Head Biomechanist — Human Performance Lab

Placements24; Upington; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement annuity

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Lead Biomechanist to head our advanced Biomechanics Laboratory in Upington. You will drive human movement analysis, injury prevention, and performance enhancement through sophisticated biomechanical methods.

Ideal candidate holds a PhD with 6–8 years post-doctoral experience, expert use of motion capture and EMG systems, and strong leadership and publication history. You will mentor staff and collaborate across research teams.

Qualifications

• PhD in Biomechanics, Kinesiology, Mechanical Engineering, or closely related field.
• Minimum 6–8 years post-doctoral biomechanical research experience with strong publication record.
• Proven expertise with advanced motion analysis and biomechanical measurement systems.
• Experience in experimental design, data analysis (MATLAB, R, Python) and statistical interpretation.
• Strong understanding of anatomy, physiology, and movement principles.
• Excellent leadership, project management and team collaboration skills.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication; mentoring experience.
• Ability to secure research funding via grants is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead and conduct biomechanical research projects examining human movement, ergonomics and sports performance.
• Operate and maintain advanced biomechanical equipment including motion capture, force plates, EMG and accelerometers.
• Analyze kinematic, kinetic and EMG data to understand movement patterns and joint loading.
• Develop biomechanical models and methodologies for performance assessment and injury risk identification.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners on study design, data collection and interpretation.
• Prepare scientific reports, publications and conference presentations.
• Mentor and supervise junior researchers and technicians.
• Contribute to development of new biomechanical analysis technologies and applications.
• Ensure ethical compliance, safety, and data integrity in all activities.
• Stay updated on advancements in biomechanics and related fields.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Team collaboration

Scientific writing

Education

PhD in Biomechanics or related field

6–8 years post-doctoral research experience

Tools

Motion capture systems

EMG systems

MATLAB

R

Python

Job description

Placements24 seeks a Lead Biomechanist to head our advanced Biomechanics Laboratory in Upington. You will drive human movement analysis, injury prevention, and performance enhancement through sophisticated biomechanical methods.

Ideal candidate holds a PhD with 6–8 years post-doctoral experience, expert use of motion capture and EMG systems, and strong leadership and publication history. You will mentor staff and collaborate across research teams.