Senior Bioinformatician - Genomics

Placements24; Bloemfontein; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health and retirement benefits

Conference and training funding

Job summary

Our client is a leading center for genomic research in Bloemfontein seeking a Senior Bioinformatician to lead analysis of large-scale genomic datasets, including WGS, WES, and RNA-Seq, driving discovery of disease markers and tools.

You will develop pipelines, perform advanced statistical analyses, collaborate with biologists and clinicians, and mentor junior staff while ensuring data integrity and reproducibility in a state-of-the-art HPC and cloud-enabled environment.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent in bioinformatics or related field.
• Minimum of 6 years hands-on experience in bioinformatics with a genomics focus.
• Proficiency in Python, R, and shell scripting.
• Experience with standard bioinformatics tools for sequence alignment, variant calling, gene annotation, and expression analysis.
• Strong understanding of statistical genetics, population genetics, and ML principles.
• Experience with HPC environments and cloud platforms.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and optimize bioinformatics pipelines for the analysis of large-scale genomic data (WGS, WES, RNA-Seq).
• Perform statistical analysis and interpretation of genomic variants, gene expression data, and other omics datasets.
• Collaborate with biologists, clinicians, and researchers to define research questions and experimental designs.
• Identify and validate genetic markers associated with diseases or phenotypes.
• Contribute to the development of novel bioinformatics tools and algorithms.
• Manage and curate genomic databases.
• Present research findings at scientific meetings and publish in peer-reviewed journals.
• Ensure data integrity, reproducibility, and adherence to best practices in bioinformatics.
• Mentor junior bioinformaticians and provide technical support to research teams.

Skills

Python

R

Shell scripting

Genomics data analysis

Education

PhD in Bioinformatics or related field

Tools

BWA

GATK

BEDTools

Ensembl

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading center for genomic research and personalized medicine, is seeking a highly skilled Senior Bioinformatician to join their cutting‑edge facility in Bloemfontein. This role is crucial for advancing our understanding of genomics and its implications for human health. You will lead the analysis of large-scale genomic datasets, including whole-genome sequencing, exome sequencing, and RNA-Seq data, to identify disease markers, understand evolutionary processes, and develop diagnostic tools. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience with bioinformatics pipelines, statistical analysis, and the interpretation of complex genomic variations. This is a significant opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research in a collaborative environment, working with state-of-the-art sequencing technologies and computational resources. You will play a key role in transforming raw genomic data into biologically meaningful insights.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and optimize bioinformatics pipelines for the analysis of large‑scale genomic data (e.g., WGS, WES, RNA‑Seq).
• Perform statistical analysis and interpretation of genomic variants, gene expression data, and other omics datasets.
• Collaborate with biologists, clinicians, and other researchers to define research questions and experimental designs.
• Identify and validate genetic markers associated with diseases or specific phenotypes.
• Contribute to the development of novel bioinformatics tools and algorithms.
• Manage and curate genomic databases.
• Present research findings at scientific meetings and publish in peer‑reviewed journals.
• Ensure data integrity, reproducibility, and adherence to best practices in bioinformatics.
• Mentor junior bioinformaticians and provide technical support to research teams.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Genetics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 6 years of hands‑on experience in bioinformatics, with a strong focus on genomics.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, R, or Perl, and experience with shell scripting.
• Extensive experience with standard bioinformatics tools and databases for sequence alignment, variant calling, gene annotation, and expression analysis (e.g., BWA, GATK, BEDTools, Ensembl).
• Strong understanding of statistical genetics, population genetics, and machine learning principles.
• Experience with high-performance computing (HPC) environments and cloud computing platforms.
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a research team.
• Must be legally authorized to work in South Africa.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary, comprehensive health and retirement benefits, and generous paid time off. We provide excellent opportunities for professional development, including funding for conferences, workshops, and advanced training. Access to cutting‑edge genomic technologies and computational infrastructure is guaranteed. Join a dynamic research environment in Bloemfontein dedicated to advancing the field of genomics and making a tangible impact on human health.