Senior Scientist

Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (SIDC); Kuching; On-site; MYR 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research facility in Sarawak seeks a Senior Research Scientist with a Ph.D. and over 8 years of experience for advanced experimental design in infectious disease research. This role offers competitive compensation and opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. Join a mission-driven team dedicated to improving health equity and advancing infectious disease research.

Benefits

Medical insurance for employees and family

Monthly mobile phone allowance

Competitive salary

Minimum of 20 days annual leave

Work permit support for non-residents

Qualifications

• Proven track record of successful independent and collaborative research.
• Ability to hypothesise, design own experiments, and draw conclusions.
• Proficiency in technical writing for data summary and technical reports.
• Strong skills in statistical thinking and data analysis.
• Ability to communicate effectively within multi-disciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Apply advanced scientific methods to optimize experiments.
• Critically analyze complex data and present findings.
• Collaborate cross-functionally and mentor team members.
• Manage lab operations and generate research ideas.

Skills

Independent and collaborative research

Technical writing

Statistical thinking

Data analysis

Critical thinking

Team collaboration

Education

Ph.D. in life sciences or related field

Job description

Number of Openings

1

Closing Date

5 December 2025

Responsibilities

• Apply advanced scientific and quantitative methods to design, execute, and optimise experiments, ensuring compliance with SOPs and industry standards.
• Critically analyse complex data, maintain detailed documentation, and present findings to support R&D and services.
• Collaborate cross-functionally, lead and mentor team members, and contribute to process improvements and innovation.
• Stay current with scientific advances, manage lab operations, and generate research ideas aligned with institutional goals and strategy.

Essential Skills

• Proven track record of successful independent and collaborative research.
• Ability to hypothesise, design own experiments, draw conclusions, and provide direction.
• Proficiency in technical writing for data summary and technical reports.
• Computer skills including word processing, spreadsheets, and instrumentation-related systems.
• Strong skills in statistical thinking and data analysis.
• Proven critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and able to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively within multi-disciplinary teams.
• Ability to work in a fast paced, multi-tasking environment and maintain quality standards to meet aggressive turn-around requirement.
• Willingness to work flexibly, including occasional hours outside the normal workday (i.e., evenings and weekends) as operational needs require.
• Ability to perform successfully under pressure while handling multiple projects with overlapping timelines.

Qualification & Work Experience

A Ph.D. (or commensurate experience) in the life sciences or a related field, with at least 8 years of post-doctoral experience.

The ideal candidate should have experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Vaccines, immunology and systems biology
• Bioinformatics, genomics, computational biology and data science
• Epidemiology and biostatistics
• Microbial and pathogen biology (Virology, Bacteriology, Parasitology or Mycology)
• Cell and molecular biology
• Microscopy (Electron or Optical)

Why work with us?

The Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre Sdn. Bhd. (SIDC) will be home to the state’s premier life science laboratories, including Sarawak’s first Biosafety Level-3 (BSL-3) facility, enabling research on highly pathogenic organisms, strengthening outbreak preparedness, and connecting Sarawak to global infectious disease networks. The centre will feature advanced genomics, metabolomics, molecular biology, and computational platforms to drive discovery, diagnostics, and translational research.

At SIDC, we believe meaningful work and the joy of discovery go hand in hand. Join our curious, collaborative, and mission-driven team, united to improve health equity in Sarawak and advance infectious disease research. We value open communication, rigor, and cross-disciplinary learning, fostering a workplace where everyone can contribute, grow, and make an impact.

Benefits

• Medical insurance for employees and immediate family members
• Monthly mobile phone allowance
• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• Minimum of 20 days annual leave per year
• Work permit support for non-Sarawakian residents