Senior Virologist - Vaccine Development (BSL-3)

Placements24; Soweto; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical insurance

Dental and vision coverage

Retirement savings plan

Paid annual leave

Professional development and konferies

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Virologist in Soweto, Gauteng to lead vaccine development programs in a high-containment BSL-3 environment. You will design and execute in vitro and in vivo studies, develop virological assays, and contribute to preclinical evaluation of vaccine candidates.

The role requires a Ph.D. in Virology or related field with 5+ years postdoctoral experience, experience with human viruses in BSL-2/3 settings, and a strong publication record.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Virology or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of postdoctoral virology and vaccine development experience.
• Experience with human viruses and BSL-2/3 containment.
• Expertise in viral culture, plaque assays, titration, and standard virological techniques.
• Experience with immunology assays relevant to vaccine evaluation (ELISA, neutralizing antibodies).
• Strong data analysis and statistics skills.
• Strong publication record in reputable journals.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop vaccines and conduct in vitro/in vivo studies.
• Design and perform in vitro assays to characterize viral replication and vaccine efficacy.
• Perform animal studies to evaluate immunogenicity and efficacy.
• Culture and propagate viruses in appropriate containment.
• Develop and optimize new virological assays and techniques.
• Analyze data, prepare reports, and present findings at meetings/conferences.
• Collaborate with internal teams including immunologists and molecular biologists.
• Maintain meticulous lab records and ensure safety compliance.
• Contribute to manuscripts and grant applications.

Skills

Independent researcher

Collaborative team

Scientific communication

Data analysis

Education

Ph.D. in Virology or related field

5+ years postdoctoral experience

Tools

Viral culture techniques

Plaque assays

BSL-2/3 handling

ELISA

Neutralizing antibody assays

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Virologist in Soweto, Gauteng to lead vaccine development programs in a high-containment BSL-3 environment. You will design and execute in vitro and in vivo studies, develop virological assays, and contribute to preclinical evaluation of vaccine candidates.

The role requires a Ph.D. in Virology or related field with 5+ years postdoctoral experience, experience with human viruses in BSL-2/3 settings, and a strong publication record.