Lead Bioinformatician

Placements24; Klerksdorp; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Retirement fund

Remote-first environment

Opportunities to attend conferences

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Bioinformatician to join a pioneering research team. This fully remote role in South Africa focuses on developing and implementing advanced bioinformatics pipelines, analyzing large-scale genomic data, and collaborating with clinicians to drive discovery.

The ideal candidate has a PhD or MSc in a related field, 5+ years in bioinformatics, strong Python/R programming, and experience with HPC environments.

Qualifications

• PhD or MSc in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in bioinformatics research and data analysis.
• Expertise in programming languages such as Python and R, and experience with bioinformatics libraries.
• Proficiency in using command-line interfaces and high-performance computing environments.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain robust bioinformatics pipelines for analyzing NGS data (WGS, WES, RNA-Seq).
• Perform in-depth analysis of large biological datasets, including genomic variation, gene expression, and epigenomic profiling.
• Collaborate with experimental biologists and clinicians to interpret data and generate hypotheses.
• Develop and implement statistical and machine learning models for biological data analysis.
• Create clear visualizations and reports for diverse audiences.
• Supervise and mentor junior bioinformaticians and research assistants.
• Contribute to grant writing and manuscript preparation.

Skills

Python

R

HPC

ML

Statistics

Bioinformatics

Data analysis

Remote collaboration

Education

PhD or MSc in Bioinformatics or related field

Tools

BWA

GATK

DESeq2

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a talented and experienced Lead Bioinformatician to join their pioneering research team. This is a fully remote position, allowing you to contribute to groundbreaking biological research from anywhere in South Africa . You will be responsible for developing and implementing cutting-edge bioinformatics pipelines, analyzing large-scale genomic and transcriptomic datasets, and collaborating with biologists and clinicians to drive scientific discovery. The ideal candidate possesses a strong foundation in bioinformatics, excellent programming skills, and a passion for translating complex biological data into actionable insights. This role offers the opportunity to lead innovative projects, mentor junior scientists, and make a significant impact in the rapidly evolving field of genomics and personalized medicine. Join a supportive and dynamic team dedicated to advancing health outcomes through data-driven research.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain robust bioinformatics pipelines for analyzing next-generation sequencing (NGS) data (e.g., WGS, WES, RNA-Seq).
• Perform in-depth analysis of large biological datasets, including genomic variation, gene expression, and epigenomic profiling.
• Collaborate closely with experimental biologists, geneticists, and clinicians to interpret data and generate hypotheses.
• Develop and implement statistical and machine learning models for biological data analysis.
• Create clear and concise visualizations and reports of findings for diverse audiences.
• Supervise and mentor junior bioinformaticians and research assistants.
• Contribute to grant writing and manuscript preparation.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in bioinformatics tools, algorithms, and biological discoveries.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in bioinformatics research and data analysis.
• Expertise in programming languages such as Python and R, and experience with bioinformatics libraries.
• Proficiency in using command-line interfaces and high-performance computing environments.
• Strong understanding of statistical principles and machine learning algorithms.
• Experience with various NGS data types and analysis tools (e.g., BWA, GATK, DESeq2).
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, especially in a remote setting.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and work independently.
• Must be legally authorized to work remotely in South Africa.

Benefits

This fully remote role offers a highly competitive salary, comprehensive medical aid coverage, and a retirement fund. Our client supports continuous learning through access to online courses, virtual workshops, and opportunities to attend relevant scientific conferences remotely. Enjoy the flexibility and work-life balance that comes with a remote-first environment, while contributing to impactful research in bioinformatics and genomics from Klerksdorp or any other location in South Africa.