Senior Scientist I - IHDP A*STAR

A*STAR - Agency for Science, Technology and Research; Singapore; On-site; SGD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

The A*STAR Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP) seeks an experienced data operations leader to oversee the SG-NEST programme data extraction, harmonisation and curation objectives. You will coordinate across health clusters, public institutions and advisors to ensure timely, high-quality data assets for research and policy use.

You will build data infrastructure with data scientists, analysts and software engineers, implement ETL pipelines, data security and governance, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Data Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field
• At least 10 years’ experience in data operations coordination
• Experience building and overseeing complex data operations
• Familiarity with Singapore healthcare clusters and OHDSI OMOP-CDM

Responsibilities

• Oversee SG-NEST data extraction, harmonisation, and curation together with SG-NEST staff and health clusters
• Ensure data operations align with FAIR principles and governance policies
• Develop data dictionaries and metadata resources with clinical leads
• Design and maintain robust ETL pipelines for Electronic Health data across clusters
• Support validation, mapping, and interoperability processes
• Prepare SOPs for data extraction and management
• Monitor risks and ensure progress on schedule and budget
• Provide progress reports to executives and stakeholders
• Collaborate with public institutions and private sector as needed

Skills

Data governance

ETL pipelines

OHDSI OMOP-CDM

Stakeholder management

Education

Data Engineering degree

Computer Science background

Tools

ETL Tools

OMOP-CDM

Data Modeling

Job description

The A*STAR Institute for Human Development and Potential (A*STAR IHDP) focuses on research to improve and impact the health and well-being of Singaporeans across the life course. IHDP conducts research on developmental cohorts as well as related studies in metabolic health, mental health, environmental nutrition, metabolism, allergy and neurocognition and environmental influences on human development.

IHDP is coordinating the development of a major new national resource, the Singapore National Life-Course Research Database (SG-NEST). Led by Professor Neena Modi, Distinguished Principal Scientist, and a team from A*STAR, IHDP.

This is a globally unique, visionary ambition that involves creating a repository of data sourced as standardised extracts from electronic health records that will ultimately extend to all Singaporeans from conception to grave. By creating a single source of quality-assured data curated to a research-ready standard, SG-NEST will avoid expensive, burdensome, and inefficient repetitive data collection and management and support diverse interventional and observational research, as well as artificial intelligence and data science innovations.

We are seeking an experienced individual who can oversee the SG-NEST programme data extraction, harmonisation and curation objectives through collaboration strategies and action plans, and coordinate technical data operations across stakeholders, including healthcare and public institutions. The candidate shall work closely with health cluster technical teams and leads to ensure that data operations are on target and schedule according to project management timelines.

The incumbent shall oversee the building and managing of data infrastructure and work closely with data scientists, analysts, and software engineers to ensure clean, reliable, and accessible data pipelines. The post offers opportunity to participate in the development of a major new national research resource, engage with senior researchers, policymakers, patients and the public, and national and international advisors, and gain experience in each of the domains of development as well as the design of innovative use-cases that will utilise the curated data. It also provides a unique opportunity to broaden the experience and skill set of an individual pursuing a career in data management, technical operations, biomedical research, health policy, or science administration.

The incumbent shall work closely with Professor Modi, SG-NEST co-chair Dr Yeo Kee Thai, the A*STAR IHDP team, SG-NEST programme manager, technical leads across the three Singapore public healthcare clusters, and in due course with the private healthcare sector. The incumbent shall also work with stakeholders from public institutions and healthcare clusters to oversee and coordinate technical data operations such as extraction, transfer, harmonization, etc and ensure that operations are on target and schedule.

The Responsibilities

• Work with the programme director and team members, and other SG-NEST technical staff to ensure the delivery of all requirements for SG-NEST data operations, curation, and harmonisation in collaboration with health clusters, ministries, and TRUST.
• Oversee data operations to ensure that data are developed in accordance with the FAIR principles, namely are Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Re-useable.
• Work with clinical leads to develop data dictionaries following defined principles, and metadata resources.
• Coordinate and work with technical leads within healthcare clusters to design, develop, and maintain robust ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) pipelines for Electronic Health data and ensure consistency of extraction and curation across healthcare clusters.
• Assist in developing and implementing validation, testing, and OMOP data mapping processes to guarantee data inter-operability, integrity, reliability and usability.
• Assist in preparing standard operating procedures and processes relating to data extraction and management.
• Implement data security, privacy, and governance protocols in compliance with local data governance policies.
• Monitor progress, identify and manage potential risks throughout programme’s life cycle and work with stakeholders and staff to ensure progress is on schedule and on budget across the participating health cluster sites.
• Assist programme director and co-director in creating progress reports reporting to executive committee and updating stakeholders.
• Assist programme director and co-director on all other programme-related matters, as required.

The Requirement

• Qualification and Field of Study Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Data Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).
• Minimum Years of Experience At least 10 years’ experience.
• Experience in building, coordinating, and overseeing complex data operations.
• Familiarity with Singapore healthcare clusters, data standards such as OHDSI OMOP-CDM, and research and policy eco-systems are essential.
• Deep understanding of electronic health records, and research data management.
• Meticulous skills in preparing presentations, reports, and briefings to strict timelines.
• Basic familiarity with biomedical ethics principles.
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to engage constructively with multiple stakeholders to achieve project goals.
• Good communication skills and ability to convey specialist concepts to non-specialist audience.