel does not have any salary or other information regarding the position