Lead Bioinformatician - Genomics

Placements24; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Retirement fund

Life insurance

Professional development

HPC access

Job summary

Placements24 in Cape Town is hiring a Lead Bioinformatician to head our genomics research initiatives, designing and implementing advanced computational strategies to analyze large-scale datasets and advance personalized medicine.

You will lead and mentor a team of bioinformaticians, collaborate with experimental biologists, clinicians, and data scientists, ensure data integrity and reproducibility, and contribute to publications and grant proposals.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in bioinformatics, with a focus on genomics.
• Expertise in programming languages such as Python or R, and experience with relevant bioinformatics libraries.
• Proficiency in handling and analyzing next-generation sequencing (NGS) data from various platforms.
• Strong understanding of statistical genetics, population genetics, and machine learning applications in genomics.
• Demonstrated experience in leading research projects and managing technical teams in Cape Town.

Responsibilities

• Design and manage large-scale genomic data analysis pipelines, including variant calling, annotation, and pathway analysis.
• Develop and implement novel algorithms and statistical models for genomic data interpretation.
• Lead and mentor a team of bioinformaticians, providing technical guidance and project management.
• Collaborate with experimental biologists, clinicians, and data scientists to integrate diverse datasets and generate actionable insights.
• Ensure data integrity, reproducibility, and compliance with data security standards.
• Contribute to grant writing and the dissemination of research findings through publications and presentations.

Skills

Python

R

Bioinformatics

Genomics

Leadership

Project management

Communication

Education

Ph.D. in Bioinformatics/Computational Biology/CS

Tools

High-performance computing

Bioinformatics libraries

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Lead Bioinformatician to head their genomics research initiatives in Cape Town . In this critical role, you will be responsible for developing and implementing advanced computational strategies to analyze large-scale genomic datasets, driving discoveries in personalized medicine and disease research. You will lead a team of bioinformaticians, fostering a collaborative and innovative research environment. This is an exceptional opportunity to leverage your expertise in computational biology and genomics to make significant contributions to scientific understanding and patient outcomes within a leading research institution located in the vibrant city of Cape Town .

Key Responsibilities

• Design and manage large-scale genomic data analysis pipelines, including variant calling, annotation, and pathway analysis.
• Develop and implement novel algorithms and statistical models for genomic data interpretation.
• Lead and mentor a team of bioinformaticians, providing technical guidance and project management.
• Collaborate with experimental biologists, clinicians, and data scientists to integrate diverse datasets and generate actionable insights.
• Ensure data integrity, reproducibility, and compliance with data security standards.
• Contribute to grant writing and the dissemination of research findings through publications and presentations.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in bioinformatics, with a focus on genomics.
• Expertise in programming languages such as Python or R, and experience with relevant bioinformatics libraries.
• Proficiency in handling and analyzing next-generation sequencing (NGS) data from various platforms.
• Strong understanding of statistical genetics, population genetics, and machine learning applications in genomics.
• Demonstrated experience in leading research projects and managing technical teams in Cape Town .

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary package with regular performance reviews.
• Comprehensive medical aid, retirement fund, and life insurance benefits.
• Generous allowance for professional development, conferences, and workshops.
• State-of-the-art computing infrastructure and access to high-performance computing clusters.
• Opportunity to work on groundbreaking research in a leading academic and research hub in Western Cape .