Senior Computational Biologist

Placements24; East London; Hybrid; ZAR 1,976,000 - 2,964,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan with company matching

Paid time off & holidays

Home office stipend

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Computational Biologist for a fully remote role to drive advanced computational biology research. You will design and implement pipelines for genomic data analysis, collaborate with wet-lab and clinical teams, and mentor junior staff in a flexible virtual environment.

The position emphasizes independence, publication track record, and ongoing technical learning. The ideal candidate holds a PhD or Master’s in a quantitative field, with 5+ years of experience,

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 5 years hands-on experience in computational biology or bioinformatics research.
• Proficiency in programming languages commonly used in bioinformatics, such as Python and R.
• Extensive experience with bioinformatics tools, databases, and public repositories (e.g., NCBI, Ensembl).
• Strong understanding of statistical methods and machine learning techniques applicable to biological data.
• Demonstrated experience with NGS data analysis (e.g., RNA-Seq, WGS, ChIP-Seq).
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently and effectively in a remote setting.

Responsibilities

• Develop and validate sophisticated computational models and algorithms for analyzing large-scale biological datasets.
• Design and implement bioinformatics pipelines for processing and interpreting next-generation sequencing (NGS) data.
• Collaborate closely with wet-lab scientists and clinicians to translate biological questions into computational strategies.
• Perform statistical analysis, machine learning, and data mining on complex biological information to identify patterns and insights.
• Contribute to the design and execution of in silico experiments to predict drug efficacy and identify potential targets.
• Maintain and enhance existing bioinformatics tools and databases.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in computational biology, bioinformatics, and relevant biological fields.
• Document research findings, methodologies, and software development clearly and comprehensively.
• Present research results at internal meetings and external scientific conferences.
• Mentor junior members of the computational biology team.

Skills

Python

R

Publications

Strong communication

Machine learning

Education

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

Tools

AWS

GCP

Azure

NGS tools

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a forward-thinking bioinformatics company, is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Senior Computational Biologist to join their innovative research and development team. This role is critical in driving cutting-edge biological research through the application of advanced computational techniques. You will be instrumental in designing, developing, and implementing algorithms and analytical pipelines to interpret complex biological data, including genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics. The position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking discoveries in a fully remote, collaborative environment. We are committed to fostering a culture of scientific excellence and providing our team members with the resources and autonomy to excel in their work. This is a remote-first position, meaning all collaboration and work will be conducted digitally, ensuring flexibility and accessibility for our global team. Your expertise will directly influence the direction of our research initiatives and the development of novel therapeutic targets. We pride ourselves on a supportive and dynamic virtual workplace where innovative ideas are encouraged and recognized.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and validate sophisticated computational models and algorithms for analyzing large-scale biological datasets.
• Design and implement bioinformatics pipelines for processing and interpreting next-generation sequencing (NGS) data.
• Collaborate closely with wet-lab scientists and clinicians to translate biological questions into computational strategies.
• Perform statistical analysis, machine learning, and data mining on complex biological information to identify patterns and insights.
• Contribute to the design and execution of in silico experiments to predict drug efficacy and identify potential targets.
• Maintain and enhance existing bioinformatics tools and databases.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in computational biology, bioinformatics, and relevant biological fields.
• Document research findings, methodologies, and software development clearly and comprehensively.
• Present research results at internal meetings and external scientific conferences.
• Mentor junior members of the computational biology team.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience in computational biology or bioinformatics research.
• Proficiency in programming languages commonly used in bioinformatics, such as Python and R.
• Extensive experience with bioinformatics tools, databases, and public repositories (e.g., NCBI, Ensembl).
• Strong understanding of statistical methods and machine learning techniques applicable to biological data.
• Demonstrated experience with NGS data analysis (e.g., RNA-Seq, WGS, ChIP-Seq).
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently and effectively in a remote setting.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Proven track record of publications in peer-reviewed journals.
• Familiarity with cloud computing platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) is a plus.

Benefits

Our client offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and professional growth. This includes a competitive salary, comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, a generous retirement savings plan with company matching, paid time off and holidays, and opportunities for continuous learning and professional development. We also provide a home office stipend to ensure you have the necessary equipment for a productive remote work environment. As a fully remote role, we value work-life balance and offer flexible working hours. You will be part of a dynamic and supportive team dedicated to making a significant impact in the field of biological research and drug discovery. Join us and contribute to a truly exciting scientific endeavor.