Senior Bioinformatics Analyst - Drug Discovery

Placements24; Durban; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote-friendly

Health benefits

Conference sponsorships

Generous leave

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Bioinformatics Analyst for a Durban-based role that is fully remote. You will join a forward-thinking pharmaceutical company’s drug discovery team, applying large-scale biological data analytics to identify targets and biomarkers.

You will design scalable pipelines, collaborate with chemists and biologists, apply ML methods, and communicate results to discovery teams. Requirements include advanced degree, 5+ years in bioinformatics, Python/R, NGS, and

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Statistics, Computer Science or related quantitative discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in bioinformatics analysis, with focus on drug discovery or pharma R&D.
• Proficiency in Python or R and libraries such as Biopython, Pandas, SciPy.
• Strong background in statistical modeling, ML techniques, and data mining.
• Experience with NGS data analysis and relevant bioinformatics tools.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure) and Docker.

Responsibilities

• Analyze diverse biological datasets (genomics, transcriptomics, clinical) to identify drug targets and biomarkers.
• Develop, implement, and maintain scalable bioinformatics pipelines for high-throughput data analysis.
• Collaborate with chemists, biologists, and pharmacologists to support discovery projects.
• Apply statistical and machine learning methods to model biological systems and predict efficacy/toxicity.
• Visualize and communicate analysis results to scientific and management teams.
• Contribute to experimental design and interpretation of results.
• Stay current with bioinformatics tools and advancements relevant to drug discovery.

Skills

Python

R

Biopython

Pandas

SciPy

Machine Learning

Statistics

Data analysis

Remote work

Education

Master's or Ph.D. in Bioinformatics/Computational Biology/Statistics/CS

Tools

Docker

AWS

Azure

Git

Job description

About the Role Our client, a forward-thinking pharmaceutical company, is actively seeking a highly experienced Senior Bioinformatics Analyst to join their innovative drug discovery team in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. This role is crucial for leveraging large-scale biological data to drive the identification and validation of novel therapeutic candidates. You will work at the intersection of biology, computer science, and statistics, employing advanced analytical techniques to interpret complex datasets and provide actionable insights to discovery teams. The successful candidate will have a strong background in bioinformatics, programming, and a deep understanding of drug discovery processes. Join our client's collaborative environment in Durban and contribute to the development of life-saving medicines. This is a fully remote position, offering flexibility while maintaining a high level of impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze diverse biological datasets, including genomics, transcriptomics, and clinical data, to identify potential drug targets and biomarkers.
• Develop, implement, and maintain scalable bioinformatics pipelines for high-throughput data analysis.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including chemists, biologists, and pharmacologists, to support drug discovery projects.
• Apply statistical and machine learning methods to model biological systems and predict compound efficacy and toxicity.
• Visualize and communicate complex data analysis results effectively to both scientific and project management teams.
• Contribute to the design of experimental studies and the interpretation of results.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in bioinformatics tools, algorithms, and biological knowledge relevant to drug discovery.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Statistics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in bioinformatics analysis, with a significant focus on drug discovery or related pharmaceutical R&D.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and experience with bioinformatics libraries (e.g., Biopython, Pandas, SciPy).
• Solid understanding of statistical modeling, machine learning techniques, and data mining.
• Experience with next-generation sequencing (NGS) data analysis and relevant bioinformatics tools.
• Familiarity with cloud computing platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure) and containerization technologies (e.g., Docker).
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively in a remote setting.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary of ZAR per annum.
• Remote work flexibility, allowing you to work from anywhere.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits.
• Professional development opportunities and conference sponsorships.
• Generous annual leave and company-wide shutdown periods.
• Opportunity to work on impactful drug discovery projects.
• A collaborative and intellectually stimulating virtual work environment.