Senior Computational Biologist - Genomics

Placements24; Pretoria; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health and wellness benefits

Retirement savings plan

Professional development

Access to HPC clusters

Collaborative research environment

Generous leave and sick leave

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Computational Biologist with a strong genomics focus to join a leading research institute in Pretoria, Gauteng. You will analyze large-scale genomic data, develop pipelines, and collaborate with clinicians and scientists to uncover biological insights and advance personalized medicine.

The role requires a PhD or Master’s in a quantitative field, strong Python/R skills, experience with GATK/STAR/DESeq2, and cloud computing familiarity.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master's degree in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Genomics, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.
• Proven experience in analyzing large-scale genomic datasets using standard bioinformatics tools and pipelines.
• Strong programming skills in Python, R, or other relevant languages.
• Familiarity with common genomic data formats (FASTQ, BAM, VCF) and analysis tools (GATK, STAR, DESeq2).
• Solid understanding of molecular biology, genetics, and statistical principles.

Responsibilities

• Analyze and interpret complex genomic datasets (e.g., WGS, WES, RNA-Seq, ChIP-Seq).
• Develop, implement, and optimize bioinformatics pipelines for variant calling, gene expression analysis, and pathway analysis.
• Apply statistical methods to identify significant biological signals and patterns in genomic data.
• Collaborate with geneticists, oncologists, and other researchers to design and execute genomic studies.
• Visualize genomic data and present findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Contribute to the development of novel computational approaches for genomic data analysis.
• Maintain and manage genomic databases and computational resources.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in genomics, bioinformatics, and relevant technologies.
• Mentor junior researchers and contribute to team training initiatives.

Skills

Python

R

Bioinformatics

Genomics

Statistics

Cloud computing

Communication

Education

PhD in Computational Biology

Master's in Bioinformatics

Tools

GATK

STAR

DESeq2

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading research institute based in Pretoria, Gauteng , is seeking an experienced Senior Computational Biologist with a strong focus on genomics to join their dynamic Scientific Research & Development team. This role is instrumental in analyzing and interpreting vast amounts of genomic data to uncover new biological insights and drive research forward in areas such as disease mechanisms and personalized medicine. You will be responsible for developing and applying sophisticated computational tools and algorithms to process, analyze, and visualize large-scale genomic datasets, including whole-genome sequencing, exome sequencing, and RNA-Seq. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of bioinformatics, statistical analysis, and genomics, coupled with strong programming skills. This position offers an exciting opportunity to collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of scientists and clinicians, contributing to high-impact research from the heart of Pretoria . We are looking for an individual passionate about leveraging data to make significant contributions to biological discovery.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze and interpret complex genomic datasets (e.g., WGS, WES, RNA-Seq, ChIP-Seq).
• Develop, implement, and optimize bioinformatics pipelines for variant calling, gene expression analysis, and pathway analysis.
• Apply statistical methods to identify significant biological signals and patterns in genomic data.
• Collaborate with geneticists, oncologists, and other researchers to design and execute genomic studies.
• Visualize genomic data and present findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Contribute to the development of novel computational approaches for genomic data analysis.
• Maintain and manage genomic databases and computational resources.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in genomics, bioinformatics, and relevant technologies.
• Mentor junior researchers and contribute to team training initiatives.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Genomics, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.
• Proven experience in analyzing large-scale genomic datasets using standard bioinformatics tools and pipelines.
• Strong programming skills in Python, R, or other relevant languages.
• Familiarity with common genomic data formats (e.g., FASTQ, BAM, VCF) and analysis tools (e.g., GATK, STAR, DESeq2).
• Solid understanding of molecular biology, genetics, and statistical principles.
• Experience with cloud computing environments (AWS, GCP, Azure) is a plus.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills, essential for working in a multidisciplinary team in Pretoria .
• Demonstrated ability to manage research projects and deliver results.

Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits package.
• Retirement savings plan with company contributions.
• Opportunities for professional development, including attending scientific conferences.
• Access to high-performance computing clusters and advanced research facilities in Pretoria .
• A collaborative and intellectually stimulating research environment.
• Supportive work culture that values innovation and scientific excellence.
• Generous annual leave and paid sick leave.