Senior Bioinformatics Data Scientist – Flexible Work

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

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior Data Scientist with a specialization in Bioinformatics to join their cutting-edge research and development team in Midrand, Gauteng . This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking scientific discoveries and drive innovation in biological data analysis. You will be instrumental in developing and implementing sophisticated computational methods to analyze complex genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic datasets. The ideal candidate will possess a strong understanding of biological systems, coupled with advanced statistical and machine learning skills. This position offers a dynamic work environment where collaboration and intellectual curiosity are highly valued. You will work closely with a multidisciplinary team of biologists, chemists, and computer scientists to translate raw data into actionable insights that fuel our research pipeline and product development.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain scalable data pipelines for processing large-scale biological datasets (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics).
• Design, implement, and validate statistical models and machine learning algorithms for pattern recognition, predictive modeling, and hypothesis generation in biological research.
• Collaborate with experimental biologists to define research questions and design experiments that generate high-quality data amenable to computational analysis.
• Visualize and communicate complex data findings and model results to both technical and non-technical stakeholders through reports and presentations.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in bioinformatics, computational biology, and data science, and apply them to improve existing methodologies.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to the overall technical growth of the R&D department.
• Ensure data integrity, reproducibility, and adherence to best practices in scientific data management.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Statistics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience in bioinformatics or computational biology research, preferably in an R&D setting.
• Proficiency in programming languages commonly used in data science and bioinformatics, such as Python or R.
• Strong experience with relevant bioinformatics tools, databases, and libraries (e.g., Bioconductor, NCBI databases, BLAST, alignment tools).
• Demonstrated expertise in statistical analysis, machine learning techniques (e.g., supervised and unsupervised learning, deep learning), and data mining.
• Experience with cloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) for large-scale data processing is a plus.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and a meticulous attention to detail.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment.

Benefits

Our client is committed to fostering a supportive and rewarding work environment. Employees enjoy competitive compensation packages, comprehensive health and wellness benefits, opportunities for professional development and continuous learning, and access to state-of-the-art research facilities. We encourage a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements where appropriate. Join a team that is passionate about making a difference in scientific advancement and enjoy the rewards of contributing to impactful research in Midrand, Gauteng .