Senior Bioinformatician - Genomics

Placements24; Benoni; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Professional development opportunities

Access to HPC clusters

Job summary

Placements24 invites a Senior Bioinformatician with a Genomics focus to join our research team in Benoni. You will build and optimize pipelines for WGS, WES, and RNA-Seq data, and work with clinicians to interpret results and guide precision medicine strategies.

The role requires advanced degrees and 5+ years of experience in genomic data analysis, with strong Python/R/Perl skills and familiarity with AWS/GCP/Azure cloud environments.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years hands-on experience analyzing genomic data using bioinformatics tools and programming languages (e.g., Python, R, Perl).
• Proficiency with standard bioinformatics algorithms and software packages for sequence alignment, variant calling, and functional annotation.
• Experience with next-generation sequencing data analysis and file formats (FASTQ, BAM, VCF).
• Familiarity with cloud computing environments (AWS, GCP, Azure) and cluster computing is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement robust bioinformatics pipelines for analysis of raw sequencing data (WGS, WES, RNA-Seq).
• Integrate genomic data with other omics data types for comprehensive insights.
• Collaborate with researchers to design experiments and interpret findings.
• Develop and maintain databases for storing and querying genomic data.
• Stay current with advancements in bioinformatics tools and technologies.

Skills

Python

R

Perl

Genomics data analysis

Cloud computing

Education

Master's/PhD in Bioinformatics or related field

Tools

GATK

BEDTools

SAMtools

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly skilled Senior Bioinformatician with a focus on Genomics to join their innovative research team in Benoni. This role is critical for analyzing and interpreting large-scale genomic datasets generated from next-generation sequencing technologies. You will work closely with biologists and clinicians to extract meaningful biological insights, identify genetic variations associated with diseases, and contribute to the development of precision medicine approaches. This is an exceptional opportunity to leverage cutting-edge technologies and collaborate within a dynamic research environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement robust bioinformatics pipelines for the analysis of raw sequencing data (e.g., WGS, WES, RNA-Seq). Perform variant calling, annotation, and filtering to identify genetic variations and their potential functional impact.
• Integrate and analyze genomic data with other omics data types (e.g., transcriptomics, proteomics) for comprehensive biological insights.
• Collaborate with research scientists to design experiments and interpret genomic findings.
• Develop and maintain databases for storing and querying genomic data.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in bioinformatics tools, algorithms, and genomic technologies.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of hands‑on experience in analyzing genomic data using bioinformatics tools and programming languages (e.g., Python, R, Perl).
• Proficiency with standard bioinformatics algorithms and software packages for sequence alignment, variant calling, and functional annotation.
• Experience with next-generation sequencing data analysis and associated file formats (FASTQ, BAM, VCF).
• Familiarity with cloud computing environments (AWS, GCP, Azure) and cluster computing is a plus.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with excellent communication abilities.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Opportunities for professional development, workshops, and attendance at scientific conferences.
• Access to high-performance computing clusters and state-of-the‑art bioinformatics infrastructure in Benoni.
• Collaborative and intellectually stimulating work environment.
• Generous paid time off and flexible working hours.
• The chance to contribute to impactful research in the field of genomics.