Computational Biologist - Drug Discovery

Placements24; South Africa; Remote; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full remote work setup

Competitive salary

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a talented Computational Biologist to join a fully remote drug discovery team. You will analyze large biological datasets, build predictive models, and apply advanced computational methods to identify novel drug targets across multiple therapeutic areas.

You will collaborate with medicinal chemists, pharmacologists, and biologists, write clean code in Python or R, and contribute to rigorous scientific validation from a remote location using state-of-the-art computational

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or equivalent in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Statistics, or related field.
• 3+ years post-doctoral or industry experience in computational drug discovery or related biology.
• Strong Python or R skills with libraries like scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Bioconductor.

Responsibilities

• Analyze high-throughput screening data, omics, and clinical datasets to identify drug candidates.
• Build predictive models for target identification and drug efficacy using ML/AI.
• Collaborate with chemists, pharmacologists, and biologists to design experiments.
• Visualize complex biological data and present findings to diverse stakeholders.
• Design and execute computational strategies for drug discovery programs.
• Maintain and improve computational tools and pipelines for robustness and scalability.

Skills

Python

R

Machine learning

Data analysis

Problem solving

Remote work

Education

PhD in Computational Biology / Bioinformatics

Tools

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Bioconductor

Cheminformatics tools

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a talented Computational Biologist to join their fully remote drug discovery team. This role is instrumental in leveraging advanced computational techniques to accelerate the identification and validation of novel drug targets. You will work on exciting projects that span various therapeutic areas, applying your expertise to analyze large biological datasets and build predictive models. This is a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on the future of medicine from a remote location, contributing to a mission-driven organization that is at the forefront of pharmaceutical innovation and committed to fostering a culture of scientific rigor and collaboration.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and apply computational and statistical methods to analyze high-throughput screening data, 'omics' data, and clinical datasets to identify potential drug candidates.
• Build and maintain predictive models for target identification, validation, and drug efficacy using machine learning and AI approaches.
• Collaborate with medicinal chemists, pharmacologists, and biologists to design experiments and interpret results.
• Visualize complex biological data and communicate findings clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Contribute to the design and execution of computational strategies for drug discovery programs.
• Maintain and improve existing computational tools and pipelines, ensuring their robustness and scalability.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or equivalent degree in Computational Biology , Bioinformatics, Statistics, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience in computational drug discovery or a related area of biological research, preferably with 3+ years post-doctoral or industry experience.
• Strong programming skills in Python or R, with experience using relevant scientific libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Bioconductor).
• Proficiency in handling and analyzing large biological datasets, including experience with databases and data warehousing.
• Familiarity with cheminformatics and molecular modeling concepts is a plus.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to research challenges in a remote setting.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and an attractive bonus program.
• Full remote work setup with comprehensive support.
• Excellent health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Generous annual leave and professional development opportunities.
• Access to state-of-the-art computational resources and cutting-edge research projects.
• A dynamic and collaborative team environment focused on innovation and patient outcomes.