Lead Plant Biotechnology Scientist

Placements24; Polokwane; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus opportunities

Medical aid

Paid time off

Research facilities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Research Scientist in Polokwane to lead plant biotechnology projects and advance agricultural innovations. You will guide genetic transformation and data-driven breeding efforts, collaborating with a cross‑disciplinary team to deliver market-ready plant technologies.

The role requires a PhD with 5+ years in plant science, strong molecular biology skills, and experience in bioinformatics and genomic analysis.

Qualifications

• PhD in Plant Science, Botany, Genetics, Molecular Biology or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of post‑doctoral or industry experience in plant biotechnology or crop science.
• Demonstrated expertise in plant molecular biology techniques including transformation and expression analysis.
• Experience with genomic data analysis and bioinformatics tools relevant to plant science.
• Proven ability to manage research projects and mentor junior staff in a team setting.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and execution of research projects in plant genetics and biotechnology.
• Utilize genetic transformation, CRISPR, and marker-assisted selection for crop improvement.
• Analyze genomic and phenotypic data to guide breeding strategies.
• Oversee greenhouse and field trials, collect data, interpret results.
• Collaborate with breeders and scientists to integrate biotech advances into programs.

Skills

Project leadership

Mentoring

Team collaboration

Genomics data analysis

CRISPR gene editing

Education

Ph.D. in Plant Science or related field

Tools

Genomic data analysis tools

Bioinformatics

Genetic transformation

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Research Scientist in Polokwane to lead plant biotechnology projects and advance agricultural innovations. You will guide genetic transformation and data-driven breeding efforts, collaborating with a cross‑disciplinary team to deliver market-ready plant technologies.

The role requires a PhD with 5+ years in plant science, strong molecular biology skills, and experience in bioinformatics and genomic analysis.