Data Scientist - Bioinformatics

Placements24; Gauteng; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental & vision insurance

Home office setup allowance

Flexible remote schedule

Professional development support

Collaborative online tools

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a talented Data Scientist with a specialization in Bioinformatics for a fully remote research team. You will apply ML and statistical methods to genomic and clinical data, uncover patterns, and build predictive models to support innovation across projects.

The role emphasizes collaboration with researchers worldwide, data visualization, and development of scalable analytical platforms within a remote-friendly environment.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Bioinformatics, Data Science, CS or Statistics.
• Proficiency in Python or R with common libraries.
• Experience applying ML to biological data and genomics.

Responsibilities

• Develop statistical and ML models for biological datasets.
• Process and manage large genomic, proteomic, and clinical data.
• Design experiments to identify biomarkers and predict disease progression.
• Collaborate remotely with biologists to define analysis needs.
• Create visualizations and reports for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Contribute to scalable data pipelines and analytical platforms.

Skills

Data science

Machine learning

Genomic data analysis

Python

R

Biopython

Pandas

Scikit-learn

Education

Master's or Ph.D. in Bioinformatics

Data Science/CS/Statistics

Tools

BLAST

GATK

Ensembl

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a talented Data Scientist with a specialization in Bioinformatics to join their fully remote research team. In this critical role, you will leverage your expertise in data analysis, machine learning, and biological data to extract actionable insights that drive innovation in our scientific endeavors. You will work with large-scale genomic, proteomic, and clinical datasets to uncover patterns, build predictive models, and support strategic decision-making. This is an exceptional opportunity for a self-motivated individual who excels in a remote setting and is passionate about applying computational approaches to solve complex biological problems. You will be an integral part of a forward-thinking organization dedicated to advancing scientific understanding from anywhere in the world.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement advanced statistical and machine learning models for analyzing biological datasets.
• Process, clean, and manage large volumes of complex genomic, proteomic, and clinical data.
• Design and conduct computational experiments to identify biomarkers, predict disease progression, and optimize research strategies.
• Collaborate with biologists and researchers remotely to define data analysis needs and interpret findings.
• Create compelling data visualizations and reports to communicate complex results to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Contribute to the development of scalable data pipelines and analytical platforms.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. degree in Bioinformatics, Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.
• Proven experience in applying machine learning techniques and statistical modeling to biological data.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and relevant libraries (e.g., Pandas, Scikit-learn, Biopython).
• Experience with genomic data analysis tools and databases (e.g., BLAST, GATK, Ensembl).
• Strong understanding of biological principles and research methodologies.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, adapted for a remote work environment.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Flexible work schedule and the ability to work from anywhere.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Generous allowance for home office setup and professional development.
• Access to collaborative online tools and a supportive virtual team culture.