Senior Data Scientist - Genomics Analysis

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

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and performance‑dr

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Generous PTO and parental leave

Professional development including培训 &

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a highly skilled Senior Data Scientist with a genomics focus to join a remote R&D team driving advances in drug discovery and personalized medicine.

You will lead ML models, design scalable pipelines, and collaborate with biologists and clinicians to translate complex biological questions into actionable insights. A PhD or MSc with 5+ years in computational biology is required.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Bioinformatics, or related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in data science or computational biology, with genomics focus.
• Proficiency in Python or R and libraries (scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, NumPy, Pandas).
• Strong experience with statistical modelling, ML algorithms, and experimental design.
• Hands-on experience with genomic data types and analysis tools (PLINK, GATK, VCFtools).
• Experience with cloud platforms and big data technologies (Spark).
• Excellent data visualization and remote collaboration skills.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex biological questions into data science solutions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement advanced statistical and ML models for large-scale genomic data (GWAS, WGS, exome sequencing).
• Design scalable data processing pipelines for genomic datasets.
• Perform exploratory data analysis to identify patterns and biomarkers.
• Collaborate with biologists, clinicians, and bioinformaticians to interpret findings.
• Communicate complex results to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Contribute to predictive models for disease risk and patient stratification.
• Stay current with methods in data science and genomics.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to team growth.
• Ensure reproducibility and quality via robust coding and documentation.

Skills

Genomics data science

Python

R

Machine learning

Remote collaboration

Education

PhD or Master’s in Data Science/Bioinformatics

Tools

PLINK

GATK

VCFtools

AWS/Azure/GCP

Apache Spark

Job description

About the Role

Our client is looking for a highly skilled Senior Data Scientist with a strong background in genomics analysis to join their pioneering scientific research and development team. This is a fully remote position, offering the flexibility to work from home, contributing to groundbreaking scientific advancements. You will leverage your expertise in machine learning, statistical modeling, and data analysis to extract meaningful insights from complex genomic datasets. Your work will directly influence strategic decisions in drug discovery, personalized medicine, and understanding disease mechanisms. This role is ideal for a driven individual passionate about applying computational techniques to biological challenges. We foster a remote-first culture that prioritizes collaboration, innovation, and individual growth, providing the resources and support needed to excel in your role and contribute significantly to impactful research.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement advanced statistical and machine learning models for the analysis of large-scale genomic data (e.g., GWAS, WGS, exome sequencing).
• Design and build scalable data processing pipelines for genomic datasets.
• Perform exploratory data analysis to identify patterns, correlations, and potential biomarkers.
• Collaborate with biologists, clinicians, and bioinformaticians to interpret findings and generate actionable insights.
• Communicate complex analytical results effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Contribute to the development of predictive models for disease risk, drug response, and patient stratification.
• Stay current with the latest methodologies and technologies in data science, machine learning, and genomics.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to the team's technical growth.
• Ensure the reproducibility and quality of analyses through robust coding practices and documentation.

Requirements

• PhD or Master's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Bioinformatics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in data science or computational biology, with a significant focus on genomics.
• Proficiency in programming languages commonly used in data science, such as Python or R, and associated libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, NumPy, Pandas).
• Strong experience with statistical modeling, machine learning algorithms, and experimental design.
• Hands-on experience with genomic data types and analysis tools (e.g., PLINK, GATK, VCFtools).
• Experience with cloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and big data technologies (e.g., Spark).
• Excellent data visualization skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills, with experience in remote teamwork.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex biological questions into data science problems and solutions.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off and parental leave policies.
• Significant opportunities for professional development, including training and conference attendance.
• A fully remote work environment with flexible hours.
• Access to cutting-edge computational resources and large datasets.
• The opportunity to contribute to impactful scientific discoveries that improve human health.