Job Description

The focus of Professor Patani’s lab is understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underpinning motor neuron disease (ALS). The lab uses a variety of patient-derived iPSC lines to investigate disease-related events at the molecular level across different relevant cell types, including motor neurons, astrocytes and microglia.

The post holder will join an established and dedicated team of researchers using human induced pluripotent stem cells to study Motor Neuron Disease (ALS). The principal activity will be resolving the molecular basis of motor neuron degeneration, focusing on the relationship between genomic instability and aberrant RNA metabolism using established human stem cell models of ALS. The post holder will utilise state-of-the-art molecular methods combined with cutting-edge sequencing approaches (through a collaboration with the Boulton lab at the Francis Crick Institute) to explore the complex functional interaction between these processes. This role represents a compelling opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking, high-impact research projects within an intellectually stimulating, globally diverse scientific communit

Key Responsibilities

• Designing and managing a programme of research to meet agreed objectives.
• Working closely with experimental and data scientists in the group to ensure the progress of the project.
• Oversee the setting up and running of planned experiments, ensuring that experiments are appropriately supervised and supported.
• Ensuring that results are recorded, analysed, and written up in a timely fashion.
• Preparing and presenting findings of research activity to colleagues.
• To submit papers to appropriate journals and attend and present findings at appropriate conferences. 
• Training and supervising students and staff members on various techniques and the design of experimental protocols

Teaching, Research and Development

• Provision of teaching on topics related to the post holder’s work as requested by the line manager.
• Contributing to the department’s multidisciplinary research projects within the strategy.
• Preparing and analysing data for publications for dissemination of research and for presentation at international conferences as well as internal meetings at NUS, and meetings with external collaborators

General Duties

• Ensuring the highest standard of record keeping, maintaining accurate, complete, and up to date records.
• Ensuring confidentiality is maintained as applicable.
• Attending and contributing to Departmental, Institutional, and other meetings as appropriate.
• Acting at all times in accordance with the highest professional standards and ensuring that these are maintained in the delivery of all aspects of research.
• Ensuring that duties are carried out in a resource efficient way, and actively support NUS’ Sustainability Strategy, policies, and objectives.

The above description is not exhaustive, and the post-holder will be required to undertake any other duties as may reasonably be requested within the scope, spirit, and purpose of the post.  Job descriptions are reviewed on a regular basis including at the annual appraisal.  As duties and responsibilities change, the job description may be amended in consultation with the post-holder. 

Qualifications

• PhD degree in Biomedical sciences, Neuroscience, or another relevant area 
• Extensive knowledge of ALS
• Experience of iPSC differentiation and mouse models of ALS
• Experience of phenotyping iPSC-derived cells
• Experience of advanced molecular biology methods 
• Experience analysing RNAseq and/or high throughput imaging data 
• Experience handling human post-mortem tissue
• Experience writing/using computer code
• Experience supervising postgraduate students and/or staff 
• Experience presenting research findings at national and international conferences, seminars, and project meetings and an independent research reputation with evidence of national and international recognition of achievement within the field of molecular neuroscience 
• Evidence of a strong publication record in high impact journals

Skills and abilities

• Ability to organise own work without extensive supervision and prioritise own work in response to deadlines 
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong problem-solving abilities, proactive and resourceful, and able to act on your own initiative
• Interest in active role in young researcher supervision
• Interested in research and a commitment to supporting high quality research
• Good interpersonal skills with an ability to work co-operatively in a multidisciplinary setting, interact successfully with others, and learn new skills
• Experience lecturing on a university course 

More Information

Location: Kent Ridge Campus

Organization: Life Sciences Institute

Department : Research & Programmes

Employee Referral Eligible: No

Job requisition ID : 28355