Job Description
The National University of Singapore invites applications for Research Assistant for the project “NeuroSCOPE: Neural Signatures of Cognitive Outcomes in Preterm Evaluation” in the Department of Diagostic Radiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. Appointments will be made on a 2-year contract basis in the first instance, with the possibility of extension.
Overview
We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Research Assistant (RA) to join our team. Under the direct supervision of the Principal Investigator (PI) and senior study staff, the RA will play a pivotal role in all phases of our brain imaging studies, from participant recruitment through data analysis and dissemination. This position offers hands-on experience with state-of-the-art MRI acquisition, neuroimaging processing pipelines, and behavioral assessment in pediatric cohorts.
Key Responsibilities
- Participant Recruitment & Engagement
- Identify and screen potential participants via developmental clinics, and community outreach.
- Obtain informed consent/assent, explain study procedures to parents and guardians, and maintain rapport throughout study visits.
- Coordinate scheduling of MRI appointments and follow-up assessments, ensuring participant comfort and compliance.
- Data Acquisition & Quality Assurance
- Prepare participants for MRI scanning, including participant positioning, safety screening, and adherence to scan protocols.
- Administer standardized behavioral and cognitive assessments (e.g., executive function tasks, language batteries) in accordance with study manuals.
- Data Management & Entry
- Enter demographic, clinical, and assessment data into secure electronic databases (e.g., REDCap), ensuring accuracy and completeness.
- Organize, anonymize, and archive neuroimaging files (DICOM, NIfTI), behavioral recordings, and ancillary data in accordance with institutional data-management policies.
- Perform regular data backups and version control for analysis scripts and documentation.
- Image Processing & Preliminary Analysis
- Assist with preprocessing pipelines (e.g., motion correction, normalization, segmentation) using tools such as FSL, CONN etc.
- Extract imaging-derived metrics (e.g., resting-state connectivity, diffusion tensor metrics) and integrate with behavioral measures.
- Perform basic statistical analyses (e.g., correlation, regression) in SPSS, R, or Python to support ongoing manuscripts and presentations.
- Regulatory & Administrative Support
- Prepare study materials, ethics submissions, and amendments for Institutional Review Board (IRB) review.
- Track regulatory compliance, ensuring all team members complete required trainings (e.g., human subjects protection, MRI safety).
- Scientific Communication & Team Collaboration
- Conduct literature reviews to support grant writing and manuscript preparation.
Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field.
Experience: Prior exposure to human neuroimaging (MRI/fMRI) or developmental research preferred but not required.
Technical Skills:
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and data-entry platforms (e.g., REDCap).
- Working knowledge of statistical analysis environments, especially R, would be an advantage
- Proficiency in at least one scripting or programming language (e.g., Python, MATLAB, or R) to automate data-processing pipelines, perform batch analyses, and develop custom scripts.
- Experience writing shell scripts (bash, PowerShell) to manage large neuroimaging datasets and streamline preprocessing workflows would be an advantage but not a requirement
Interpersonal Abilities:
- Excellent verbal communication, with sensitivity to working with children and families.
- Strong organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
Other Requirements:
- Willingness to undergo MRI safety training and background checks.
- Flexibility to accommodate occasional weekend study visits.
Remuneration will be commensurate with the candidate’s qualifications and experience.
Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.
Req ID: 34344