Principal Bioinformatician - Genomics Data Analysis

Placements24; George; In loco; ZAR 1.200.000 - 1.800.000; Tempo pieno

Vantaggi offerti da questo lavoro

Competitive salary

Medical insurance

Generous annual leave

Professional development

Research infrastructure

Retirement plan

Descrizione del lavoro

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Bioinformatician for a leading genomics research institute in George, Western Cape. You will lead analysis of large-scale genomic datasets and develop scalable pipelines.

You will collaborate with molecular biologists and clinicians, apply ML to genomic data, and mentor junior staff while publishing findings and advancing computational biology.

Competenze

• PhD or Master's degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, CS, Statistics, or related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in bioinformatics, focused on genomics data.
• Proven expertise in WGS, WES, RNA-Seq, and ChIP-Seq data analysis.
• Experience with HPC and cloud (AWS, GCP).
• Excellent problem-solving and collaboration in fast-paced research.

Mansioni

• Develop and maintain scalable NGS analysis pipelines for WGS/WES/RNA-Seq.
• Perform in-depth statistical analysis to extract biological insights.
• Mentor junior bioinformaticians and collaborate with clinicians.
• Write well-documented Python/R/Perl code and pipelines.
• Publish findings and present at conferences.

Conoscenze

Python

R

Perl

Bash scripting

HPC

Cloud computing

Statistical methods

Formazione

PhD in Bioinformatics

Master's in a related field

Strumenti

BWA

GATK

STAR

DESeq2

Descrizione del lavoro

About the Role

Our client, a leading genomics research institute located in **George, Western Cape**, is seeking an exceptional Principal Bioinformatician to spearhead the analysis of large-scale genomic datasets. This is a pivotal role requiring advanced expertise in computational biology and a deep understanding of genomic technologies. You will be responsible for developing and implementing cutting-edge bioinformatics pipelines, driving insights from complex data, and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team of researchers and clinicians. This position is based in our state-of-the-art facility in **George, Western Cape**, offering a stimulating environment for scientific advancement. We are looking for a visionary leader to guide our bioinformatics efforts and contribute to significant discoveries.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain scalable bioinformatics pipelines for the analysis of next-generation sequencing (NGS) data, including whole-genome, exome, and RNA-Seq.
• Perform in-depth statistical analysis and interpretation of genomic data to identify novel biological insights, disease associations, and potential therapeutic targets.
• Collaborate closely with molecular biologists, geneticists, and clinicians to define research questions and translate biological problems into computational approaches.
• Design and conduct rigorous quality control measures for raw and processed sequencing data.
• Manage and curate large, complex genomic datasets, ensuring data integrity and accessibility.
• Develop and apply machine learning algorithms for predictive modeling and pattern recognition in genomic data.
• Write clear, concise, and well-documented code (e.g., Python, R, Perl) and scripts for data analysis and pipeline automation.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in bioinformatics, genomics, and computational biology.
• Contribute to the publication of research findings in high-impact scientific journals and present at international conferences.
• Mentor junior bioinformaticians and provide technical guidance to research teams.

Requirements

• PhD or Master's degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in bioinformatics, with a strong focus on genomics data analysis.
• Proven expertise in analyzing various NGS data types (WGS, WES, RNA-Seq, ChIP-Seq).
• Proficiency in programming languages commonly used in bioinformatics (e.g., Python, R, Perl, Bash scripting).
• Extensive experience with bioinformatics tools and software packages (e.g., BWA, GATK, STAR, DESeq2, etc.).
• Solid understanding of statistical methods and machine learning techniques applied to biological data.
• Experience with high-performance computing (HPC) environments and cloud computing platforms (e.g., AWS, GCP).
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced research setting in **George, Western Cape**.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain complex computational concepts to non-experts.
• Track record of publications and/or contributions to open-source bioinformatics tools is a plus.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary package commensurate with experience.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and optical insurance plans.
• Generous annual leave allowance and paid sick days.
• Opportunities for continuous learning and professional development, including workshops and conferences.
• Access to cutting-edge computational infrastructure and resources.
• A supportive and innovative research environment focused on groundbreaking genomics discoveries.
• Retirement savings plan with employer contributions.
• Potential for academic appointments and collaborative research opportunities.