Senior Genomics Scientist Hybrid NGS & Bioinformatics

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

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive remuneration

Medical aid

Retirement fund contribution

Professional development

Collaborative and innovative work env

Job summary

Placements24 is actively seeking a Senior Molecular Biologist to join our genetics research team in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. This hybrid role combines in-lab experimentation with remote responsibilities, supporting high-impact genomic research and disease understanding.

The candidate will lead complex molecular biology experiments, optimize NGS workflows, and analyze sequencing data while mentoring junior staff and collaborating with clinicians and bioinformaticians.

Qualifications

• PhD or MSc in Molecular Biology, Genetics, Biochemistry, or related field
• Minimum 5 years hands-on molecular biology lab experience
• At least 2 years focused on genomics/NGS
• Proficiency in PCR, qPCR, cloning, Western blotting, and gel electrophoresis
• Extensive experience with NGS library prep kits (Illumina, PacBio) and sequencing platforms
• Experience with bioinformatics tools for genomic data analysis

Responsibilities

• Design, execute and analyze complex molecular biology experiments with a focus on genomics/NGS
• Develop and optimize molecular assays and protocols to support research objectives
• Perform DNA/RNA extraction, library preparation and sequencing runs
• Conduct bioinformatic analysis of sequencing data including variant calling and annotation
• Troubleshoot experiments and implement effective solutions
• Maintain detailed lab notebooks and contribute to reports/publications
• Collaborate with geneticists, bioinformaticians and clinicians to achieve project goals
• Mentor junior researchers and provide technical guidance

Job description

Placements24 is actively seeking a Senior Molecular Biologist to join our genetics research team in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. This hybrid role combines in-lab experimentation with remote responsibilities, supporting high-impact genomic research and disease understanding.

The candidate will lead complex molecular biology experiments, optimize NGS workflows, and analyze sequencing data while mentoring junior staff and collaborating with clinicians and bioinformaticians.