Research Fellow (Spinal Cord Injury Experiments for Neural Tissue Engineering Research)

Nanyang Technological University Singapore; Singapore; On-site; SGD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

NTU Singapore invites a Research Fellow / Post-doctoral candidate to join our lab focusing on in vivo spinal cord injury cell/scaffold implantation and neural tissue engineering. The role involves designing experiments, interpreting results, and contributing to manuscript writing, under joint supervision by Professors Chew and Je.

The position offers collaboration with local and international institutions, and candidates should be prepared for March 2026 start; review of applications continues

Qualifications

• Ph.D. level scientist with experience in spinal cord injury microsurgery and neural tissue engineering.
• Expertise in rodent models and immunofluorescent/histochemical staining of tissues.
• Experience with Western blotting and quantitative RT‑PCR is a plus.
• Strong written and oral communication; demonstrated manuscript writing experience.
• Self-directed, well organized, proactive with team collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute experiments independently; interpret results.
• Author papers and supervise/train students; support active research program.

Skills

Spinal cord injury microsurgery

Neural tissue engineering

Rodent models

Immunofluorescent staining

Histochemical staining

Fluorescent/confocal imaging

Scientific writing

Self-directed work

Education

Ph.D. in Neuroscience or related field

Tools

Western blotting

Quantitative RT‑PCR

Confocal microscopy

Job description

Overview

A Research Fellow / Post-doctoral position is available in the laboratory of Dr. Sing Yian CHEW (NTU) and Prof. Shawn JE (Duke-NUS) in Singapore, for a highly motivated candidate with a passion for in vivo spinal cord injury cell/scaffold implantation treatment and neural tissue engineering research.

The focus of this project is to evaluate cell transplantation and tissue engineered scaffolds for in vivo neural tissue regeneration. We are seeking an individual experienced in spinal cord injury microsurgery with rats and interested in conducting animal implantation studies, as well as carrying out behavioral tests; and characterizing/evaluating scaffold-cell/tissue interactions through immunofluorescent and histochemical staining and imaging.

The candidate will be jointly supervised by Prof. Sing Yian CHEW and Prof. Shawn JE. This position offers a unique opportunity to apply in vivo experimentation skills to neural tissue engineering, through strong collaborative efforts with scientists and engineers across local and overseas institutions (SMART/MIT, University of Osaka, Nagoya University, NUS).

Responsibilities

• The candidate will be given opportunities and is expected to design and execute experiments independently. He/she is also expected to interpret experimental results, and author papers in high-quality journals in areas related to the research. The candidate should demonstrate excellent communication skills and should have a strong passion and commitment to science. He/she will also work closely with the Principal Investigators to help supervise and train students and junior lab members and to ensure smooth functioning of an active research program. The candidate will have the opportunity to explore his/her own interests across functions.

Job Requirements

• Ph.D. level scientist proficient in animal experiments, particularly in spinal cord injury microsurgery and neural tissue engineering.
• Expertise in rodent models, immunofluorescent and histochemical staining of tissues, evaluation of tissue response/interactions using fluorescent microscopy (confocal) imaging.
• Expertise in Western blotting, quantitative RT-PCR is a plus.
• Strong ability to communicate effectively orally and in written form, and experienced in writing manuscripts.
• Strong ability to perform self-directed work.
• Strong organizational skills and proactive personality with outstanding motivation, creativity, critical and analytical thinking skills, strong scientific commitment and ability to work as a team.

Starting salaries will depend on the candidate’s qualification and experience. Candidates are expected to start March 2026. Review of applicants will continue until positions are filled. Applicants should submit a cover letter indicating their area of interest and how they intend to participate and contribute to the research, a complete curriculum vitae, and addresses of three references in a single PDF document to Dr. Sing Yian CHEW ([e-mail]) and Prof. Shawn Je ([e-mail]).

We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

Hiring Institution: NTU