Job Description

We are looking to appoint an experienced and enthusiastic Postdoctoral Research Fellow for 2 years (with a possible extension up to 4 years) who will conduct independent and collaborative research (including on the CREPSING project - Collective Reflective Equilibrium in Practice - Singapore, led by Prof Julian Savulescu), as well as serve as Senior Lab Manager of the EARP Lab (Experimental Bioethics, Artificial Intelligence, and Relational Moral Psychology Lab) led by A/Prof Brian D. Earp, within the Centre for Biomedical Ethics (CBmE), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS).

The position is 70% research supervised by both Prof Savulescu and A/Prof Earp, broadly looking at ethics of, and public attitudes toward, novel technologies -- such as AI and genetic testing -- from both a philosophical and moral psychology perspective; and 30% lab management in close collaboration with A/Prof Earp (involving research coordination, planning, design and maintenance of lab quality standards, survey design and programming, data analysis, manuscript drafting and submission, website management, mentorship of junior lab members, and miscellaneous admin as required by the EARP Lab director).

The 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. CBmE, directed by Prof Julian Savulescu, is a thriving centre for learning, teaching and research relating to ethical and legal aspects of healthcare and biomedical sciences.  We are responsible for the development and delivery of the Health Ethics, Law and Professionalism programme through all five years of the undergraduate medical curriculum in addition to the postgraduate and continuing professional education courses in bioethics. Accordingly, there may be some teaching opportunities for this position, though the focus is research. You can find out more about CBmE here: https://medicine.nus.edu.sg/cbme/. The goal of Prof Savulescu and his team is to reinforce and grow CBmE’s reputation as a world-leading Centre of medical and bioethics with a vibrant culture and strong international, particularly Asian, presence.

The Fellow will form an active part of a vibrant Centre. The main focus of this position is research, with an expectation that the Fellow will lead on publication of at least 4 co-authored professional publications per year of employment, primarily in Q1 journals, in philosophy, psychology, and/or bioethics, working in close collaboration with Profs Earp and Savulescu. The Fellow will receive excellent mentorship and enjoy active collaboration with field-leading researchers The Fellow will also have opportunities to support key aspects of CBmE’s other activities, which include teaching, graduate supervision, support for CBmE courses, outreach and public engagement.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Research (70%)

• Produce as lead author at least four jointly authored publications each year; this should be high-quality research relevant to the position’s goals and proposed outcomes. All co-authorship will comply with the definition of author and co-author as defined by the journal in question and best practice in publication as detailed in guidelines issued by, for example, the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (http://www.icmje.org/)
• Collaborative research will include the provision of research assistance as required by the supervisors (significant, substantive assistance on papers the Fellow is not otherwise leading on may warrant middle co-authorship)
• Undertake comprehensive and systematic literature reviews as needed
• Assist with (research, co-design, and draft) grant applications consistent with Centre priorities
• Assist with applying for ethics approval and preparing relevant reports to the Institutional Review Board and funding agencies, as required.
• Present work for feedback and dissemination at workshops or conferences locally and/or internationally
• From time to time present papers at Centre seminars, national conferences or public meetings to disseminate research findings
• Contribute to public engagement, policy and outreach work, including by writing occasional blog posts or op eds, preparing material for websites, etc.

• Support funder relations as requested by supervisors, incl. preparation of reports
• Fully participate in the academic activities of CBmE, such as attending regular seminars and invited lectures, supporting arrangements for those and the organisation of other events

Lab Management (30%)

• Assist with planning and organisation of lab meetings, workshops, visiting scholars, conferences and other lab-related events
• Manage lab calendar and email lists, coordinate and send invites for lab meetings
• Coordinate strategic meetings with international collaborators (across time zones)
• Update EARP Lab handbook and guidelines (standard operating procedures)
• Assist PhD and honours students with their projects as needed (e.g., help with code, advise on study design, etc.)
• Build prereading for EARP Lab potential joiners; support onboarding/mentorship
• Propose new solutions to store/track data within the lab as lab expands (e.g., shared Github, common references base)
• Maintain and update EARP Lab website (including publications/outputs page)
• Aid in preparation and submission of manuscripts for A/Prof Earp
• Digital/creative support (e.g., editing videos or podcast material)
• Miscellaneous admin as required by A/PRof Earp to further the goals of the Lab

The Research Fellow may carry out a limited amount of independent research at the discretion of the Supervisors, ideally on themes of interest to the project, and subject to satisfactory progress with collaborative research.

Qualifications

The selection process will be on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Start date is flexible but the successful candidate should ideally commence no later than 15 November 2025 and will need to be physically resident in Singapore. Applicants will be evaluated based on the following selection criteria:

1. Essential criteria

• Hold, or be close to completion of, the degree of PhD (or equivalent qualification) in philosophy, experimental psychology, experimental philosophy, empirical or applied bioethics, or another area closely related from an internationally reputable university.
• Proven excellent qualitative and quantitative research skills and ability to draft creative, well-argued manuscripts in a timely manner.
• Knowledge in experimental design, computer and study programming, statistical analysis (e.g., knowledge of Qualtrics, R, Python, etc., with strong statistical theory).
• An outstanding research record appropriate to the present stage of career, with evidence of potential for producing distinguished research.
• Ability to quickly assimilate information and produce accurate summaries of information reviewed, and to critically appraise scientific (empirical) literature.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills; excellent English writing skills.
• Excellent organisation, administrative/leadership and time-management skills
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a collaborative research team, ideally across disciplines

2. Desirable criteria

• Proven track record of publication in Q1 journals as lead author, including experimental psychology, philosophy, and/or bioethics journals
• Experience in integrating empirical research findings with ethical analyses
• Interest and experience in public/media engagement (e.g., editing videos or podcast material)
• Experience of writing or contributing to successful grant applications.
• Experience of liaising with funding bodies

NUS offers highly competitive remuneration packages. The successful applicant will be offered an annual salary plus benefits commensurate with his or her experience and expertise and will have access to travel support to disseminate research outcomes at international academic conferences. Please submit your application containing the following:

• A cover letter with statements that address each of the key selection criteria above
• Curriculum vitae with contact details of three referees
• A writing sample (sole authored peer-reviewed publication strongly preferred)
• Current and expected salary

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 : 29958