Lead Bioinformatician - Drug Discovery

Placements24; George; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Bioinformatician in George to spearhead drug discovery initiatives, analyzing complex biological and chemical data to identify candidates and optimize leads. You will collaborate with chemists, biologists, and pharmacologists in a hybrid work setting at our George site.

The role demands 7+ years in bioinformatics, strong ML skills, and leadership experience in developing pipelines and predictive models to advance research and drive cross-functional projects.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field.
• At least 7 years of progressive experience in bioinformatics, with a significant portion focused on pharmaceutical R&D.
• Expertise in programming languages such as Python or R, and experience with bioinformatics databases and tools.
• Proven ability to lead projects and manage a technical team.
• Strong understanding of machine learning techniques and their application in biological data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement computational strategies for analyzing high-throughput screening data, omics data, and clinical trial information.
• Build and maintain robust bioinformatics pipelines for target identification and validation in drug discovery.
• Collaborate with medicinal chemists to design structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies and computational modelling projects.
• Manage a team of bioinformaticians, providing technical guidance and mentorship.
• Present complex analytical findings to cross-functional teams and senior management.

Skills

Python

R

Bioinformatics pipelines

Team leadership

Machine learning

Education

Master's degree or PhD in Bioinformatics or related field

Tools

Bioinformatics databases

Computational modelling tools

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Lead Bioinformatician to spearhead their drug discovery initiatives. This role is integral to analyzing complex biological and chemical data, identifying potential drug candidates, and optimizing lead compounds. You will work closely with chemists, biologists, and pharmacologists to integrate diverse datasets, develop predictive models, and drive research forward. This position offers a unique opportunity to work on challenging projects in a collaborative setting that blends on-site innovation with the flexibility of hybrid work, located in the vibrant scientific hub of George .

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement computational strategies for analyzing high-throughput screening data, omics data, and clinical trial information.
• Build and maintain robust bioinformatics pipelines for target identification and validation in drug discovery .
• Collaborate with medicinal chemists to design structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies and computational modelling projects.
• Manage a team of bioinformaticians, providing technical guidance and mentorship.
• Present complex analytical findings to cross-functional teams and senior management.

Requirements

• Master's degree or Ph.D. in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field.
• At least 7 years of progressive experience in bioinformatics, with a significant portion focused on pharmaceutical R&D .
• Expertise in programming languages such as Python or R, and experience with bioinformatics databases and tools.
• Proven ability to lead projects and manage a technical team.
• Strong understanding of machine learning techniques and their application in biological data analysis.

Benefits

• Competitive salary package and annual bonus.
• Hybrid work model offering flexibility between home and office.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Generous paid time off and retirement savings plan.
• Opportunities for professional development and attending scientific conferences.