Senior Bioinformatician - Genomics

Placements24; Mbombela (Nelspruit); On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

On-site in Nelspruit

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Bioinformatician for our client, a cutting-edge genomics research institute in Nelspruit, to lead analysis of large-scale genomic data, develop pipelines, and interpret complex datasets in collaboration with biologists.

The role covers WGS, RNA-Seq, ChIP-Seq, epigenomics, and requires PhD/Master’s in relevant field, 5+ years, strong Python/Perl and R, HPC experience, and willingness to work on-site in South Africa.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in bioinformatics, with a focus on genomics.
• Strong proficiency in scripting languages such as Python and/or Perl, and experience with R for statistical analysis.
• Extensive experience with NGS data analysis tools and workflows (e.g., BWA, GATK, Samtools, STAR, DESeq2).
• Familiarity with public genomic databases (e.g., Ensembl, NCBI, UCSC Genome Browser).
• Experience with Linux/Unix operating systems and high-performance computing environments.
• Solid understanding of statistical principles and their application in bioinformatics.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Experience with cloud computing platforms (AWS, GCP) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain robust bioinformatics pipelines for analyzing next-generation sequencing (NGS) data.
• Perform variant calling, annotation, and association studies for various genomic datasets (WGS, WES, RNA-Seq, ChIP-Seq).
• Collaborate with experimental scientists to define data analysis needs and interpret results.
• Design and execute statistical analyses to identify significant biological findings.
• Develop custom scripts and tools to streamline data processing and analysis workflows.
• Manage and curate large genomic databases.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in bioinformatics tools, algorithms, and genomic technologies.
• Contribute to the preparation of manuscripts for publication and presentations at scientific conferences.
• Ensure data quality, integrity, and proper documentation of all analyses.
• Provide training and support to junior bioinformaticians and researchers.

Skills

Python

Perl

R

Education

Ph.D. in Bioinformatics

Master's in related field

Tools

BWA

GATK

Samtools

STAR

DESeq2

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a cutting-edge genomics research institute based in Nelspruit , is seeking a highly skilled Senior Bioinformatician to lead critical projects in the analysis of large-scale genomic data. This role is essential for interpreting complex genomic datasets, developing analytical pipelines, and extracting meaningful biological insights. You will work closely with experimental biologists and researchers to support diverse genomic studies, including whole-genome sequencing, transcriptomics, and epigenomics. This is an on-site position, requiring close collaboration within our advanced laboratory and computational facilities, fostering a dynamic and synergistic research environment. Join an organization dedicated to pushing the frontiers of genomic science.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain robust bioinformatics pipelines for analyzing next-generation sequencing (NGS) data.
• Perform variant calling, annotation, and association studies for various genomic datasets (WGS, WES, RNA-Seq, ChIP-Seq).
• Collaborate with experimental scientists to define data analysis needs and interpret results.
• Design and execute statistical analyses to identify significant biological findings.
• Develop custom scripts and tools to streamline data processing and analysis workflows.
• Manage and curate large genomic databases.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in bioinformatics tools, algorithms, and genomic technologies.
• Contribute to the preparation of manuscripts for publication and presentations at scientific conferences.
• Ensure data quality, integrity, and proper documentation of all analyses.
• Provide training and support to junior bioinformaticians and researchers.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in bioinformatics, with a focus on genomics.
• Strong proficiency in scripting languages such as Python and/or Perl, and experience with R for statistical analysis.
• Extensive experience with NGS data analysis tools and workflows (e.g., BWA, GATK, Samtools, STAR, DESeq2).
• Familiarity with public genomic databases (e.g., Ensembl, NCBI, UCSC Genome Browser).
• Experience with Linux/Unix operating systems and high-performance computing environments.
• Solid understanding of statistical principles and their application in bioinformatics.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Experience with cloud computing platforms (AWS, GCP) is a plus.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and potential for research grants.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off and holidays.
• Retirement savings plan.
• Opportunities for professional development and attending scientific conferences.
• Access to state-of-the-art sequencing and computational resources.
• Collaborative and intellectually stimulating research environment.
• Contribution to impactful genomic research.