Lead Computational Biologist - Drug Discovery Platforms

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

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement plan

Professional development

Conference attendance

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Computational Biologist to join our drug discovery platform in Polokwane. You will develop computational methods to analyze genomics, proteomics and transcriptomics data, identify drug targets and guide preclinical programs.

Ideal candidates hold a PhD with 7+ years in computational biology, are expert in Python or R, and proficient in statistics, ML and NGS data analysis. You will mentor junior scientists and collaborate across biology, chemistry and pharmacology

Qualifications

• PhD in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, CS, Stats or related field.
• 7+ years of experience in computational biology with drug discovery exposure.
• Strong programming in Python or R and familiarity with bioinformatics tools.
• Advanced statistics, ML, and data visualization expertise.
• Experience handling large-scale omics/NGS datasets.
• Excellent cross-disciplinary collaboration skills in Polokwane.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of computational biology strategies and pipelines.
• Apply statistics and ML to identify drug targets and biomarkers.
• Integrate multi-omics data to understand disease biology.
• Collaborate with experimental biologists, medicinal chemists and pharmacologists.
• Develop predictive models for efficacy and toxicity from preclinical data.
• Mentor junior computational biologists and shape team direction.

Skills

Statistical modeling

Machine learning

Data visualization

Team collaboration

Education

PhD in Computational Biology or related field

Tools

Python

R

Bioinformatics tools/databases

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a talented and experienced Lead Computational Biologist to join their innovative drug discovery platform team in Polokwane. This role is crucial for developing and applying cutting-edge computational methodologies to analyze large-scale biological datasets, including genomics, proteomics, and transcriptomics. You will play a key role in identifying novel drug targets, understanding disease mechanisms, and guiding preclinical development efforts. The ideal candidate will possess a strong quantitative background and a proven ability to translate complex biological data into actionable insights within a collaborative research setting.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of computational biology strategies and pipelines for analyzing diverse biological datasets.
• Apply advanced statistical and machine learning techniques to identify potential drug targets and biomarkers.
• Integrate multi-omics data (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics) to gain a holistic understanding of disease biology.
• Collaborate closely with experimental biologists, medicinal chemists, and pharmacologists to support drug discovery programs.
• Develop predictive models for drug efficacy and toxicity based on biological and preclinical data.
• Mentor junior computational biologists and contribute to the scientific direction of the discovery team.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in computational biology, with a significant portion focused on drug discovery or related pharmaceutical research.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and experience with relevant bioinformatics tools and databases.
• Strong expertise in statistical modeling, machine learning, and data visualization techniques.
• Experience with handling and analyzing large-scale biological datasets, including next-generation sequencing (NGS) data.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment in Polokwane.

Benefits

• Competitive annual salary and performance-based bonus opportunities.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
• Generous paid time off and company-sponsored retirement plan.
• Support for ongoing professional development, including attending scientific conferences and workshops.
• Opportunity to work with a leading organization at the forefront of pharmaceutical innovation.