Research Assistant (Medicine)

National University of Singapore; Singapore; On-site; SGD 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

The National University of Singapore is seeking a Research Assistant for the Department of Medicine at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. The position involves studying the mechanism of action of peptides for cardiovascular treatment, designing and synthesizing bioactive peptides, and supervising undergraduate students.

Applicants should hold a master's degree in a relevant field and have hands-on experience with peptide work and molecular biology techniques. This role offers an opportunity to contribute to impactful cardiovascular research.

Qualifications

• Familiarity with peptide design, synthesis, and purification.
• Basic molecular biology techniques and bioinformatics skills.
• Experience in culturing cardiomyocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells.

Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize bioactive peptides.
• Conduct in vitro and cell-based assays.
• Prepare and execute surgical protocols involving animals.
• Supervise undergraduate students as applicable.
• Collaborate with team on various projects.

Skills

Peptide design

Synthesis and purification

Molecular biology techniques

Data analysis

Strong interpersonal skills

Education

Master's degree or equivalent in relevant field

Job description

The National University of Singapore is inviting applications for a Research Assistant position in the Department of Medicine at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. The selected candidate will join a team of scientists led by Research Assistant Professor Koh Cho Yeow at the Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI). CVRI is committed to addressing cardiovascular diseases through laboratory-based research, clinical studies, clinical trials, health services research, as well as prevention and epidemiology research. We also collaborate with international centers on multinational, multi-center basic and clinical trials. Additionally, we engage in outcomes-related research to establish standards for evidence-based best medical practices in Singapore.

Research Assistant Responsibilities: The Research Assistant will be responsible for studying the mechanism of action, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics of peptides designed in our laboratory for treating cardiovascular diseases. Additional duties include supporting other collaborative projects and managing related animal and laboratory safety tasks under the supervision of the principal investigator and research fellows.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Main Duties:

• Design, synthesis and purification of bioactive peptides and proteins.
• In vitro and cell-based assays for functional characterizations of peptides and proteins.
• Prepare and execute surgical protocols involving animals (rodents and rabbits).
• Study the molecular mechanisms behind the pharmacological effects of peptides using animal tissues and cells.
• Supervise and mentor undergraduate students as appropriate.
• Collaborate with colleagues on various projects.
• Present scientific work at seminars and conferences, and draft scientific articles.
• Share responsibilities for laboratory housekeeping and maintenance.
• Ensure safety in the laboratory in collaboration with others.
• Perform additional duties as required to ensure the efficient and smooth operation of the group.

Qualifications

• A master's degree or equivalent in a relevant field of study, or soon to be conferred.
• Familiarity and hands-on experience with peptide design, synthesis, and purification.
• Proficient in basic molecular biology techniques and bioinformatics, including transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses.
• Experience in culturing cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and vascular smooth muscle cells is desirable.
• A good team player who is independent, self-driven, and possesses strong interpersonal skills.
• Willingness to explore new frontiers and learn with a positive attitude.
• An intention to pursue PhD study in the near future.
• Strong computer skills for data analysis and organization.

Applications should include a full curriculum vitae and the names and contact information of three referees. We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.