Senior Bioinformatician / Computational Biologist

Placements24; Stellenbosch Local Municipality; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical/Dental/Vision insurance

Professional development

Flexible work options

Generous paid time off

Retirement savings plan

Collaborative environment

Job summary

Placements24 in Paarl, Western Cape, seeks a Senior Bioinformatician / Computational Biologist to advance genomics and personalized medicine initiatives. You will design pipelines for NGS data analyses, apply ML methods, and collaborate with clinicians and biologists to translate findings into targets and therapies.

The role offers access to cutting-edge computational resources, flexible work options, and opportunities for leadership and publication in high-impact journals within a dynamic life

Qualifications

• PhD or Master's degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years post-graduate research experience in bioinformatics or computational biology.
• Experience with NGS data types: DNA-seq, RNA-seq, ChIP-seq.
• Proficiency in Python or R and relevant libraries.
• Strong statistics and ML fundamentals applied to biology.
• Experience with databases and data warehousing.

Responsibilities

• Design and maintain robust bioinformatics pipelines for high-throughput data.
• Perform statistical and computational analyses of omics datasets.
• Develop ML models for biomarker discovery and prediction.
• Collaborate with biologists, geneticists, and clinicians to plan experiments.
• Mentor junior staff and ensure reproducible code and data practices.

Skills

NGS data analysis

Statistical analysis

Machine learning

Programming (Python/R)

Data visualization

Education

PhD or MSc in Bioinformatics/Computational Biology

Tools

SQL/NoSQL

Cloud platforms (AWS/GCP/Azure)

HPC environments

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a pioneering biotechnology firm focused on genomic research and personalized medicine, is seeking a highly skilled Senior Bioinformatician / Computational Biologist to join their innovative team in **Paarl, Western Cape**. This role is central to deciphering complex biological data, including genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics, to drive discovery and develop novel therapeutic targets. You will be responsible for developing and implementing cutting-edge computational pipelines, analyzing large datasets, and collaborating with experimental biologists and clinicians. The ideal candidate possesses a strong background in bioinformatics, statistical analysis, machine learning, and programming, combined with a deep understanding of biological systems. This is an outstanding opportunity to contribute to significant advancements in life sciences and healthcare within a stimulating and collaborative research environment in **Paarl, Western Cape**. Our client is dedicated to harnessing the power of data to improve human health.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain robust bioinformatics pipelines for analyzing high-throughput sequencing data (NGS).
• Perform complex statistical and computational analyses of genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and other 'omics' data.
• Develop and apply machine learning algorithms for pattern recognition, biomarker discovery, and predictive modeling.
• Collaborate closely with experimental biologists, geneticists, and clinicians to interpret results and design future experiments.
• Visualize and present complex biological data in a clear and concise manner to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Manage and curate large biological datasets, ensuring data integrity and accessibility.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in bioinformatics tools, algorithms, and biological research.
• Contribute to the writing of scientific publications and grant proposals.
• Mentor junior bioinformaticians and computational biologists.
• Ensure best practices in code development, data management, and reproducibility are followed.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant post-graduate research experience in bioinformatics or computational biology.
• Extensive experience with NGS data analysis, including DNA-seq, RNA-seq, and ChIP-seq.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and experience with relevant bioinformatics libraries and packages.
• Strong understanding of statistical methods, machine learning techniques, and their application to biological data.
• Experience with database management (SQL, NoSQL) and data warehousing is essential.
• Familiarity with cloud computing platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) and high-performance computing environments.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex computational concepts.
• Experience working in the **Paarl, Western Cape** region or a similar research cluster is beneficial.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary package commensurate with experience and qualifications.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Opportunities for career advancement and professional development, including attending conferences and workshops.
• Access to cutting-edge computational resources and large-scale datasets.
• Flexible work arrangements, including remote work options.
• Generous paid time off and company holidays.
• Contribution to impactful research in genomics and personalized medicine.
• Company-sponsored retirement savings plan.
• Collaborative and intellectually stimulating work environment.
• Be a key player in advancing life sciences from **Paarl, Western Cape**.