Lead Computational Biologist - Remote

Placements24; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote work

Home office stipend

Competitive salary

Professional development budget

Equipment provided

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Computational Biologist to guide the development of computational strategies for analyzing biological data within a remote-first R&D team. You will shape computational infrastructure and drive novel analytical approaches in bioinformatics and data science.

The ideal candidate brings a PhD and 7+ years in computational biology, with strong Python/R skills, cloud experience, and a track record of leading projects in distributed teams.

Qualifications

• PhD in computational biology or related field.
• 7+ years in computational biology research and leadership.
• Proficiency in Python and R; shell scripting.
• Strong knowledge of bioinformatics algorithms and statistics.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) and HPC.
• Excellent remote collaboration and communication.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, implementation, and optimization of computational pipelines for large-scale biological data analysis.
• Develop and apply advanced statistical and machine learning models to extract insights from complex datasets.
• Collaborate with bench scientists remotely to define project goals and analytical strategies.
• Oversee management and curation of biological databases ensuring data integrity.
• Mentor and guide junior computational biologists and data analysts in the remote team.
• Stay updated on advancements in computational biology and data science.

Skills

Python

R

Shell scripting

Cloud computing

HPC

Machine learning

Education

PhD in Computational Biology

Tools

AWS

GCP

Azure

Job description

About the Role

Our client is actively seeking a highly skilled and experienced Lead Computational Biologist to join their remote-first research and development team. This position offers the unique opportunity to guide the development of innovative computational strategies for analyzing biological data, supporting critical research initiatives from afar. You will play a key role in shaping the computational infrastructure and driving forward novel analytical approaches in bioinformatics and data science. This is an ideal role for a proactive and collaborative computational biologist who excels in a remote setting and is passionate about advancing scientific understanding through data-driven insights, contributing to a culture that champions innovation and remote work excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, implementation, and optimization of computational pipelines for large-scale biological data analysis, including genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics.
• Develop and apply advanced statistical and machine learning models to extract meaningful insights from complex biological datasets.
• Collaborate closely with bench scientists and other researchers remotely to define project goals and analytical strategies.
• Oversee the management and curation of biological databases and ensure data integrity and accessibility.
• Mentor and guide junior computational biologists and data analysts within the remote team.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in computational biology, bioinformatics tools, and data science methodologies.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.
• Extensive experience (7+ years) in computational biology research, with a proven track record of leading projects.
• Expertise in programming languages like Python and R, and familiarity with shell scripting.
• Strong knowledge of bioinformatics algorithms, databases, and statistical modeling techniques.
• Demonstrated experience with cloud computing platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) and high-performance computing environments.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in a distributed, remote team setting.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and potential for performance bonuses.
• Fully remote work arrangement, offering flexibility and work-life balance.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Generous allocation for professional development, including online courses and conference attendance.
• Company-provided equipment and a home office stipend to ensure productivity.