Senior Scientist - Rheumatic Heart Disease Research

South African Medical Research Council Cape Town, Western Cape R 966,586 – R 966,586

Contract Closes 12 Oct 2026 · 2 days left

Cape Town, Western Cape R 966,586 – R 966,586 Contract Closes 12 Oct 2026

What the job is

The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) in Cape Town is looking for a Senior Scientist to join their team. This is a contract position for 2 years. The role focuses on rheumatic heart disease research, where you will provide expert knowledge in epidemiology and data analysis to help design, coordinate, and share research findings.

What you will do

You will manage data collection from various sources like surveys, registries, and databases, ensuring it is clean, accurate, and ready for analysis. You will perform statistical analyses, create disease models, and estimate trends from different data types. Additionally, you will write scientific papers, reports, and policy documents, present findings at meetings, and mentor junior researchers or students. You will also assist with grant applications, training, and monitoring project deadlines while maintaining research documentation.

What you need

You must have a Master’s degree in Health Sciences, Data Sciences, or be a PhD candidate with significant progress toward completion. You need at least 3 years of experience in data science or analytics, with a record of at least 5 publications, including 3 as the first or senior author. Experience in securing research grants (over R100,000) and supervising postgraduate students is required. Strong communication skills and the ability to translate research into practical health improvements are essential. A PhD, MBChB, or clinical registration is a plus.

What you will get

The salary for this role is around R966,586 per year, depending on your experience and qualifications. This is a contract position offering the chance to work on impactful research projects in a leading medical research organization.