Researcher (60 Months Fixed Term Contract - Wits Sbimb)

AJ Personnel; Pretoria; Presencial; ZAR 900.000 - 1.200.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

The Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience (SBIMB) in South Africa seeks a senior bioinformatics and genomics researcher to conduct independent work and support projects focused on African populations, NCDs, and population genetics.

You will lead data processing, analysis, and publication efforts, supervise postgraduates, apply for grants, and contribute to research outputs while building independent capacity.

Formación

• PhD in Genomics, Bioinformatics, Life Sciences or related field.
• 7 years' postdoctoral experience in Genomics or Bioinformatics.
• Demonstrated GWAS, statistical genetics, or human genetics research.
• Publication record and funding success.
• Experience with African population genomics is desirable.
• Advanced scripting in R, Python, and/or Bash.

Responsabilidades

• Develop research protocols, analysis plans, and data management documentation.
• Lead project planning meetings and provide analytical input.
• Assist with grant proposals and ethics submissions.
• Maintain organised records of analysis and project documentation.
• Manage data and analytical workflows across projects/sites.
• Lead training and supervise students and early career scientists.

Conocimientos

Genomics

Bioinformatics

GWAS

Publications

Grant funding

Educación

PhD in Genomics

Herramientas

R

Python

Bash

Descripción del empleo

Background

• Named after Nobel Laureate and Wits University graduate, Sydney Brenner, the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience (SBIMB) is a burgeoning multi-disciplinary research institute dedicated to investigating the molecular and genomic aetiology of diseases among African populations

Mission

• To conduct biomedical molecular and genomic research addressing health priorities in Africans

Vision

• To become a leader in biomedical research on the African continent, conducting world-class, innovative and relevant research, that will benefit the southern African community, and to excel as a centre for learning

Division

Sydner Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience

Main purpose of the job

• To perform bioinformatics and computational genomics research and provide support to research projects focused on African populations, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and population genetics
• The role is to perform independent research and to support Researcher activities by performing data processing, analysis, documentation, and contributing to research outputs, while building independent research capacity and publishing research
• This includes supervising postgraduates and guide young postdoctoral fellows
• Apply for grants to support research activities

Location

• 9 Jubilee Road, Parktown

Key performance areas

• Develop research protocols, analysis plans, and data management documentation
• Participate and manage project planning meetings and contribute analytical input
• Assist with the preparation of grant proposals and ethics submissions
• Maintain organised records of analysis and project documentation
• Management of data and analytical workflows
• Implement standard bioinformatics and statistical genetics pipelines under guidance
• Perform data cleaning, quality control, and basic exploratory analysis
• Manage the harmonisation of datasets across projects or sites
• Report analytical challenges to team members
• Implement standard bioinformatics and statistical genetics pipelines
• Lead and train others on the components of genomic analyses, such as GWAS, population structure analysis, or polygenic risk score
• Perform functional annotation and summary analysis
• Generate figures, tables, and summaries for reports and publications
• Contribute and lead internal research reports and progress updates
• Lead drafting methods, results, and supplementary material for manuscripts
• Draft and develop project proposals
• Publish research findings
• Apply for research funding
• Supervise and mentor Students and early career Scientists
• Participate in research meetings, journal clubs, and seminars

Required minimum education and training

• PhD in Genomics, Bioinformatics, Life Sciences or a related field

Required minimum work experience

• 7 Years' Postdoctoral Research experience in Genomics or Bioinformatics
• Demonstrated experience in genome-wide association studies (GWAS), statistical genetics, or human genetics research
• Publication record and funding success

Desirable additional education, work experience and personal abilities

• Sound understanding of population genetics and human genomic variation, particularly in African populations
• Experience in scientific publication of research findings
• Record in securing research funding
• Experience performing and supporting genomic analyses for non-communicable disease research (e.g. cardiometabolic disease, cancer, neurological or metabolic traits)
• Experience in GWAS, quality control pipelines, basic population structure analysis, and interpretation of genetic results
• Advanced experience using bioinformatics tools, scripts, and pipelines in R, Python, and/or Bash
• Sound experience with high-performance computing environments and version control systems

Closing date

16 October 2026

Note: No CV will be accepted after the closing date

Please note

• WHC, in accordance with its Employment Equity goals and plan, will give preference to suitable applicants from designated groups as defined in the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 and subsequent amendments thereto