Job Description

Research Assistant/Associate Policy Analyst (Population Health Modelling)

The Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health (SSHSPH) at the National University of Singapore is seeking a full-time Research Assistant or Research Associate to contribute to the Personalised Outcomes in Populations for Upstream Prevention (POPUP) project. This role is part of Workpackage 1, which focuses on evaluating the long-term health and economic impact of preventive interventions for chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidaemia in Singapore’s ageing population.

The successful applicant will join a multidisciplinary team working at the interface of public health, epidemiology, and health economics. The role involves modelling chronic disease trajectories and lifecourse healthcare costs, contributing to evidence-informed policymaking for national population health strategies.

Key Responsibilities
• Adapt and extend microsimulation models (e.g. DEMOS, Future Elderly Model) using local health data;
• Conduct cost and cost-effectiveness analyses of chronic disease prevention strategies;
• Analyse large-scale datasets and contribute to model calibration and validation;
• Prepare policy-relevant outputs, including scenario analyses and sensitivity testing;
• Assist with literature reviews, methodological development, and manuscript preparation.

Qualifications and Experience
• A good bachelor’s or master’s degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. public health, epidemiology, health economics, statistics, quantitative social sciences, computer science);
• Proficiency in statistical or scientific computing languages such as R or Stata is required;
• Familiarity with microsimulation, cost-effectiveness modelling, or agent-based models is highly desirable;
• Experience with C++ or Python is highly desirable.

Attributes
• Strong analytic and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work with complex datasets;
• Demonstrated interest in population health, preventive care, or economic evaluation;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English are required, as the RAs will work closely with English-speaking stakeholders from local, regional, and international backgrounds;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team across disciplines.

Terms of Appointment
This is a full-time position based in Singapore, initially for one year, with potential for renewal based on performance and project needs. The grade of appointment will be commensurate with qualifications and relevant experience.

Application Instructions
Interested applicants should submit the following documents by email to Prof Alec Morton at a.morton@nus.edu.sg:
1. A brief cover letter (max 500 words) outlining relevant experience and motivation;
2. A two-page CV highlighting relevant skills and including contact details for two referees;
3. A sample of published work (if applicable), with a brief note on the applicant’s contribution.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an in-person interview. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

More Information

Location: Kent Ridge Campus

Organization: Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health

Department : Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health

Employee Referral Eligible: No

Job requisition ID : 29575