Senior Bioinformatician

Placements24; Benoni; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance-based bonus

Comprehensive benefits (health, dental

vision)

Retirement plan with company matching

Generous paid time off

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Bioinformatician in Benoni, Gauteng, to lead the development of robust pipelines for genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics data. You will drive analyses, interpret results, and collaborate with wet-lab scientists to translate findings into actionable insights for drug discovery.

The role requires a PhD with 5+ years in bioinformatics, strong Python/R skills, and experience with NGS tools.

Qualifications

• PhD in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, CS, Statistics or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of bioinformatics or computational biology research, preferably in pharma/biotech.
• Proficiency in Python and R with bioinformatics libraries.
• Unix/Linux expertise with shell scripting.
• Experience with NGS data and tools (aligners, variant callers, expression analysis).
• Strong understanding of molecular biology and statistics.
• SQL database experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain robust bioinformatics pipelines for high-throughput sequencing data.
• Analyze genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics data and interpret findings.
• Design experiments to identify biomarkers and predict treatment responses.
• Collaborate with biologists and clinicians to integrate multi-omics data.
• Apply machine learning for predictive modeling and data mining in biological contexts.
• Visualize complex biological data for publications and presentations.
• Mentor junior bioinformaticians and document methodologies.

Skills

Python programming

R programming

Unix/Linux

SQL

Data analysis

Education

PhD in Bioinformatics

Tools

NGS analysis tools

Git

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a cutting-edge biotechnology research firm, is looking for a highly skilled Senior Bioinformatician to join their innovative team in Benoni, Gauteng. This role is integral to analyzing and interpreting large-scale biological datasets, including genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics, to drive discovery in drug development and precision medicine. The Senior Bioinformatician will develop and implement computational pipelines, perform complex statistical analyses, and contribute to the interpretation of biological findings. We are seeking an individual with a strong background in bioinformatics, computational biology, and excellent programming skills, who is passionate about leveraging data to advance biological understanding. The position offers a dynamic work environment in Benoni, Gauteng, with opportunities to collaborate with leading researchers and contribute to impactful scientific projects. This role is key to uncovering insights from complex biological data, leading to novel therapeutic strategies and improved patient outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain robust bioinformatics pipelines for the analysis of high-throughput sequencing data (e.g., WGS, WES, RNA-Seq).


• Perform statistical analysis and interpretation of large biological datasets, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics.


• Design and execute computational experiments to identify biomarkers, understand disease mechanisms, and predict treatment responses.


• Collaborate with experimental biologists, clinicians, and other scientists to integrate multi-omics data and generate actionable biological insights.


• Develop and apply machine learning algorithms for predictive modeling and data mining in biological contexts.


• Visualize complex biological data effectively for presentation and publication.


• Contribute to the design of experiments and data generation strategies.


• Stay current with the latest advancements in bioinformatics, computational biology, and relevant scientific fields.


• Mentor junior bioinformaticians and contribute to the team's technical growth.


• Document methodologies, results, and software tools developed.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related field.


• Minimum of 5 years of experience in bioinformatics or computational biology research, preferably in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.


• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python and R, and experience with relevant bioinformatics libraries and packages.


• Strong experience with Unix/Linux environments and shell scripting.


• Expertise in analyzing next-generation sequencing (NGS) data and associated bioinformatics tools (e.g., aligners, variant callers, gene expression analysis software).


• Solid understanding of molecular biology, genetics, and statistical principles.


• Experience with database management and querying (e.g., SQL).


• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.


• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.


• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, interdisciplinary team.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary, a performance-based bonus, and a comprehensive benefits package, including excellent health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement plans with company matching, and generous paid time off. We provide opportunities for professional development, including attendance at conferences, workshops, and access to online learning resources. This role in Benoni, Gauteng offers a stimulating research environment with cutting-edge technology and the chance to contribute to significant advancements in biotechnology and healthcare.