Lead Data Scientist - Bioinformatics

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

Benefits offered by this job

Executive-level bonus

Health & wellness benefits

Stock options / equity

Professional development

Innovative work environment

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Lead Data Scientist with bioinformatics expertise in Durban to architect advanced analytics and guide a team of data scientists. You will build predictive models from genomic and proteomic data and collaborate with biology and chemistry groups to accelerate drug discovery.

You will design data pipelines, develop ML solutions, and communicate findings through visuals and reports for technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Bioinformatics, Data Science, CS or related field.
• 5+ years in data science with at least 2 years in leadership.
• Strong Python or R proficiency and related libraries (pandas, scikit-learn, TensorFlow).
• Experience handling large biological datasets, incl. NGS data.
• Solid ML, statistics, experimental design; strong communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and deployment of ML models and analyses for biological data.
• Design and manage data pipelines for genomic, proteomic, and clinical datasets.
• Mentor a team of data scientists and promote best practices in computational biology.
• Collaborate with biologists and chemists to translate questions into data solutions.
• Develop visualizations and reports to communicate findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Evaluate and implement new data science and bioinformatics technologies.

Skills

Leadership

Data science

Bioinformatics

Python

R

Pandas

Scikit-learn

TensorFlow

Communication

Education

Master's or PhD in Bioinformatics

Tools

TensorFlow

pandas

scikit-learn

Job description

About the Role

Our client is looking for an accomplished Lead Data Scientist with a strong background in Bioinformatics to spearhead their data analytics initiatives in Durban . This leadership position involves architecting and implementing advanced analytical models to derive actionable insights from large-scale biological datasets, guiding a team of data scientists, and collaborating closely with research and development departments. You will play a critical role in accelerating drug discovery and development processes by uncovering patterns and making predictive models based on complex genomic and proteomic data.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and deployment of machine learning models and statistical analyses for biological data.
• Design and manage data pipelines for processing, integrating, and analyzing large genomic, proteomic, and clinical datasets.
• Mentor and guide a team of data scientists, fostering best practices in data science and computational biology.
• Collaborate with biologists and chemists to define research questions and translate them into data-driven solutions.
• Develop visualizations and reports to communicate complex findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Evaluate and implement new technologies and methodologies in data science and bioinformatics.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Bioinformatics, Data Science, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field.
• 5+ years of professional experience in data science, with at least 2 years in a leadership or team lead role.
• Strong proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R and experience with relevant libraries (e.g., pandas, scikit-learn, TensorFlow).
• Expertise in handling and analyzing large biological datasets, including next-generation sequencing data.
• Solid understanding of machine learning algorithms, statistical modeling, and experimental design.
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and interpersonal skills.

Benefits

• An executive-level salary with a significant performance-based bonus component.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits package.
• Generous stock options or equity grants.
• Opportunities for continued learning and professional growth through conferences and training.
• A dynamic and intellectually stimulating work environment at the cutting edge of scientific innovation.