Job Description

We are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic Research Fellow to join the laboratory of Assistant Professor Yassine Cherrak within the Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. We are overall interested in understanding how enteric bacteria colonize the gastrointestinal tract and interact with the endogenous microbiota. A particular focus of the lab is to decipher the fitness traits of multidrug resistant gram-negative bacteria in the mammalian gut and identify potential probiotics strains preventing gut colonization of hard-to-eradicate strains.

Appointments will be made on a 1-year contract basis, with the possibility of extension or conversion into PhD studies. The salary package depends on experience and qualification.

The Research Fellow will be expected to:

• Develop and validate bacterial genetic tools and mutant collections, including targeted gene knockouts, transposon libraries, and/or barcoded mutant populations.
• Conduct in vivo studies using murine models of enteric colonization and infection, including experimental design, bacterial inoculation, animal monitoring, sample collection, and downstream microbiological and molecular analyses.
• Develop and apply in vitro and in vivo models to investigate host–microbe and microbe–microbe interactions in the gastrointestinal tract.
• Apply next-generation sequencing (NGS) approaches (whole genome sequencing, RNA-seq, Metagenomic) to investigate bacterial adaptation, gene expression, and fitness under different environmental and host-associated conditions.

• Experience with analysis and interpretation of NGS datasets would be an advantage.
• Ability to independently plan and execute experiments, troubleshoot technical challenges, and critically interpret experimental results.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to experimental detail, with the ability to maintain accurate and reproducible research records.

Qualifications

• PhD (Hons) or equivalent doctoral degree in Life Sciences, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biomedical Sciences, or a related discipline.
• Strong motivation and intellectual curiosity, with a demonstrated experience in bacterial metabolism, microbial genomics, and murine models of enteric infection.
• Ability to independently plan and execute experiments, troubleshoot technical challenges, and critically interpret experimental results.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to experimental detail, with the ability to maintain accurate and reproducible research records.
• Good written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present scientific findings clearly and contribute to scientific publications.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications and general IT/data-handling skills.
• A demonstrated track record of peer-reviewed scientific publications

Remuneration will be commensurate with the candidate’s qualifications and experience. Interested candidates, please send a detailed CV that includes work experience, education background and contact information of at least 3 references to Assistant Prof Yassine Cherrak (yassine.cherrak@nus.edu.sg). Please note that only short-listed candidates will be notified.