Research Fellow (CBmE)

Job Description

The NUS Centre for Biomedical Ethics (CBmE) was established in September 2006 in the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine through a generous gift by the Chen Su Lan Trust. We work to develop understanding, capacity for good judgement, and sound ethical practice in the context of healthcare provision, biomedical science and health-related policy development.

CBmE is a thriving centre for learning, teaching and research relating to ethical and legal aspects of healthcare and biomedical sciences. We study issues of broad international significance with a particular interest in learning for and from Singapore and Asia.

We are looking to appoint an experienced and enthusiastic Postdoctoral Research Fellow (there are 2 vacancies) under the new MOH-NUS Fellowship Scheme to join the NUS CBmE on the CENTRES (Clinical Ethics Network + Research Ethics Support) project.  Funded by the Ministry of Health, CENTRES is a networking and training platform to enhance capabilities of healthcare professionals and clinical ethics committees in Singapore. The post would suit a naturally collaborative, self-motivated researcher who can conduct research and develop scholarship in bioethics and healthcare policy at the CBmE

Description

The project will involve research on topics involving clinical and research ethics, as well as evaluation of educational programmes and ethical guidelines. Potential foci might include, but are not limited to:

• Emerging issues in clinical and research ethics, such as precision medicine (including genetic testing, genomics, digital health) and AI. 
• The role, effectiveness, and consistency of decision-making by clinical ethics committees and institutional review boards
• Assessing the moral distress experienced by members of clinical ethics committees as they deliberate upon complex life and death care decisions such as withholding and withdrawing treatment that could shorten a patient’s life

This project entails collaboration with local partners (healthcare institutions, healthcare professionals, academic colleagues, policymakers) and other key Asian partners as it develops.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of the candidate are:

1. Conduct literature reviews, including collation and synthesis of the literature
2. Work with the PI to identify and analyse appropriate topics for analysis
3. Design, conduct and analyse qualitative data from interviews and focus groups
4. Support the design and interpretation of quantitative survey data
5. Assist with applying for ethics approval and preparing regular reports to the Institutional Review Board and funding agencies, as required.
6. Contribute to and lead (where appropriate) conceptual research, manuscript development, writing, editing and publication submission.
7. Present work for feedback and dissemination at workshops or conferences locally and/or internationally

Qualifications

The position is a 2-year full-time appointment at the academic rank of Research Fellow. There are 2 vacancies for this position. An option to renew the appointment for another 1 year will depend on performance. There is the possibility to move to tenure track depending on performance. Start date is flexible but the successful candidate should ideally commence no later than 1 Jun 2024. Applicants will be evaluated based on the following selection criteria:

Essential criteria

• A PhD in a discipline relevant to bioethics (e.g., philosophy, law, sociology, or political science) from a reputable university.
• Demonstrated knowledge of ethical issues in clinical and/or research ethics, and healthcare policy
• Experience in integrating empirical research findings with ethical analyses
• Proven track record of publication in the field of bioethics
• Exemplary written English and oral communication skills
• Excellent organization and management skills
• Demonstrated aptitude for collaborative as well as independent work

Additional Criteria

Desirable criteria

• Track record in research on ethical issues in clinical and/or research ethics, and healthcare policy
• Demonstrable experience of skills in conducting and analysing qualitative research.

More Information

Location: Kent Ridge Campus

Organization: Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine

Department : Dean-Med-Centre for Biomedical Ethics

Employee Referral Eligible: No

Job requisition ID : 26184