Remote Principal Computational Biologist

Placements24; Vereeniging; Hybrid; ZAR 1,800,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote work

Competitive compensation

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Generous PTO

Work-life balance

Global impact

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a highly experienced Principal Computational Biologist for a fully remote position. You will lead complex biological data analysis across genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics, developing advanced computational methods and guiding strategic research directions.

Collaborate with a global team, mentor junior bioinformaticians, publish findings, and contribute to grant proposals. The role requires a PhD and 8+ years in the field, plus expertise in Python, R, ML, cloud

Qualifications

• Ph.D. required in a quantitative field related to biology or bioinformatics.
• 8+ years of experience in computational biology or bioinformatics with large-scale data analysis.
• Proficiency in Python and R with scripting (Bash).
• Strong statistics, ML, and application to biological data.
• Experience with cloud platforms and HPC environments.
• Proven track record leading projects and communicating results.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of computational strategies for analyzing complex biological datasets, such as next‑generation sequencing data.
• Develop and optimize algorithms and software tools for biological data analysis, interpretation, and visualization.
• Collaborate with experimental biologists and clinicians to interpret research findings and design future experiments.
• Manage and mentor junior computational biologists and bioinformaticians.
• Identify and implement novel computational approaches to address challenging biological questions.
• Present findings to scientific teams and contribute to publications and grant proposals.

Skills

Python

R

Shell/Bash

Machine Learning

Data Analysis

Leadership

Communication

Education

Ph.D. in Computational Biology or related field

Tools

AWS

GCP

Linux

HPC

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly experienced Principal Computational Biologist for a fully remote position. This is a unique opportunity to lead complex biological data analysis and contribute to major scientific discoveries from anywhere. You will be instrumental in developing and applying advanced computational methods to analyze large, diverse biological datasets, including genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics. The role requires a deep understanding of biological systems coupled with sophisticated computational and statistical expertise. You will collaborate with a global team of scientists, driving the interpretation of biological data and guiding future research directions, all within a supportive and innovative remote-first work environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of computational strategies for analyzing complex biological datasets, such as next‑generation sequencing data.
• Develop and optimize algorithms and software tools for biological data analysis, interpretation, and visualization.
• Collaborate with experimental biologists and clinicians to interpret research findings and design future experiments.
• Manage and mentor junior computational biologists and bioinformaticians.
• Identify and implement novel computational approaches to address challenging biological questions.
• Present findings to scientific teams and contribute to publications and grant proposals.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in computational biology or bioinformatics, with a focus on large-scale biological data analysis.
• Expertise in programming languages like Python and R, and familiarity with scripting languages like Bash.
• Strong understanding of statistical methods, machine learning, and their application to biological data.
• Experience with cloud computing platforms (e.g., AWS, GCP) and high-performance computing environments.
• Proven track record of leading projects and effectively communicating complex results.

Benefits

• Exceptional salary and performance-based incentives.
• Fully remote work arrangement, offering unparalleled flexibility.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off and commitment to work-life balance.
• Opportunity to shape the future of biological research through cutting‑edge computational analysis with a global impact.