Lead Computational Biologist - Drug Discovery

Placements24; Cape Town; Hybride; ZAR 1 800 000 - 3 000 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Computational Biologist for a fully remote role with base in Cape Town, Western Cape, ZA. You will spearhead drug discovery efforts by leveraging big data analytics, ML, and advanced algorithms to identify therapeutic targets.

You will lead a team of computational biologists and bioinformaticians, mentoring talent and collaborating with global research teams on cutting-edge projects. Remote-first environment enables flexible collaboration.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master's in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.
• 10+ years in computational biology or bioinformatics with at least 3 years in leadership in pharma/biotech.
• Strong stats and machine learning methods for biological data.

Responsabilités

• Lead development and application of computational strategies for drug target ID, validation, and lead optimization.
• Design, implement, and manage bioinformatics pipelines for high-throughput data analysis.
• Develop and deploy ML models to predict drug efficacy, toxicity, and patient response.
• Collaborate with experimental biologists and clinicians to translate findings into programs.
• Mentor a team of computational biologists and bioinformaticians.

Connaissances

Leadership

Python

R

Machine Learning

Bioinformatics

Cloud computing

Formation

Ph.D. or Master's in Computational Biology/Bioinformatics/CS/Statistics

Outils

Scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

AWS/Azure/GCP

Description du poste

About the Role

Our client, a pioneering biopharmaceutical company, is seeking a highly experienced Lead Computational Biologist to spearhead their drug discovery efforts. This is a fully remote, critical role based in Cape Town, Western Cape, ZA, where you will be instrumental in leveraging big data analytics, machine learning, and advanced algorithms to identify and validate novel therapeutic targets. You will lead a team of talented computational biologists and bioinformaticians, fostering an environment of innovation and scientific rigor. This role requires a visionary leader with a deep understanding of biological systems and a passion for applying computational approaches to solve complex biological problems. The remote-first nature of this position ensures seamless collaboration with global research teams, providing flexibility and autonomy to our esteemed scientists.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and application of computational strategies for drug target identification, validation, and lead optimization using diverse biological datasets (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, clinical data).
• Design, implement, and manage bioinformatics pipelines for high-throughput data analysis.
• Develop and deploy machine learning models to predict drug efficacy, toxicity, and patient response.
• Collaborate closely with experimental biologists, medicinal chemists, and clinicians to translate computational findings into actionable drug discovery programs.
• Mentor and guide a team of computational biologists and bioinformaticians, fostering their professional growth and technical skills.
• Present complex analytical results and strategic recommendations to senior management and cross-functional teams.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in computational biology, bioinformatics, AI, and drug discovery technologies.
• Contribute to the development of intellectual property and scientific publications.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.
• 10+ years of experience in computational biology or bioinformatics, with at least 3 years in a leadership role within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.
• Proven expertise in developing and applying advanced statistical and machine learning methods to biological data.
• Strong programming skills in languages such as Python, R, and experience with relevant libraries (e.g., Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Extensive experience with genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic data analysis.
• Familiarity with cloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and big data technologies.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working in a fully remote setting is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.

Benefits

Our client offers a highly competitive salary, comprehensive health and wellness benefits, a generous stock option plan, and a robust professional development program. As a remote-first organization, we provide the flexibility and autonomy to work from anywhere. We foster a collaborative and innovative culture, encouraging continuous learning and growth. Join a team dedicated to making a significant impact on global health through cutting-edge drug discovery.