"Research Assistant/Research Associate [LKCMedicine]"

The Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine) trains doctors who put patients at the centre of their exemplary care. The School, which offers both undergraduate and graduate programmes, is named after local philanthropist Tan Sri Dato Lee Kong Chian. Established in 2010 by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, in partnership with Imperial College London, LKCMedicine aims to be a model for innovative medical education and a centre for transformative research. The School’s primary clinical partner is the National Healthcare Group, a leader in public healthcare recognised for the quality of its medical expertise, facilities and teaching. The School is transitioning to an NTU medical school ahead of the 2028 successful conclusion of the NTU-Imperial partnership to set up a Joint Medical School. In August 2024, we welcomed our first intake of the NTU MBBS programme, that has been recently enhanced to include themes like precision medicine and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare, with an expanded scope in the medical humanities. Graduates from the five-year undergraduate medical degree programme will have a strong understanding of the scientific basis of medicine, with an emphasis on technology, data science and the humanities.

Research in the laboratory of Prof. Wolfrum aims at unveiling the cellular and transcriptomic differences that are responsible for the obesity and type two diabetes driven heterogeneity in metabolic phenotypes found between individuals, ethnicities, e.g. Caucasians vs. Asians and sexes. One focus is the disturbance of adipose tissue function caused by changes in the amount and types of cells found in healthy vs. diseased adipose tissue as well as altered gene expression. Another main research topic is metabolic flexibility in particular energy expenditure via engagement of futile cycling to waste/eliminate excess energy.

We are looking for a Research Assistant/Associate to manage the research groups' logistics, procurement, maintenance, laboratory housekeeping and management matters as well as to support the PI on safety compliance and documentation for the group. This includes animal maintenance and husbandry. By supporting ongoing research projects, the chosen candidate will advance achievements in translational medical research.

Key Responsibilities:

• Document and maintain accurate records of all work conducted.
• Perform animal maintenance and husbandry duties.
• Perform annual IACUC reporting of mouse strains in the lab.
• Preparation of IRB applications for upcoming studies involving humans or human tissue samples
• Assist with administrative tasks related to research projects.
• Participate in routine laboratory upkeep.
• Purchase, receive, organize, and document reagents, consumables, labware, and equipment for the lab and record the expenses made for them
• Take the responsibility as the lab’s safety representative in participating the school’s safety meeting, maintaining adherence to biosafety and ethical research standards, preparing the lab for safety audits, and providing safety briefings to new lab members;
• Organize and document experimental protocols and draft/ amend administrative paperwork such as standard operating procedure (SOPs) and risk assessments with the help from the PI and senior lab members;
• Perform basic molecular biology techniques such as PCR, western blot.

Key Competencies and Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree (for Research Assistant) or Master's degree (for Research Associate) in Life Sciences, e.g. biology, molecular biology, biomedical sciences or biotechnology
• Experience in animal handling and husbandry, histology, molecular biology techniques like PCR, western blot and microscopy is preferred; holding a RCULA animal handling certification is a bonus
• Excellent organizational & communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work independently and within a multidisciplinary team
• Experience with IRB submissions and clinical trial coordination is preferred
• Accurate & precise record keeping abilities.
• Strong work ethic and highly motivated.

We regret to inform that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

Hiring Institution: LKC