Lead Computational Biologist - Bioinformatics

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

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote work arrangement

Generous annual leave

Personal development budget

Cutting-edge computational resources

Global collaboration

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Lead Computational Biologist to drive innovative research initiatives in a fully remote role. You will lead a skilled team, develop advanced algorithms, and interpret large-scale genomic and proteomic datasets to identify biomarkers and targets for precision medicine.

The role requires a PhD and 7+ years in computational biology, with strong Python/R skills, cloud computing, and leadership experience in remote settings.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 7 years of hands-on experience in computational biology, with a significant portion focused on genomic data analysis.
• Proven ability to lead projects and mentor scientific teams, preferably in a remote setting.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of sophisticated bioinformatic analysis pipelines for high-throughput sequencing data (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics).
• Develop and apply advanced statistical and machine learning models for biological data interpretation.
• Collaborate closely with experimental biologists and clinical researchers to define research questions and analytical strategies.
• Manage and mentor a team of computational biologists, fostering a collaborative and productive remote work culture.
• Ensure the quality, reproducibility, and scalability of all computational analyses and workflows.
• Present complex findings clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Skills

Leadership

Remote mentoring

Python/R

Genomic data analysis

Cloud computing

Machine learning

Education

PhD in Computational Biology or related

Tools

Python

R

AWS/GCP/Azure

HPC

Bioinformatics libraries

Job description

About the Role

Our client is a pioneering force in the field of bioinformatics and is seeking a highly skilled Lead Computational Biologist to drive their innovative research initiatives. This fully remote position offers the unique opportunity to shape the future of data-driven biological discovery from anywhere. You will lead a talented team of bioinformaticians and computational scientists, developing advanced algorithms and analytical pipelines to interpret large-scale genomic and proteomic datasets. Your work will be critical in identifying novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets, significantly contributing to the client's mission of advancing precision medicine, all within a supportive and forward-thinking remote work environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of sophisticated bioinformatic analysis pipelines for high-throughput sequencing data (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics).
• Develop and apply advanced statistical and machine learning models for biological data interpretation.
• Collaborate closely with experimental biologists and clinical researchers to define research questions and analytical strategies.
• Manage and mentor a team of computational biologists, fostering a collaborative and productive remote work culture.
• Ensure the quality, reproducibility, and scalability of all computational analyses and workflows.
• Present complex findings clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or equivalent in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 7 years of hands-on experience in computational biology, with a significant portion focused on genomic data analysis.
• Demonstrated expertise in programming languages such as Python or R, and experience with relevant bioinformatics libraries and tools.
• Proven ability to lead projects and mentor scientific teams, preferably in a remote setting.
• Experience with cloud computing platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) and high-performance computing environments.
• Excellent understanding of biological pathways, disease mechanisms, and drug discovery processes is highly desirable.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Fully remote work arrangement, offering unparalleled flexibility and work-life balance.
• Generous annual leave and personal development budget.
• Opportunities to work on groundbreaking research with significant real-world impact.
• Access to cutting-edge computational resources and collaborative global teams.