Research Assistant/Project Officer (Animal Movement Ecology)

Nanyang Technological University Singapore; Singapore; On-site; SGD 36,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Nanyang Technological University Singapore, through the Asian School of the Environment, is seeking a Research Assistant/Project Officer to support a new lab in movement ecology and conservation. You will help track shorebirds in Southeast Asia and urban birds in Singapore, handling fieldwork, lab tasks, data management and administration.

The role involves laboratory and field activities, compliance with safety regulations, and collaboration with students and researchers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Diploma in Ecology, Environmental Science, Biology, or closely related field.
• Organized and meticulous with ability to curate and manage specimens and data.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Independent, proactive and a good team player.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support and procurement for ongoing research projects.
• Manage inventory of lab and field consumables; oversee equipment maintenance.
• Assist in permits for fieldwork and import of specimens.
• Assist in lab work including species identification and biomass estimation; DNA metabarcoding.
• Support field operations, including bird catching and tracker deployment.
• Manage databases for research data and specimens.
• Ensure lab operations comply with university health, safety and environmental regulations.
• Write and update Risk Assessments and SOPs for lab and fieldwork.
• Coordinate logistics of overseas fieldwork.
• Provide training and technical support to students in the lab.

Skills

Organized and meticulous

Good written and oral communication

Independent and proactive

Team player

Education

Bachelor’s or Diploma in Ecology/Environmental Science/Biology or related field

Tools

DNA extraction

PCR

Gels

R software

GIS basics

Job description

The Asian School of the Environment (ASE) at Nanyang Technological University is an interdisciplinary school that aims to be a world leader in environmental research focused on Asian environmental challenges. The ASE integrates earth and environmental life science, ecology, engineering and technology, human ecology, humanities, and the social sciences to address key issues of the environment and sustainability.

For more details, please view https://www.ntu.edu.sg/ase.

We are hiring a research assistant/project officer to provide operational support for the establishment and running of a new lab in movement ecology and conservation. The RA will be supporting a project on tracking shorebirds in Southeast Asia and other projects on tracking urban birds in Singapore. This role covers a variety of work and responsibilities, including field work, lab work, data management and administrative tasks.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide general administrative support and conduct procurement related to the lab’s ongoing research projects.
• Manage the inventory of laboratory and field consumables and oversee equipment maintenance
• Assist in applying for permits for fieldwork and import of specimens
• Assist in laboratory work, including identifying macrozoobenthic species from sediment samples and determining their biomass, and DNA metabarcoding.
• Support field operations, including bird catching and deployment of bird trackers in the field.
• Manage, curate, and maintain databases for research data and biological specimens.
• Assist in ensuring lab operations compliant with university health, safety, and environmental regulations.
• Write and update Risk Assessments and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for both lab work and fieldwork.
• Coordinate logistics of overseas fieldwork
• Provide training and technical support to students conducting research in the lab

Job Requirements

• Possess a Polytechnic Diploma with 3 years of relevant working experience or Bachelor’s degree in Ecology, Environmental Science, Biology, Animal Behaviour, or a closely related field.
• Organized and meticulous, able to curate and manage large amounts of specimens and data.
• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Highly independent, proactive and a good team player

Preferred Qualifications (Advantageous But Not Required)

• Basic skills and experience in basic molecular taxonomy, such as DNA extraction, PCR, running gels, and processing of sequence data.
• Prior field experience in bird handling, including mist-netting, bird ringing, and tracker deployment.
• Familiarity with spatial data, GIS software or basic programming in R for handling ecological data
• Familiar with relational databases, data quality control and cleaning
• Familiar with local university’s administration, procurement systems and regulations

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

Hiring Institution: NTU