Research Assistant (Instrumentation)

National University of Singapore; Singapore; On-site; SGD 33,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relaxed and supportive team环境

Generous leave provisions

Job summary

National University of Singapore invites applications for a Research Assistant in Instrumentation at the Tropical Marine Science Institute. You will ensure sensors are maintained, calibrated and deployed at sea, and validate and process data for distribution to data users.

This role blends hands-on hardware work with analytical problem-solving in challenging marine environments. The ideal candidate holds a degree in a relevant field and is proficient in Python for data processing, with a

Qualifications

• Hold a degree in Oceanography, Marine Science, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Engineering, STEM or related field.
• Proficient in data processing and analysis using Python (or equivalent software).
• Comfortable working at sea and troubleshooting equipment under non-ideal conditions.

Responsibilities

• Acquire oceanographic parameters via deployment of multi-sensor systems.
• Join field trips on research vessels as required.
• Perform pre-field prep, logistics, and post-field checks.
• Troubleshoot instruments in real-time at sea.
• Set up, calibrate, maintain and verify instruments.
• Liaise with R&D engineers and vendors for servicing and calibration support.
• Maintain documentation of maintenance, calibration records, and processing procedures.
• Post-process collected datasets.
• Conduct QA/QC to ensure data accuracy and integrity.
• Perform statistical analysis, interpretation and report writing.
• Develop and manage SOPs and risk assessments.
• Assist procurement of field and lab consumables and equipment.

Skills

Python data analysis

Sea fieldwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in Oceanography or related field

Tools

CTD sensors

Job description

Company description

The National University of Singapore is the national research university of Singapore. Founded in 1905 as the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States Government Medical School, NUS is the oldest higher education institution in Singapore

About

At Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI), we acquire high-quality marine environmental data that supports environmental monitoring. The reliability of our work depends on the quality of our instrumentation and the integrity of our data. As a Research Assistant in Instrumentation, you play a critical role in this process — from ensuring sensors are properly maintained, calibrated and deployed at sea, to validating and processing the data that data users depend on. Your work directly impacts the credibility and usefulness of our long-term marine environmental datasets. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys both hands-on technical work and analytical problem-solving, and who finds satisfaction in making complex systems work reliably in challenging real-world environments.

Duties and Responsiilities

• Acquisition of oceanographic parameters such as salinity, temperature, turbidity through deployment of multi-sensor systems.
• Participate in regular field trips onboard research vessels (more frequently when required).
• Conduct pre-field preparations, logistics coordination, and post-field checks.
• Troubleshoot instruments in real-time under field conditions, including at sea.
• Set up, calibrate, maintain and conduct instruments verification.
• Liaise with R&D engineers and vendors for routine servicing, fault diagnosis, and calibration support.
• Maintain detailed documentation of maintenance, calibration records, servicing logs, and post processing procedures.
• Perform post-processing of collected datasets.
• Conduct QA/QC to ensure data accuracy, consistency, and integrity.
• Statistical analysis, interpretation and report writing.
• Develop, refine, and manage Standard Operating Procedures, risk assessments.
• Support procurement of consumables and equipment required for field and lab operations

Qualifications and Requirements

You will thrive in this role if you:

• Hold a degree in Oceanography, Marine Science, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Engineering, STEM or a related field.
• Are proficient in data processing and analysis using Python (or equivalent software)
• Are comfortable working at sea and troubleshooting equipment under non-ideal conditions.
• Enjoy understanding how systems work and studying technical manuals and instrument documentation.
• Have mechanical/electrical aptitude and workshop skills for equipment maintenance and fault finding.
• Are resourceful, independent and able to troubleshoot problems and learn new equipment quickly.
• Are meticulous and detail-oriented
• Works well in a small, collaborative team environment.
• Are flexible with working hours when required for field activities.

Preferred Experience

It would be advantageous to have:

• Hands-on experience with CTDs, multi-parameter water-quality sensors, and other oceanographic instrumentation.
• Experience with measuring parameters such as temperature, conductivity/salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, and chlorophyll.
• Experience with both profiling and fixed/station deployments of oceanographic instruments.
• Familiarity with common sensor issues such as sensor drift, calibration problems, and sensor/communication errors.
• Experience with QA/QC of oceanographic data (e.g. cross-variable relationships, sensor interference).
• Experience with instrument preparation, calibration and maintenance.
• Experience handling and quality-controlling large environmental datasets and time-series data.
• Experience with long-term marine or environmental monitoring programmes.

Candidates are not expected to have experience with every instrument or sensor used by the team. We value strong technical fundamentals, practical problem-solving skills and a willingness to learn.

Salary

Salary will commensurate with qualifications and experience. The appointment will be for a period of one year and extendable depending upon the candidate's performance.

Other Benefits

What you can expect from us:

• Your work directly supports long-term marine environment monitoring
• You will gain exposure to real-world oceanographic instrumentation
• You will see the full lifecycle of data: collection, processing, storage and analysis
• Get to work with multi-year, multi-parameter marine environmental datasets
• Not a desk-bound position - a mix of indoor analytical work and outdoor field deployment.
• Opportunities for continuous professional development and upskilling (subject to time and funding).
• Relaxed and supportive team environment.
• Generous leave provisions.

If you are someone who enjoys solving technical problems, working with real-world environmental systems, and ensuring that high-quality data supports meaningful science, we encourage you to apply.