Laboratory Assistant

SAKATA Vegetables Europe S.A.S.; Randburg; On-site; ZAR 720,000 - 920,000; Full time

Job summary

You will join the Sakata EMEA molecular biology team in South Africa, based at the Lanseria facility near Johannesburg, to analyze large datasets and develop bioinformatic pipelines that support vegetable breeding programs across the region.

The role requires a Master’s in Bioinformatics, genetics background, and excellent English, with the ability to write pipelines in R, Python, and Bash and to work toward deadlines in a dynamic, multicultural team.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree specializing in Bioinformatics.
• Background in Genetics and plant sciences.
• High level of English, written and spoken.
• Ability to write scripts and develop pipelines in R, Python and Bash to process and analyze large datasets.
• Own vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Analyze large datasets and develop bioinformatic pipelines.
• Work closely with marker scientists in the marker discovery process.
• Write scripts to process and analyze large data sets.
• Develop computational tools to support breeding programmes.

Skills

R scripting

Python scripting

Bash scripting

Bioinformatics pipelines

Education

Master’s Degree in Bioinformatics

Job description

Are you keen to apply cutting edge data science and bioinformatics techniques to drive advancement? Would you like to be part of developing high-performing, market-leading vegetable varieties? Keen to join an innovative vegetable breeding team?

As a member of the Sakata EMEA molecular biology team, you will be responsible for the analysis of large datasets and the development of bioinformatic pipelines. Your contribution to the team will ensure that the research team is able to develop varieties that satisfy the needs of customers across the region and beyond.

What will you do?

You will work closely with the marker scientists in the marker discovery process.

• Writing scripts in R, Python and Bash to process and analyze large data sets.
• Developing and applying computational tools to support breeding programmes.

Where will you work?

You will be based in South Africa at the company's research facility in Lanseria, just west of Johannesburg.

You will be joining a dynamic, multicultural team of researchers operating within EMEA.

Do you fit this profile?

You have:

• a Master’s Degree specializing in Bioinformatics
• a background in Genetics and plant sciences
• a high level of English, both written and spoken
• a good sense of service and are able to deal with deadlines
• the ability to write scripts and develop pipelines in R, Python and Bash to process and analyze large datasets
• your own vehicle

You are:

• a fast learner and comfortable in taking initiative
• a team player who finds it easy to communicate and collaborate within the team and with other departments
• service-orientated, well organized and able to work autonomously
• able to work within deadlines, with good personal time management

Do you want to know more about the company?

You will work for the research team of Sakata EMEA, part of the Sakata Group. What makes Sakata different, is that while being a key international player in the seed business, the company has retained a family spirit.

This means 3 things:

• it’s a people-oriented company where it is easy to communicate at all levels
• you will work closely with your colleagues and customers and will never be far from the fields
• as a result of its Japanese origins, you'll be working for a stable company with an emphasis on long-term culture.