Computational Biologist - Drug Discovery

Placements24; Mossel Bay; Hybrid; ZAR 1,469,000 - 2,122,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Home office setup allowance and remote

Virtual training

Flexible work schedule

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Computational Biologist to join a groundbreaking drug discovery team in a fully remote position. You will leverage advanced computational methods to analyze omics data and identify potential drug targets, accelerating the development of life-saving therapies while collaborating with bench scientists and chemists.

You will design predictive models, perform virtual screening and docking studies, and communicate complex results to diverse audiences.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. required in a quantitative field (Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, CS or similar).
• Proven experience analyzing biological data and building computational models for drug discovery.
• Proficiency in Python and R; experience with biological databases.
• Familiarity with ML algorithms and their applications in biological research.
• Strong understanding of molecular biology and the drug discovery process.

Responsibilities

• Develop and apply computational methods to analyze large biological datasets (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics).
• Build predictive models for drug target identification and validation using machine learning and statistics.
• Design and analyze virtual screening workflows and molecular docking studies.
• Collaborate with experimental teams to interpret results and guide research directions.
• Communicate complex computational findings to technical and non-technical audiences.

Skills

Python

R

Machine learning

Bioinformatics

Data analysis

Education

Ph.D. in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, or related field

Job description

About the Role

Our client is looking for an experienced Computational Biologist to join their innovative drug discovery team. This fully remote position will leverage advanced computational approaches to analyze biological data, identify potential drug targets, and predict compound efficacy. You will work closely with bench scientists, chemists, and bioinformaticians to accelerate the drug development pipeline. This is a unique opportunity to apply your computational expertise to solve complex biological problems and contribute to the development of life-saving therapies, with the flexibility of a remote work environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and apply computational methods for analyzing large biological datasets, including genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics.
• Build predictive models for drug target identification and validation using machine learning and statistical techniques.
• Design and analyze virtual screening workflows and molecular docking studies.
• Collaborate with experimental teams to interpret results and guide future research directions.
• Communicate complex computational findings effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Computational Biology , Bioinformatics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field.
• Proven experience in analyzing biological data and developing computational models for drug discovery.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python and R, and experience with relevant biological databases.
• Familiarity with machine learning algorithms and their application in biological research.
• Strong understanding of molecular biology principles and the drug discovery process.

Benefits

• Competitive annual salary and performance-based incentives.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
• Generous home office setup allowance and remote work support.
• Opportunities for professional growth and virtual training.
• Flexible work schedule and the ability to work from anywhere.