Senior Immunologist — Vaccine Research Leader

Placements24; Bloemfontein; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-based bonuses

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement plan

Professional development support

Job summary

Placements24 in Bloemfontein seeks a Senior Immunologist to lead cutting-edge vaccine research and translate immunology into novel vaccine candidates. The role oversees study design, data interpretation, and collaboration across a multidisciplinary team.

The ideal candidate holds a PhD with 5+ years in vaccine-related immunology, and hands-on expertise in flow cytometry, ELISA, ELISpot, western blotting, and cell culture. Strong publication record and team mentorship are expected.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Immunology, Microbiology, or Molecular Biology (or related life science).
• Minimum 5 years post-doctoral or industry experience in immunology with vaccine development focus.
• Hands-on experience with immunological techniques (flow cytometry, ELISA, ELISpot, western blotting, cell culture).

Responsibilities

• Design, execute, and interpret experiments investigating immune responses to pathogens and vaccine candidates.
• Develop and optimize in vitro and in vivo immunological assays to assess vaccine efficacy and safety.
• Characterize immune cell populations, cytokine profiles, and antibody responses using flow cytometry, ELISA, and ELISpot.
• Contribute to preclinical development of vaccine candidates, including formulation and adjuvant selection.
• Analyze and interpret complex immunological data using statistical methods.
• Collaborate with virologists, vaccinologists, and researchers to advance vaccine projects.
• Prepare research findings for publication and conferences.
• Mentor junior researchers and contribute to laboratory management and best practices.
• Stay abreast of advancements in immunology and vaccinology.

Skills

Immunology

Data analysis

Publications

Independent & collaborative work

Experiment design

Education

Ph.D. in Immunology

Tools

Flow cytometry

ELISA

ELISpot

Western blotting

Cell culture

Job description

Placements24 in Bloemfontein seeks a Senior Immunologist to lead cutting-edge vaccine research and translate immunology into novel vaccine candidates. The role oversees study design, data interpretation, and collaboration across a multidisciplinary team.

The ideal candidate holds a PhD with 5+ years in vaccine-related immunology, and hands-on expertise in flow cytometry, ELISA, ELISpot, western blotting, and cell culture. Strong publication record and team mentorship are expected.