Senior Research Scientist - Bioinformatics

Placements24; Stellenbosch; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Remote work

Health insurance

Professional development

Flexible hours

Access to computational resources

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Research Scientist in Bioinformatics for a fully remote position. You will develop and optimize pipelines for genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics data, applying advanced statistics and machine learning to extract meaningful biological insights.

You will collaborate with scientists and clinicians worldwide, contribute to novel algorithms, and leverage cloud platforms to scale analyses in a remote-first culture.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent in a quantitative field with strong bioinformatics background.
• Extensive experience analyzing large-scale omics data (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics).
• Proficiency in Python, R, and shell scripting; strong statistical and ML skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain bioinformatics pipelines for diverse data types.
• Perform complex statistical analyses and ML to identify patterns and biomarkers.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design experiments and interpret results computationally.
• Visualize datasets and communicate findings to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Stay current with advances in bioinformatics and computational biology.

Skills

Python

R

Shell scripting

Statistics

Machine learning

Communication

Cloud computing

Education

PhD in Bioinformatics/Computational Biology/CS/Statistics or related

Tools

AWS

GCP

Azure

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly skilled Senior Research Scientist specializing in Bioinformatics to join their innovative team. This fully remote position is central to analyzing and interpreting large-scale biological datasets, including genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics, to drive research insights. You will collaborate closely with experimental scientists and clinicians worldwide, developing and applying cutting‑edge computational methodologies. The role offers a significant opportunity to shape the direction of research through data‑driven discoveries in a dynamic, remote‑first environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain robust bioinformatics pipelines for analyzing diverse biological data types.
• Perform complex statistical analyses and machine learning tasks to identify patterns, biomarkers, and biological insights.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to design experiments and interpret results from a computational perspective.
• Visualize complex datasets and communicate findings effectively to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in bioinformatics, computational biology, and related fields.
• Contribute to the development of novel algorithms and computational tools to address specific research challenges.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.
• Extensive experience in analyzing large‑scale omics datasets (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics).
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, R, and experience with shell scripting.
• Strong knowledge of statistical modeling, machine learning algorithms, and relevant software packages.
• Experience with cloud computing platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) and big data technologies is highly desirable.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, essential for a remote working environment.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance‑based incentives for a remote role.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off and flexible working hours.
• Professional development opportunities, including online courses and conference attendance.
• Access to powerful computational resources and collaborative research platforms.
• A supportive and inclusive remote work culture, fostering work‑life balance.