Lead Computational Biologist

Placements24; Richards Bay; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote salary package

Bonuses potential

Flexible working hours

Health insurance

Home office allowance

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Lead Computational Biologist to join a fully remote research team in South Africa. You will drive analyses of genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics, design pipelines, and mentor colleagues while contributing to drug discovery efforts from anywhere in the country.

The role emphasizes leadership, collaboration with experimental biologists and clinicians, and the creation of novel computational tools to manage large-scale data in a flexible, remote-first

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Statistics, Computer Science, or related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in computational biology or bioinformatics, with significant lead/senior role.
• Proficiency in Python or R and relevant bioinformatics libraries/frameworks.
• Proficiency in statistics, machine learning, and data visualization techniques.
• Strong understanding of genomics, transcriptomics, and other omics data.
• Excellent communication and collaboration in a remote team setting.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute bioinformatics pipelines for high-throughput sequencing data (e.g., RNA-Seq, ChIP-Seq, WGS).
• Develop and apply statistical models and ML algorithms to biological data to identify patterns, biomarkers, targets.
• Collaborate with experimental biologists and clinicians to interpret results and guide research directions.
• Lead the development of novel computational tools and databases for data management and analysis.
• Mentor and guide junior computational biologists and bioinformaticians.
• Present complex computational findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.

Skills

Python

R

Statistics

Machine Learning

Data Visualization

Education

PhD in Computational Biology

Tools

Bioconductor

Job description

Our client is seeking an experienced Lead Computational Biologist to join their fully remote, cutting-edge research team. This role is central to leveraging large-scale biological datasets, including genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics, to drive scientific insights and drug discovery efforts. You will be responsible for developing and implementing advanced computational and statistical methods to analyze complex biological data, leading projects, and mentoring junior team members. This position offers the unique advantage of working from anywhere within South Africa , contributing to impactful research in a flexible, remote-first environment without the need for physical relocation, and fostering collaboration across diverse geographical locations.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute bioinformatics pipelines for the analysis of high-throughput sequencing data (e.g., RNA-Seq, ChIP-Seq, WGS).
• Develop and apply statistical models and machine learning algorithms to biological data to identify patterns, biomarkers, and therapeutic targets.
• Collaborate closely with experimental biologists and clinicians to interpret results and guide research directions.
• Lead the development of novel computational tools and databases for data management and analysis.
• Mentor and guide junior computational biologists and bioinformaticians.
• Present complex computational findings clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Statistics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in computational biology or bioinformatics, with a significant portion in a lead or senior role.
• Expertise in programming languages such as Python or R, and experience with relevant bioinformatics libraries and frameworks.
• Proficiency in statistical analysis, machine learning, and data visualization techniques.
• Strong understanding of genomics, transcriptomics, and other 'omics' data types.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with proven ability to work effectively in a remote team setting.

Benefits

• Highly competitive remote salary package and potential for bonuses.
• Flexible working hours and the ability to work from anywhere.
• Comprehensive health, disability, and life insurance.
• Generous allowance for home office setup and professional development.
• Opportunity to shape the future of computational biology in a leading research organization, impacting global health outcomes.