Senior Bioinformatician - Clinical Genomics Analysis

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

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health benefits

Retirement planning

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Bioinformatician to lead the development of clinical genomics pipelines in a hybrid Port Elizabeth setting. You will design and implement analysis workflows for WGS, WES, and RNA-Seq, interpreting results to support disease diagnosis and treatment strategies.

You will mentor junior colleagues, collaborate with clinicians and researchers, and ensure data quality, privacy, and reproducibility in a cutting-edge health-tech environment.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master’s in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Genetics, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in bioinformatics with a clinical genomics focus.
• Proficiency in Python, R, Perl, Bash.
• Hands-on experience with NGS data analysis tools (GATK, FreeBayes, STAR, Salmon, VEP).
• Strong understanding of human genetics and diseases.
• Experience with statistical analysis and data visualization.
• Familiarity with OMIM, ClinVar, gnomAD is advantageous.
• Excellent communication with non-experts.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain robust bioinformatics pipelines for clinical sequencing data (WGS, WES, RNA-Seq).
• Perform variant calling, annotation, filtering, and interpretation for genetic disorders and cancer genomics.
• Integrate genomic data with clinical information and other omics datasets to uncover biomarkers.
• Develop statistical methods for association studies and cohort analysis.
• Collaborate with clinicians and researchers to define analytical requirements and interpret results.

Skills

Bioinformatics

Clinical genomics

Python

R

Perl

Bash

Statistical analysis

Data visualization

Education

Ph.D. in Bioinformatics

M.S. in related field

Tools

GATK

FreeBayes

STAR

Salmon

VEP

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading innovator in the health technology sector based in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape , is seeking a Senior Bioinformatician to join their expanding research and development division. This role is crucial for the analysis of clinical genomic data, aiming to identify genetic markers for disease diagnosis and treatment. You will be responsible for developing and implementing sophisticated bioinformatics pipelines to process and interpret large-scale datasets generated from next-generation sequencing technologies. This position offers a stimulating environment in Port Elizabeth , where you can collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, geneticists, and data scientists. The role involves a hybrid work arrangement, allowing for both focused individual work and essential team collaboration at our Port Elizabeth facility.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain robust bioinformatics pipelines for the analysis of clinical sequencing data (WGS, WES, RNA-Seq).
• Perform variant calling, annotation, filtering, and interpretation for genetic disorders and cancer genomics.
• Integrate genomic data with clinical information and other omics datasets to uncover novel insights and biomarkers.
• Develop and apply statistical methods for association studies and cohort analysis.
• Collaborate with clinicians and researchers to define analytical requirements and interpret results in a clinical context.
• Ensure data quality, reproducibility, and compliance with relevant data privacy regulations.
• Mentor junior bioinformaticians and contribute to the team's technical development.
• Document methodologies, results, and present findings to scientific and clinical teams.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Genetics, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in bioinformatics, with a strong focus on clinical genomics.
• Proficiency in programming languages commonly used in bioinformatics (Python, R, Perl, Bash).
• Hands-on experience with NGS data analysis tools and workflows (e.g., GATK, FreeBayes, STAR, Salmon, VEP).
• Solid understanding of human genetics, molecular biology, and common genetic diseases.
• Experience with statistical analysis and data visualization techniques.
• Familiarity with clinical databases and standards (e.g., OMIM, ClinVar, gnomAD) is highly advantageous.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex scientific concepts to non-experts.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary, comprehensive health benefits, and retirement planning options.
• We provide excellent opportunities for professional growth, including access to training, workshops, and conferences.
• The Port Elizabeth location offers a dynamic working environment with a commitment to scientific advancement.
• Enjoy a collaborative culture focused on improving patient outcomes through cutting-edge research.
• The hybrid work model supports work-life balance while fostering team synergy.
• Be part of a mission-driven organization making a significant impact in healthcare.