Senior Bioinformatician (Genomics Focus)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Home office stipend

Professional development

Remote work

Paid time off

Retirement plan

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Bioinformatician for a fully remote role focused on large-scale genomic data analysis. You will design, implement, and maintain pipelines for WGS, WES, and RNA-Seq, collaborating with scientists and clinicians to drive discovery from home.

We expect 5+ years in bioinformatics, a Ph.D./MSc, and proficiency in Python, R, or Perl, plus experience with BWA, GATK, STAR, Salmon, and DESeq2.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or Ph.D. in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in bioinformatics, with a strong focus on genomic data analysis.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, R, and/or Perl.
• Extensive experience with standard bioinformatics tools and software for NGS data analysis (e.g., BWA, GATK, STAR, Salmon, DESeq2).
• Solid understanding of statistical methods relevant to genomic data analysis.
• Familiarity with common biological databases (e.g., Ensembl, UCSC Genome Browser, dbSNP).
• Experience working in a HPC environment or cloud computing platforms is advantageous.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain complex technical concepts in a remote setting.
• Ability to work independently and manage time effectively in a remote work environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and implement bioinformatics pipelines for the analysis of diverse genomic datasets (WGS, WES, RNA-Seq, ChIP-Seq).
• Perform data quality control, preprocessing, and variant calling on NGS data.
• Analyze and interpret genomic data to identify genetic variants, gene expression patterns, and regulatory elements.
• Collaborate with molecular biologists, geneticists, and clinicians to answer complex biological questions.
• Develop and maintain custom scripts and software tools to support research needs.
• Manage and organize large genomic datasets, ensuring data integrity and accessibility.
• Contribute to the interpretation of results and the preparation of manuscripts for publication.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in genomic technologies and bioinformatics methodologies.

Skills

Python

R

Perl

Analytical thinking

Remote collaboration

Education

Master's or PhD in Bioinformatics/Computational Biology/CS/Statistics

Tools

BWA

GATK

STAR

Salmon

DESeq2

Job description

About the Role

Join our client, a cutting-edge genomics research institute, as a Senior Bioinformatician. This fully remote position is ideal for an experienced professional passionate about leveraging large-scale genomic data to drive biological discovery. You will play a crucial role in designing, implementing, and maintaining robust bioinformatics pipelines for analyzing next-generation sequencing (NGS) data, including whole-genome sequencing (WGS), whole-exome sequencing (WES), and RNA-Seq. Working in a remote-first environment, you'll collaborate with a diverse team of scientists and clinicians, contributing to projects focused on understanding complex diseases and identifying novel therapeutic targets. This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to impactful research from the comfort of your home office, with the flexibility that a remote role offers. Our client is committed to fostering a supportive and collaborative virtual work culture, ensuring you have the resources and connections needed to excel.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and implement bioinformatics pipelines for the analysis of diverse genomic datasets (WGS, WES, RNA-Seq, ChIP-Seq).
• Perform data quality control, preprocessing, and variant calling on NGS data.
• Analyze and interpret genomic data to identify genetic variants, gene expression patterns, and regulatory elements.
• Collaborate with molecular biologists, geneticists, and clinicians to answer complex biological questions.
• Develop and maintain custom scripts and software tools to support research needs.
• Manage and organize large genomic datasets, ensuring data integrity and accessibility.
• Contribute to the interpretation of results and the preparation of manuscripts for publication.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in genomic technologies and bioinformatics methodologies.
• Participate in virtual team meetings and contribute to project planning and discussions.

Requirements

• Master's degree or Ph.D. in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in bioinformatics, with a strong focus on genomic data analysis.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, R, and/or Perl.
• Extensive experience with standard bioinformatics tools and software for NGS data analysis (e.g., BWA, GATK, STAR, Salmon, DESeq2).
• Solid understanding of statistical methods relevant to genomic data analysis.
• Familiarity with common biological databases (e.g., Ensembl, UCSC Genome Browser, dbSNP).
• Experience working in a high-performance computing (HPC) environment or cloud computing platforms is advantageous.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain complex technical concepts in a remote setting.
• Ability to work independently and manage time effectively in a remote work environment.

Benefits

• Fully remote position offering excellent work-life balance and flexibility.
• Competitive salary and potential for performance bonuses.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Generous allowance for home office setup and supplies.
• Opportunities for professional development, including online courses and virtual conferences.
• Collaborative virtual team environment with regular online social events.
• Retirement savings plan with company matching.
• Paid time off and company holidays.
• Supportive management and a focus on employee well-being.