Research Assistant / Associate (Corals)

National University of Singapore; Singapore; On-site; SGD 39,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

National University of Singapore invites applications for a Research Assistant/Associate (Corals) to conduct coral culture and reef restoration research at the St. John’s Island National Marine Laboratory, Singapore.

You will maintain aquarium facilities, prepare cultured corals for transplantation, assist in field deployments, train volunteers, and contribute to data collection, analysis and scientific reporting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Life Sciences or related fields.
• Knowledge of coral biology and reef restoration preferred.
• Experience with coral culture and aquarium systems beneficial.
• Must be able to SCUBA dive; AOW required; Rescue cert advantageous.
• Physically fit to work offshore, in the field and on boats.
• Organised, able to multitask and meet tight timelines.
• Proficient in English; MS Office; data analysis skills preferred.
• Class 3 driving license preferred.

Responsibilities

• Carry out coral culture operations at SJINML and maintain aquarium facilities.
• Prepare cultured corals for transplantation and assist field deployments.
• Conduct data collection, analysis and write scientific reports.
• Prepare materials for progress reporting.
• Train stakeholders and volunteers for capacity building and outreach.
• Assist with administrative and management tasks.

Skills

Bachelor's degree

Coral biology

Coral culture

SCUBA diving (AOW)

PADI Rescue certification

Physical fitness

Multitasking

English proficiency

Microsoft Office

Data analysis software

Class 3 driving license

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher (Life Sciences / Environmental Studies)

Tools

Aquarium systems

Job description

Job Title: Research Assistant / Associate (Corals)

University-Level Unit: Tropical Marine Science Institute

Faculty/Department-Level Unit: Marine Biology and Ecology Laboratory

Employee Category: Research Staff

Location_ONB: Kent Ridge Campus

Posting Start Date: 06/08/2026

Overview

We are looking for one (1) highly motivated individual with good foundation in marine biology to conduct coral culture and research at the St. John’s Island National Marine Laboratory (SJINML) to support reef restoration efforts in Singapore

Key Responsibilities

• Carry out and coordinate coral culture operations at the SJINML. This includes aquarium facility maintenance, optimising culture operations, and developing SOPs
• Preparation of cultured corals for transplantation, and assisting in relevant field deployments
• Conduct research including data collection, data analysis and scientific writing
• Prepare material as required for progress reporting
• Train stakeholders and volunteers for capacity building and outreach
• Assist in various administrative and management tasks

Job Requirements

• Bachelors’ degree or higher (preferably in Life Sciences/ Biological Sciences/ Environmental Studies/ Environmental Sciences or related fields).
• Have background knowledge in coral biology.
• Experience with coral culture and aquarium systems will be highly advantageous.
• Must be able to SCUBA dive, with at minimum Advanced Open Water (AOW) certification. Experience with diving in Singapore waters and PADI Rescue certification (or equivalent) and above will be highly advantageous.
• Must be physically fit and able to work at the offshore marine station, in the field and on boats.
• Must be organised, able to multitask, and manage tight timelines in a dynamic and fast-paced environment
• Proficiency in English, both spoken and written, are essential for communication of findings in scientific reports and other media
• Proficiency in Microsoft skills (Word, Excel, Powerpoint etc)
• Preferably familiar with data analyses and statistical software
• Preferably have Class 3 driving license

NUS is committed to an employee-orientated, high-performance culture that emphasises empowerment, quality, and continuous improvement.

Closing date: 31 August 2026

We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.