Genomics Research Lead: Molecular Biology & NGS

Placements24; Pietermaritzburg; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary package

Health benefits

Professional development and careerAdv

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Molecular Biologist for a pioneering biotechnology client in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. The role designs, executes and analyzes complex genomics and molecular diagnostics experiments to advance therapeutic targets.

You will lead projects, mentor researchers and collaborate with clinicians and computational biologists, focusing on data-driven decisions, safety and high-quality publication-ready work.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in molecular biology or related field required.
• 5+ years post-doctoral experience in academic or industry settings.
• Proven expertise in next-generation sequencing (NGS) and data analysis.
• Experience with PCR/qPCR, Western blotting, cloning, and cell culture.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; strong leadership potential.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute gene expression, DNA sequencing, and protein analysis experiments.
• Develop and optimize molecular biology assays and protocols.
• Analyze large-scale genomic and transcriptomic data using bioinformatics tools.
• Supervise and mentor junior research scientists and technicians.
• Prepare technical reports, manuscripts for publication, and presentations for scientific conferences.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including computational biologists and clinicians.
• Ensure compliance with laboratory safety regulations and quality control standards.
• Contribute to grant writing and acquisition of research funding.
• Stay abreast of latest advancements in molecular biology and genomics.

Skills

NGS technologies

PCR/qPCR

Western blotting

Cloning

Cell culture

Bioinformatics

Data analysis

Leadership

Communication

Education

Ph.D. in Molecular Biology/Genetics/Biochemistry

Tools

NGS data analysis software

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Molecular Biologist for a pioneering biotechnology client in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. The role designs, executes and analyzes complex genomics and molecular diagnostics experiments to advance therapeutic targets.

You will lead projects, mentor researchers and collaborate with clinicians and computational biologists, focusing on data-driven decisions, safety and high-quality publication-ready work.