Senior Bioinformatician - Genomics and Proteomics

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

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement fund

Professional development

Laboratory access

Hybrid work model

Generous leave

Job summary

Placements24, a leading biotechnology firm with research operations in Vereeniging, Gauteng, seeks a Senior Bioinformatician to advance genomic and proteomic data analysis. You will design and maintain pipelines, analyze WGS/WES/RNA-Seq and proteomics data, and collaborate with biologists to drive discoveries.

The role emphasizes mentorship, data integrity, and adopting best practices, with a Hybrid work model in Vereeniging.

Qualifications

• PhD or MSc in a quantitative field with bioinformatics focus.
• Minimum 4 years of professional bioinformatics experience.
• Strong programming in Python and R, with bioinformatics libraries.
• Linux/Unix experience and familiarity with NGS toolsets.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain bioinformatics pipelines for genomics and proteomics.
• Analyze WGS, WES, RNA-Seq, and proteomics data using established workflows.
• Apply statistics and ML to interpret datasets and identify findings.
• Collaborate with biologists and clinicians to translate results into insights.
• Mentor junior bioinformaticians and research staff.
• Ensure data integrity, reproducibility, and best practices.

Skills

Python

R

Bioinformatics libraries

Linux/Unix

SQL

Communication

Team mentorship

Cloud platforms

Education

PhD in Bioinformatics

MSc in Bioinformatics

Tools

BWA

GATK

Samtools

STAR

DESeq2

MaxQuant

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading biotechnology firm with research operations in Vereeniging, Gauteng , is seeking a highly skilled Senior Bioinformatician to enhance their capabilities in analyzing complex genomic and proteomic data. This role is crucial for interpreting large-scale biological datasets, driving scientific discovery, and contributing to the development of novel diagnostic tools and therapeutics. You will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of scientists, providing expertise in data analysis, pipeline development, and biological interpretation. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in bioinformatics, experience with next-generation sequencing (NGS) data, and a solid understanding of molecular biology. This position offers a stimulating work environment with opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work on impactful research projects. Our client embraces a Hybrid work model, fostering a balanced approach to collaboration and individual focus for its team members in Vereeniging .

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain bioinformatics pipelines for the analysis of genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic data.
• Analyze NGS data, including whole genome sequencing (WGS), exome sequencing (WES), RNA-Seq, and mass spectrometry-based proteomics.
• Apply statistical methods and machine learning techniques to interpret biological datasets and identify key findings.
• Collaborate with experimental biologists and clinicians to define research questions and translate findings into actionable insights.
• Visualize and communicate complex data analysis results effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Contribute to the design of experiments and the selection of appropriate bioinformatics tools and resources.
• Ensure data integrity, reproducibility, and adherence to best practices in bioinformatics analysis.
• Stay current with advancements in bioinformatics tools, algorithms, and biological research.
• Mentor junior bioinformaticians and research associates as needed for projects conducted in Vereeniging .

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 4 years of professional experience in bioinformatics, with a focus on genomics and/or proteomics.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python and R, along with experience in bioinformatics libraries.
• Hands-on experience with command-line environments (Linux/Unix) and bioinformatics tools (e.g., BWA, GATK, Samtools, STAR, DESeq2, MaxQuant).
• Strong understanding of molecular biology, genetics, and protein science.
• Experience with relational databases and SQL is a plus.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team environment.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Familiarity with cloud computing platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure) is advantageous for this role in Vereeniging .

Benefits

• Competitive annual salary ranging up to ZAR.
• Comprehensive health insurance coverage, including medical and dental.
• Retirement fund contributions and life insurance.
• Opportunities for continuous learning, attending workshops, and professional development.
• Access to state-of-the-art laboratory and computational facilities.
• A dynamic and collaborative research environment.
• Flexible working schedule under our Hybrid model.
• Generous paid annual leave and public holidays.
• Participation in impactful scientific research projects.