About the position
Background:
- Named after Nobel Laureate and Wits University graduate, Sydney Brenner, the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience (SBIMB) is a burgeoning multi-disciplinary research institute dedicated to investigating the molecular and genomic aetiology of diseases among African populations
Mission
- To conduct biomedical molecular and genomic research addressing health priorities in Africans
Vision
- To become a leader in biomedical research on the African continent, conducting world-class, innovative and relevant research, that will benefit the southern African community, and to excel as a centre for learning
Division: Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience
Main purpose of the job:
- To contribute to cutting-edge bioinformatics analyses focused on African populations
- The role combines research support, data analysis, and capacity-building activities in African genomic science
Location:
- SBIMB, 9 Jubilee Road, Parktown, Johannesburg
Key performance areas:
- Perform quality control and preprocessing of GWAS summary statistics
- Support management and organisation of multi-omic datasets (genomic, transcriptomic, and related data)
- Run standard bioinformatics and statistical genetics pipelines under supervision
- Maintain reproducible workflows, scripts, and clear documentation
- Contribute to training and capacity-building initiatives across partner African institutions together with the PI and documented to the project team using reporting tools like Jira, Trello, GitHub, etc. to track progress
Required minimum education and training:
- Master’s Degree (or Bachelor’s with strong experience) in Bioinformatics, Genetics or related field
Required minimum work experience:
- Experience in data analysis and management; exposure to genomic datasets advantageous
- Experience with HPC environments
Desirable additional education, work experience and personal abilities:
- Proficiency in Linux/Unix and at least one scripting language (R, Python, or Bash)
- Strong attention to detail and ability to document reproducible analyses
- Good understanding of human genetics and GWAS concepts
- Familiarity with Git/GitHub version control
- Interest in psychiatric genetics and/or African population genomics
- Must be able to work under pressure and deadline driven
- Preferrance will be given to South African or Permanent Residence
- Must be able to communicate effectively with management, collaborators, team members, support staff, affiliated researchers, community and sponsors
TO APPLY:
- Only if you meet the minimum job requirements and experience as mentioned above, you may submit a detailed updated CV including a Cover letter (One pager with the CV)
- Please Apply Online and complete your registration via our website to enable and protect you as a candidate, and to accept the new POPIA terms and conditions
- This will then create your permanent profile with which you can apply for all jobs as advertised by AJ PERSONNEL
- However, you may remove your profile from AJ PERSONNEL when you are no longer in the job market
- Please take note that the applicants who do not adhere to the above criteria will not be considered for the respective position
- Wits Health Consortium will only respond to shortlisted candidates
- Candidates who have not been contacted within two weeks of the closing date can consider their applications to be unsuccessful
- Closing date: 19 June 2026
- Note: No CV will be accepted after the closing date
Please note:
- WHC, in accordance with its Employment Equity goals and plan, will give preference to suitable applicants from designated groups as defined in the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 and subsequent amendments thereto
- AJ Personnel is only responsible for advertising and the response handling on behalf of their client Wits Health Consortium
- AJ Personnel does not have any salary or other information regarding the position
Desired Skills:
- Git
- GitHUb
- Genetics
- Research Support
- Data Analysis
- Parktown
- Junior Bioinformatician
