Lead Computational Biologist (Remote)

Placements24; Centurion; Hybrid; ZAR 1,800,000 - 3,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Performance bonuses

Equity options

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Professional development budget

Fully remote role

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Computational Biologist to spearhead data analysis for genomic and transcriptomic projects in a fully remote capacity. You will drive sophisticated computational strategies, build pipelines for NGS data, and guide a team of analysts toward impactful discoveries and biomarkers.

You will collaborate with scientists and clinicians to translate hypotheses into computational analyses, mentor researchers, and contribute to publications while ensuring reproducible,

Qualifications

• PhD in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, CS, or a quantitative field.
• 7+ years of progressive computational biology experience.
• Experience leading research projects and managing a team.
• Expertise with genomic and transcriptomic data and bioinformatics tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and execution of pipelines for NGS data (WGS, WES, RNA-seq).
• Design and implement statistical and ML models for genetic insights.
• Collaborate with biologists and clinicians to translate hypotheses.
• Develop software tools to support research and data processing.
• Mentor a team of computational biologists and bioinformaticians.
• Oversee integration of genomic, proteomic and clinical datasets.
• Ensure reproducible and scalable computational workflows.
• Communicate results to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Contribute to grant writing and manuscript preparation.

Skills

Leadership

Bioinformatics

NGS data analysis

Machine learning

Cloud/HPC

Communication

Education

PhD in Computational Biology/Bioinformatics

Tools

Python

R

Perl

Shell scripting

AWS/GCP

HPC

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a trailblazer in genomic research and personalized medicine, is seeking a highly accomplished Lead Computational Biologist to spearhead their data analysis initiatives. This is a fully remote position, enabling top-tier talent to contribute to our mission regardless of location. You will be responsible for developing and implementing sophisticated computational strategies to analyze large-scale genomic and transcriptomic datasets, driving insights for novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers. This role requires a blend of deep scientific understanding, exceptional programming skills, and strong leadership capabilities. If you are passionate about leveraging cutting-edge bioinformatics tools and methodologies to solve complex biological problems and guide a team of talented analysts,

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of computational pipelines for the analysis of next-generation sequencing (NGS) data, including WGS, WES, and RNA-seq.
• Design and implement statistical and machine learning models to identify genetic variations, gene expression patterns, and regulatory networks.
• Collaborate with experimental biologists and clinicians to define research questions and translate biological hypotheses into computational analyses.
• Develop custom software tools and scripts to support research objectives and improve data processing efficiency.
• Manage and mentor a team of computational biologists and bioinformaticians, fostering a collaborative and productive work environment.
• Oversee the integration of diverse biological datasets (genomic, proteomic, clinical) to gain holistic insights.
• Ensure the reproducibility and scalability of computational workflows.
• Communicate complex analytical results effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences through reports and presentations.
• Contribute to grant writing and manuscript preparation, supporting scientific publications.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in computational biology or bioinformatics research.
• Demonstrated experience in leading research projects and managing a team of scientists.
• Expertise in analyzing large-scale genomic and transcriptomic datasets using standard bioinformatics tools and databases.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, R, Perl, and shell scripting.
• Strong knowledge of statistical modeling, machine learning algorithms, and their application in biological research.
• Experience with cloud computing platforms (e.g., AWS, GCP) and high-performance computing (HPC) environments.
• Excellent understanding of biological pathways, genomics, and molecular biology concepts.
• Superior communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to work independently and drive projects to completion in a remote setting.

Benefits

• Our client offers a highly competitive compensation package, including a generous base salary, performance bonuses, and equity options.
• We provide comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with company match, and a substantial professional development budget.
• The fully remote nature of this role offers unparalleled flexibility.
• We are committed to employee well-being and provide resources for mental health and work-life balance.