Bioinformatician

University of Cape Town; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 700 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading South African university is seeking a qualified Bioinformatician to work on analyzing large neuroscience datasets. The successful candidate will be involved in exciting research focused on brain injury and will have opportunities for publication and collaboration. The position offers a 2-year contract with a competitive salary based on experience, and immediate availability is preferred.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2-3 years of relevant work experience.
• Strong background in analysis of large datasets.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct research.
• Own reliable transport required.

Responsibilities

• Conduct specified research projects and analyze data.
• Write research for publication and present findings.
• Contribute to progress reports and grant writing.
• Supervise and train students as required.
• Participate in research group activities.

Skills

Data analysis

Communication

Teamwork

Programming in Python

Programming in R

SQL

Education

Masters degree in neuroscience, bioinformatics, biomedical science, computer science, statistics or mathematics

Job description

Job title : Bioinformatician

Job Location : Western Cape, Cape Town

Deadline : 20th November, 2025

We are looking for a suitably qualified individual who is interested in analysis of large neuroscience datasets. The brain is a complex organ, and, in the past, we had limited scope to monitor real-time brain physiology and generate brain specific samples for analysis. The African Brain Child group, awardee of the NRF 2024 Science Team of the Year, received a prestigious Wellcome Discovery grant to examine high frequency data collection and sampling in patients with brain injury. In this project we are collecting hourly biological samples over several days which we will analyse using -omics techniques focused on metabolism, brain chemistry and inflammation. These data will be paired with high frequency (50Hz) multivariable intracranial data (pressure, oxygenation, electrophysiology) and brain imaging data. This enables the generation of a large and rich dataset. Examples of the analysis will include examination of temporal profiles, response to interventions, and association with clinical characteristics and outcome. This job may include complex data analysis training at collaborating institutions in the United Kingdom (Francis Crick Institute in London) or the United States (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston) and PhD opportunities at UCT. Given that brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability in older children and young adults across the world, the global healthcare implications for progress in this field are significant.

There will be opportunities to :

• Author and publish papers.
• Be exposed to a dynamic research environment in clinical neuroscience.
• Attend meetings and conferences to present data.
• Participate in international research collaborations.

Requirements :

• The position is available to candidates with a minimum of a Masters degree from any field related to neuroscience, bioinformatics, biomedical science, computer science, statistics and mathematics. In addition, candidates need to have a minimum of 2-3 years of work experience that is relevant to the scope of work described above.
• Candidates need to have a strong background in the analysis of large datasets.
• Competency in programming languages including but not limited to Python and R. SQL will be an advantage.
• Candidates should have demonstrated their ability to conduct meritorious research.
• Applicants should have good communication, strong team working and evidence of leadership skills.
• Candidates must have their own reliable transport and are expected to work on site full-time.

Responsibilities :

• Conduct the specified research projects, generate and analyse data within specified time frames.
• Write up research for publication and present at local and international meetings.
• Contribute to progress report and grant writing.
• Contribute to student supervision / training as required.
• Contribute to and participate in overall research group activities.
• Participate in project specified training.
• Participate in outreach and / or training activities targeting the broader community (e.g., workshops or seminars).

We are offering a 2-year contract at Lecturer level, with an annual cost of employment of R 600 000 and R 700 000 based on skills and experience. The position is available immediately. There may be opportunity for extension of the contract based on performance.