Research Assistant/Associate [LKCMedicine]

The Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine) trains doctors who put patients at the centre of their exemplary care. The School, which offers both undergraduate and graduate programmes, is named after local philanthropist Tan Sri Dato Lee Kong Chian. Established in 2010 by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, in partnership with Imperial College London, LKCMedicine aims to be a model for innovative medical education and a centre for transformative research. The School’s primary clinical partner is the National Healthcare Group, a leader in public healthcare recognised for the quality of its medical expertise, facilities and teaching. The School is transitioning to an NTU medical school ahead of the 2028 successful conclusion of the NTU-Imperial partnership to set up a Joint Medical School. In August 2024, we welcomed our first intake of the NTU MBBS programme, that has been recently enhanced to include themes like precision medicine and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare, with an expanded scope in the medical humanities. Graduates from the five-year undergraduate medical degree programme will have a strong understanding of the scientific basis of medicine, with an emphasis on technology, data science and the humanities.

The Hwei-Ee Tan lab studies the fundamental biological basis of “gut-feelings”, how bacteria in the gut signals to the host to influence physiology and behaviour. Using mice as a mammalian model, the lab investigates how diet and microbiome factors modulates host phenotypes (e.g. food reward, anxiety behaviours, etc). Besides supporting curiosity-driven basic research on the gut-brain axis, his lab is also studying the brain-gut axis, to uncover host-microbe interactions. His lab’s work is multidisciplinary, the research scope covers diverse skills from molecular biology to systems neuroscience, physiology and behaviour. With top-tier research support from National Research Foundation Singapore, Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (NARSAD), etc, his lab at NTU LKCMedicine is actively recruiting talented postdoctoral research fellows, research assistants, and interns, and also open to sponsoring motivated PhD/Masters students. A short-term or part-time research assistantship may also be arranged for motivated trainees.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and conduct high quality research independently, as a candidate is expected to have relevant experience in one or more of these areas (e.g. mice/rodent handling, optogenetics and behaviours, animal surgery and dissection, calcium imaging, gnotobiotic studies and microbiome analysis, etc).

• Lead, assist or learn in a dynamic range of projects and lab duties, including but not limited to molecular biology and histology procedures, microscopy, rodent behavioural assays, neuroscience optogenetic and chemogenetic techniques, functional recording and calcium imaging, mice surgery, data analysis and presentation, lab maintenance and office, academic and administrative tasks

• Mentor and collaborate with group members and other research teams

• Demonstrate him/herself exceptionally self-motivated, a team player

• Any other responsibilities as advised by the PI based on the evolving needs in the lab

The applicant should at least:

• Hold a Diploma or Bachelor degree in Biology or relevant disciplines

• Have a keen interest in the lab’s research theme on the microbiome gut brain neuroscience

• Be proficient in relevant techniques described above

• Be highly motivated and conscientious

• Demonstrate her/his competencies and qualifications satisfactorily

• Work independently, and also have the ability to work effectively in a team

• Have good organisational, verbal and interpersonal skills