Senior Computational Biologist - Drug Discovery

Placements24; Bloemfontein; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote

Annual bonus

Equity options

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Home office stipend

Learning resources

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Computational Biologist to join a fully remote biotechnology team. You will drive design of analyses for genomics, proteomics, and clinical trial data, and help identify therapeutic targets using ML and bioinformatics.

Responsibilities include building pipelines, collaborating with scientists worldwide, mentoring juniors, and presenting findings at virtual conferences. This remote-first role offers a competitive package and learning resources.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in computational biology or a related quantitative field.
• 7+ years of experience in computational biology or bioinformatics, with drug discovery focus.
• Proven ML experience on biological data (deep learning, SVM, random forests).
• Proficiency in Python or R with relevant libraries (scikit-learn, Bioconductor).
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure).
• Strong understanding of biological pathways and drug development processes.
• Excellent analytical and communication skills for remote collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement computational strategies for omics data analysis.
• Apply ML and statistical modeling to identify biomarkers and targets.
• Develop and maintain bioinformatics pipelines for data processing and QC.
• Collaborate with experimental scientists to interpret results and guide research.
• Visualize complex data for diverse audiences and stakeholders.
• Contribute to predictive models for drug efficacy and toxicity.
• Stay updated on advances in computational biology and drug discovery.
• Author manuscripts and present findings at virtual conferences.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior team members.

Skills

Machine Learning

Bioinformatics

Data Analysis

Remote Collaboration

Communication

Problem Solving

Education

Ph.D. in Computational Biology or related field

Tools

Python

R

TensorFlow

PyTorch

scikit-learn

Bioconductor

AWS

GCP

Azure

Job description

About the Role

Our client is a cutting-edge biotechnology firm dedicated to accelerating drug discovery through advanced computational approaches. We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Computational Biologist to join our fully remote team. This position is ideal for a candidate passionate about leveraging data science, machine learning, and bioinformatics to identify novel therapeutic targets and optimize drug candidates. You will play a crucial role in analyzing diverse biological datasets, including genomics, proteomics, and clinical trial data, to drive key decisions in our drug development pipeline. The successful applicant will work collaboratively with a global team of scientists, programmers, and clinicians, contributing to a culture of innovation and scientific excellence, regardless of geographical location. This is a unique opportunity to significantly impact the future of medicine from the comfort of your home office, contributing to groundbreaking research with a remote-first mindset.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement computational strategies for analyzing large-scale omics datasets (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics).
• Apply machine learning and statistical modeling techniques to identify disease biomarkers, predict drug response, and uncover novel therapeutic targets.
• Develop and maintain robust bioinformatics pipelines for data processing, quality control, and analysis.
• Collaborate closely with experimental biologists, chemists, and pharmacologists to interpret results and guide research directions.
• Visualize complex biological data in an intuitive and informative manner for diverse audiences.
• Contribute to the development of predictive models for drug efficacy and toxicity.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in computational biology, bioinformatics, machine learning, and drug discovery methodologies.
• Author scientific manuscripts and present findings at international virtual conferences.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior computational biologists.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Statistics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in computational biology or bioinformatics, with a strong focus on drug discovery or related fields.
• Proven expertise in applying machine learning algorithms (e.g., deep learning, SVM, random forests) to biological data.
• Extensive experience with programming languages such as Python or R, including relevant scientific libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Bioconductor).
• Proficiency in handling and analyzing large datasets, including experience with cloud computing platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure).
• Strong understanding of biological pathways, disease mechanisms, and drug development processes.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Superb written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex computational concepts to non-computational scientists.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a remote, collaborative team environment.

Benefits

• As a fully remote position, we offer exceptional flexibility and work-life balance.
• The compensation package is highly competitive, including an annual performance bonus and equity options.
• Benefits include a comprehensive health insurance plan, a generous retirement savings contribution, and a home office stipend.
• We support continuous learning through online courses, virtual conferences, and access to cutting-edge computational resources.
• Join a forward-thinking company where your expertise in computational biology will drive innovation in drug discovery and make a tangible difference in patient lives, all from your remote workspace.