Research Fellow (Orthopaedic Surgery)

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-%28Orthopaedic-Surgery%29/33159-en_GB/?st=993B851DE3BDA4EF1486E74ADC167F0E20DE8BDD

We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

Job Description

The National University of Singapore invites applications for Research Fellow for the project “Pharmacotherapeutic Treatment of Ligamentum Flavum Hypertrophy by Targeting the Elastin Receptor Complex: A Preclinical Study” in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine.  Appointments will be made on a 1 year contract basis. The Department is actively engaged in cutting edge research that encompasses basic science research, translational research and clinical applications of new technologies. We have a very strong research culture with emphasis on translating our findings from the laboratory bench to the clinical bedside in the form of finding and developing novel and useful therapies. Over the years, we have built a reputation for quality research in the areas of tissue engineering, spine fusion and intervertebral disc regeneration, and orthopaedic bioengineering.

Purpose of the post

We are seeking a capable and self-driven Research Fellow to join a translational spine research programme focused on developing therapeutic strategies for lumbar spinal stenosis. The project investigates molecular and extracellular matrix mechanisms underlying ligamentum flavum hypertrophy, with the aim of identifying less invasive treatment approaches for spinal degenerative disease.

The Research Fellow will work closely with the Principal Investigator and study team to drive preclinical research activities, including in vitro and in vivo studies, molecular, histological, and imaging-based analyses, data interpretation, and the preparation of manuscripts, grants and regulatory submissions.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Drive the scientific and operational progress of the project, including study planning, timelines, documentation, and day-to-day research activities.
2. Design, optimise, and conduct preclinical studies, with emphasis on in vivo animal experiments, surgical procedures, imaging-based assessments, histology, and supporting molecular assays.
3. Contribute to study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, troubleshooting, assay validation, and maintenance of accurate research records.
4. Work closely with research team members, core facilities, collaborators, clinicians, and external partners to deliver project aims.
5. Prepare manuscripts, abstracts, reports, conference presentations, grant-related documents, and ethics/regulatory submissions, and guide junior lab members and students where required.
6. Perform other related duties as assigned by the Principal Investigator.

Qualifications

The applicant should:

1. PhD or MD from a reputable university in Biomedical Sciences, Life Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Medicine, or a related discipline. Expertise in orthopaedic animal models and hands-on experience in live animal work and surgical procedures are essential.
2. Competency in relevant laboratory, analytical, and computational techniques, including molecular assays, histology, imaging-based analysis, statistical analysis, and/or omics-based approaches would be advantageous.
3. Clear research aptitude, analytical judgement, scientific writing ability, and communication skills, with a disciplined approach to documentation, data integrity, and reproducibility.
4. Ability to manage multiple priorities, work under pressure, and deliver reliably in a fast-paced research and administrative environment.
5. Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, with initiative, accountability, and strong sense of responsibility.

Formal application: Please submit your application, indicating current/expected salary, supported by a detailed CV (including personal particulars, academic and employment history, complete list of publications/oral presentations and full contacts of 3 referees by 30062026 to the NUS Career Portal.

Remuneration will commensurate with the candidate’s qualifications and experience. We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.