Senior Bioinformatician

Placements24; Upington; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and bonuses

Comprehensive health insurance

Retirement savings plan

Generous paid time off

Access to high-performance computing

Job summary

Placements24 in Upington is seeking a Senior Bioinformatician to join a growing research team. You will analyze large-scale biological datasets, including next-generation sequencing data, and develop robust pipelines for genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics.

The role requires strong programming in Python or Perl, Bash scripting, and experience with BLAST, Bowtie, Samtools, GATK, plus cloud platforms (AWS/GCP) and Git. A Master's or PhD and 5+ years of experience are expected.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or Ph.D. in Bioinformatics, CS, Biology, or related field.
• At least 5 years of bioinformatics research experience with large-scale data.
• Proficiency in Python or Perl and Bash scripting.
• Experience with BLAST, Bowtie, Samtools, GATK and cloud environments (AWS, GCP) and Git.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize bioinformatics pipelines for genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic data.
• Perform data quality control, preprocessing, and statistical analysis of high-throughput sequencing data.
• Utilize various bioinformatics tools and databases for variant calling, gene expression analysis, and pathway analysis.
• Collaborate with experimental scientists to design studies, interpret results, and identify key biological insights.
• Automate data analysis workflows and contribute to the development of in-house software tools.
• Present findings to research teams and contribute to scientific publications and presentations.

Skills

Python

Perl

Bash

Statistical methods

Education

Master's degree or Ph.D. in Bioinformatics, CS, Biology, or related quantitative field

Tools

BLAST

Bowtie

Samtools

GATK

Git

AWS

GCP

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a skilled and motivated Senior Bioinformatician to join their growing research team in Upington . This role is central to the analysis of large-scale biological datasets, including next-generation sequencing data, to drive discovery in areas such as genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics. You will be responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining robust bioinformatics pipelines, collaborating closely with experimental biologists to interpret results, and contributing to the design of new research projects. The ideal candidate will possess a strong programming background, extensive experience with diverse bioinformatics tools and databases, and a passion for applying computational approaches to solve complex biological problems, working within a supportive and scientifically stimulating environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize bioinformatics pipelines for the analysis of genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic data.
• Perform data quality control, preprocessing, and statistical analysis of high-throughput sequencing data.
• Utilize various bioinformatics tools and databases for variant calling, gene expression analysis, and pathway analysis.
• Collaborate with experimental scientists to design studies, interpret results, and identify key biological insights.
• Automate data analysis workflows and contribute to the development of in-house software tools.
• Present findings to research teams and contribute to scientific publications and presentations.

Requirements

• Master's degree or Ph.D. in Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Biology, or a related quantitative field.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in bioinformatics research, with a focus on analyzing large-scale biological data.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or Perl, and scripting languages like Bash.
• Experience with standard bioinformatics tools and software (e.g., BLAST, Bowtie, Samtools, GATK).
• Familiarity with cloud computing environments (e.g., AWS, GCP) and version control systems (e.g., Git).
• Strong understanding of molecular biology principles and statistical methods.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and annual performance bonuses.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Retirement savings plan with employer matching.
• Generous paid time off and opportunities for professional development.
• Access to high-performance computing resources and a collaborative research community.