Computational Biologist - Drug Discovery

Placements24; Benoni; Hybrid; ZAR 850,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

Flexible hours

Health insurance

Professional development budget

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a talented Computational Biologist to join its remote-first drug discovery team. You will leverage computational methods to analyze genomics, proteomics, and screening data, guiding pre-clinical research and target prioritization.

Collaborating with biologists and chemists, you will design experiments, develop tools, and stay ahead of advances in computational biology and drug discovery to accelerate novel therapeutics from anywhere.

Qualifications

• PhD in Computational Biology or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in computational biology, drug discovery.
• Proficiency in Python or R and bioinformatics tools.
• Strong statistics, ML, and data mining applied to biology.

Responsibilities

• Develop computational methods for genomics, proteomics, and screening data.
• Identify drug targets via in silico analysis and pathway modeling.
• Design and interpret computational experiments for discovery programs.
• Collaborate with bench scientists to validate predictions.
• Develop databases and tools to support discovery.
• Stay current with advances in computational biology and drug discovery technologies.

Skills

PhD in Bioinformatics

Python

R

Machine learning

Data mining

Genomics data analysis

Education

PhD in Computational Biology

Tools

Bioconductor

Jupyter

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a talented Computational Biologist to join their remote-first drug discovery team. This role is crucial in leveraging advanced computational and statistical methods to analyze biological data, identify potential drug targets, and guide pre-clinical research. You will work closely with molecular biologists, chemists, and pharmacologists to accelerate the discovery and development of novel therapeutics. This is an exceptional opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking pharmaceutical research from anywhere, impacting the future of medicine within a highly innovative and collaborative global organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and apply computational methods to analyze diverse biological datasets, including genomics, proteomics, and high-throughput screening data.
• Identify and prioritize potential drug targets through in silico analysis and pathway modeling.
• Design and interpret computational experiments to support drug discovery programs.
• Collaborate with bench scientists to integrate computational predictions with experimental validation.
• Develop and maintain databases and analytical tools to support drug discovery efforts.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in computational biology, bioinformatics, and drug discovery technologies.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Molecular Biology, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in computational biology, with a focus on drug discovery or related areas.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and experience with relevant bioinformatics libraries and tools.
• Strong understanding of statistical analysis, machine learning, and data mining techniques applied to biological data.
• Experience with relevant biological databases and computational modeling approaches.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in a remote team environment.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and potential for performance bonuses.
• Fully remote work arrangement with flexible hours.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Significant budget for professional development, including conferences and online courses.
• The opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in drug discovery and development.