Senior Bioinformatician, Omics Data Analysis

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

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health coverage

Retirement savings plan

Professional development (training &会议

Advanced computational resources

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Bioinformatician to lead omics data analysis in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga. You will design and implement pipelines for WGS, exome, and RNA-Seq, while guiding a cross-disciplinary team.

The role requires a PhD or Master’s in a related field and at least 5 years of hands-on experience in bioinformatics, with a strong emphasis on omics data analysis. Collaboration and data governance are key aspects of this position.

Qualifications

• PhD or master's degree in bioinformatics, computer science, statistics, molecular biology or related field.
• Minimum 5 years hands-on bioinformatics experience with omics data analysis.
• Proficiency with NGS data analysis and tools such as GATK, STAR.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement robust bioinformatics pipelines for NGS data (WGS, WES, RNA-Seq).
• Perform statistical analysis to identify biologically meaningful insights.
• Manage and curate large biological datasets ensuring quality and reproducibility.
• Collaborate with biologists and clinicians to define research questions and strategies.
• Develop and maintain scripts and software tools to streamline workflows.
• Stay updated with latest bioinformatics tools and omics technologies.
• Present findings to teams and contribute to manuscripts for publication.
• Provide mentorship to junior bioinformaticians.
• Ensure compliance with data security and privacy regulations.

Skills

Python

R

Bash scripting

HPC

Biostatistics

Education

PhD or Master's in Bioinformatics/related field

Tools

GATK

SAMtools

STAR

UCSC Genome Browser

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading research institution focused on public health, is seeking a highly skilled Senior Bioinformatician to join their team in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga . This role is dedicated to the analysis of large-scale omics datasets (genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics) to understand disease mechanisms and identify biomarkers. You will play a crucial role in developing and applying cutting-edge bioinformatics pipelines, managing complex biological data, and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team of scientists. The ideal candidate possesses a Ph.D. or Master's degree in Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related field, with significant experience in omics data analysis. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to impactful research in Nelspruit .

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement robust bioinformatics pipelines for the analysis of next-generation sequencing (NGS) data, including whole-genome, exome, and RNA-Seq.
• Perform statistical analysis and interpretation of omics datasets to identify significant biological insights, including gene expression changes, genetic variations, and regulatory elements.
• Manage and curate large biological datasets, ensuring data quality, integrity, and reproducibility.
• Collaborate with biologists, clinicians, and other researchers to define research questions and computational strategies.
• Develop and maintain custom scripts and software tools to streamline data analysis workflows.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in bioinformatics tools, algorithms, and omics technologies.
• Present findings to internal teams and at scientific conferences, and contribute to the preparation of manuscripts for publication.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior bioinformaticians.
• Ensure compliance with data security and privacy regulations.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Statistics, Molecular Biology, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience in bioinformatics, with a strong focus on omics data analysis.
• Expertise in analyzing NGS data (e.g., variant calling, RNA-Seq analysis, ChIP-Seq analysis).
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, R, and Bash scripting.
• Hands-on experience with bioinformatics tools and databases (e.g., GATK, SAMtools, STAR, UCSC Genome Browser).
• Solid understanding of statistical methods relevant to biological data analysis.
• Experience with high-performance computing (HPC) environments is a plus.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative research environment.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary, commensurate with qualifications and experience, along with a comprehensive benefits package.
• This includes excellent health coverage, a retirement savings plan, and generous opportunities for professional development, such as training courses and conference attendance.
• Employees will have access to advanced computational resources and a collaborative research setting in Nelspruit .
• The organization promotes a healthy work-life balance and a supportive work culture.
• Potential for bonuses based on research impact is also offered.