Research Fellow (Microbiology & Immunology)

Interested applicants are invited to apply directly at the NUS Career Portal. Please note your application will only be processed if you apply via NUS Career Portal.

NUS Career Portal link - https://careers.nus.edu.sg/job/Research-Fellow-%28Microbiology-&-Immunology%29/34665-en_GB/

We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

Job Description

We are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic Research Fellow to join the laboratory of Assistant Professor Yassine Cherrak within the Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. We are overall interested in understanding how enteric bacteria colonize the gastrointestinal tract and interact with the endogenous microbiota. A particular focus of the lab is to decipher the fitness traits of multidrug resistant gram-negative bacteria in the mammalian gut and identify potential probiotics strains preventing gut colonization of hard-to-eradicate strains.

Appointments will be made on a 1-year contract basis, with the possibility of extension or conversion into PhD studies. The salary package depends on experience and qualification.

The Research Fellow will be expected to:

• Develop and validate bacterial genetic tools and mutant collections, including targeted gene knockouts, transposon libraries, and/or barcoded mutant populations.
• Conduct in vivo studies using murine models of enteric colonization and infection, including experimental design, bacterial inoculation, animal monitoring, sample collection, and downstream microbiological and molecular analyses.
• Develop and apply in vitro and in vivo models to investigate host–microbe and microbe–microbe interactions in the gastrointestinal tract.
• Apply next-generation sequencing (NGS) approaches (whole genome sequencing, RNA-seq, Metagenomic) to investigate bacterial adaptation, gene expression, and fitness under different environmental and host-associated conditions.

• Experience with analysis and interpretation of NGS datasets would be an advantage.
• Ability to independently plan and execute experiments, troubleshoot technical challenges, and critically interpret experimental results.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to experimental detail, with the ability to maintain accurate and reproducible research records.

Qualifications

• PhD (Hons) or equivalent doctoral degree in Life Sciences, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biomedical Sciences, or a related discipline.
• Strong motivation and intellectual curiosity, with a demonstrated experience in bacterial metabolism, microbial genomics, and murine models of enteric infection.
• Ability to independently plan and execute experiments, troubleshoot technical challenges, and critically interpret experimental results.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to experimental detail, with the ability to maintain accurate and reproducible research records.
• Good written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present scientific findings clearly and contribute to scientific publications.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications and general IT/data-handling skills.
• A demonstrated track record of peer-reviewed scientific publications

Remuneration will be commensurate with the candidate’s qualifications and experience. Interested candidates, please send a detailed CV that includes work experience, education background and contact information of at least 3 references to NUS Career Portal. Please note that only short-listed candidates will be notified.