Job Description

A Research Assistant position is available immediately in the research teams of Prof Boon-Cher Goh, Assistant Professor Li-Ren Kong, and Dr Daryl Chia. This position is supported by the NUH Clinician Scientist Programme to investigate the molecular drivers of gastric cancer peritoneal metastasis, with the long-term goal of developing RNA interference (RNAi)-based therapeutic strategies for clinical translation.

The successful candidate will contribute to a multidisciplinary translational research programme integrating patient-derived clinical specimens, advanced preclinical models, and molecular profiling technologies. The primary responsibility will be the collection, processing, preservation, and documentation of clinical and in vivo specimens for downstream genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and spatial analyses.

The candidate will work closely with surgeons, clinician-scientists, translational researchers, and cancer biologists from the National University Health System (NUHS), Cancer Science Institute of Singapore (CSIS), and Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

Interested applicants should include the following documents in the job application

1. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
2. Summary of past research experience
3. Description of long-term plans
4. 3 referees including their name, contact information (email) and relationship to applicant

Duties & Responsibilities

Research:

• Coordinate the collection, receipt, processing, labelling, tracking, and storage of patient-derived tumour specimens.
• Prepare clinical and animal specimens for downstream molecular profiling, including tissue processing, tissue explant generation, nucleic acid extraction, and biobanking.
• Support and conduct experiments integrating clinical tumour specimens, cancer cell models, patient-derived ex vivo tumour cultures, and humanised mouse models.
• Maintain accurate specimen inventories, processing records, laboratory databases, and experimental metadata.
• Coordinate sample submission and logistics with institutional core facilities and external collaborators.
• Organise experimental data and assist with preliminary data analysis, figure preparation, presentations, manuscripts, and grant reports.
• Participate in laboratory meetings and contribute to the overall progress of the research programme.

Administrative duties:

• Assist with laboratory organisation, inventory management, equipment maintenance, and general housekeeping.
• Ensure compliance with institutional biosafety, laboratory safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Perform other administrative or ad hoc duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences, Biological Sciences, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, or a related discipline.
• Strong interest in cancer biology, translational medicine, and experimental therapeutics.
• Excellent organisational skills with meticulous attention to detail, particularly in specimen handling, documentation, and data management.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary research team.
• Good written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Prior experience handling human clinical specimens, tissue processing, organoid culture, or animal-derived samples is preferred.
• Experience with molecular biology techniques, cell culture, or translational cancer research is preferred.
• Experience in laboratory management, sample biobanking, or coordination of research activities is advantageous but not essential.