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

A Research Fellow/ Post-doctoral position is available in the laboratory of Dr. Sing Yian CHEW (Nanyang Technological University, NTU) and Prof. Shawn JE (Duke-NUS) in Singapore, to a highly motivated candidate who has 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 who is 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 different local and overseas institutions (SMART/MIT, University of Osaka, Nagoya University, NUS).

Key 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 that are 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 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, complete curriculum vitae and addresses of three references in a single PDF document to Dr. Sing Yian CHEW ([email protected]) and Prof. Shawn Je ([email protected]).

We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.