Remote Principal Data Scientist - Genomics

Placements24; Bloemfontein; Hybrid; ZAR 1,500,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

Flexible hours

Health insurance

Home office allowance

Research opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Data Scientist with a Genomics focus to lead strategic data science initiatives within a fully remote research team. You will drive cutting-edge genomic analyses, develop scalable pipelines, and collaborate with researchers globally.

The role demands deep expertise in statistical modeling, ML, and experimental design, plus robust coding skills in Python or R. You will mentor teams and help shape the research agenda across projects.

Qualifications

• PhD or master's degree in Data Science, Statistics, CS, Bioinformatics or related field.
• 8+ years of data science experience with genomic data.
• Proficiency in Python or R and DS libraries (Pandas, Scikit-learn, TF).
• Strong statistical modeling, ML, and experimental design skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and execution of genomic data science projects.
• Develop and implement advanced models and predictive analytics for genomic data.
• Build scalable data pipelines and workflows for large-scale datasets.
• Collaborate with domain experts to define research questions and interpret results.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to technical strategy.
• Communicate findings to technical and non-technical audiences.

Skills

Genomics data

Statistical modeling

ML techniques

Python r

Education

PhD or MS in a quantitative field

Tools

Python

R

TensorFlow

Cloud platforms

Job description

About the Role

Our client is looking for an exceptional Principal Data Scientist with a specialization in Genomics to join their fully remote research team. This is a senior leadership role where you will drive the strategic development and application of advanced data science techniques to unlock critical insights from vast genomic datasets. You will work on complex, impactful projects, collaborating with leading researchers and engineers globally. The ideal candidate is a visionary thinker, a strong coder, and an expert in statistical modeling and machine learning, with a deep understanding of genomic data types and analysis. This position offers the unique opportunity to shape the future of genomic research from anywhere in the world.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and execution of complex data science projects focused on genomic analysis, including population genetics, variant interpretation, and disease association studies.
• Develop and implement cutting-edge statistical models, machine learning algorithms, and predictive analytics for genomic data.
• Build and maintain scalable data pipelines and analytical workflows for processing and integrating large-scale genomic datasets.
• Collaborate with domain experts to define research questions, design experiments, and interpret results.
• Mentor and guide junior data scientists and contribute to the team's technical strategy.
• Communicate complex findings and recommendations to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Bioinformatics, or a related quantitative field.
• Extensive experience (8+ years) in data science, with a significant focus on genomic data analysis .
• Expertise in programming languages such as Python or R, and proficiency with data science libraries (e.g., Pandas, Scikit-learn, TensorFlow).
• Deep understanding of statistical modeling, machine learning techniques, and experimental design.
• Proven experience with large-scale data processing, cloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), and big data technologies.
• Exceptional problem-solving skills and the ability to work autonomously in a remote setting.

Benefits

• Top-tier compensation package including a base salary and significant performance bonuses.
• Fully remote work environment with flexible hours.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Generous allowance for home office setup and professional development.
• Access to leading-edge research and opportunities to publish in high-impact journals.