Research Fellow [LKCMedicine] Full-time

Colorectal Cancer Research Scientist

The Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine) trains doctors who put patients at the centre of their exemplary care. The School, which offers both undergraduate and graduate programmes, is named after local philanthropist Tan Sri Dato Lee Kong Chian. Established in 2010 by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, in partnership with Imperial College London, LKCMedicine aims to be a model for innovative medical education and a centre for transformative research. The School's primary clinical partner is the National Healthcare Group, a leader in public healthcare recognised for the quality of its medical expertise, facilities and teaching. The School is transitioning to an NTU medical school ahead of the 2028 successful conclusion of the NTU-Imperial partnership to set up a Joint Medical School. In August 2024, we welcomed our first intake of the NTU MBBS programme, that has been recently enhanced to include themes like precision medicine and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare, with an expanded scope in the medical humanities.

The Nutrition, Digestion, and Metabolism in A/Prof Sunny Wong's Lab focuses on understanding the interplay between diet, metabolism, microbiome, and disease, with a particular emphasis on colorectal cancer and metabolic disorders. The lab focuses on translational research, transforming fundamental research findings into tangible benefits for patients, Singapore, and the broader public.

The role will involve investigating the influence of modifiable environmental risk factors, dietary and metabolic interactions, and microbiome-driven mechanisms on CRC subtypes. Additionally, the position will focus on conducting in vivo and in vitro experiments, analyzing the gut microbiome, and evaluating immunological and metabolic responses in preclinical models.

Key Responsibilities:

• Responsible for conducting advanced cancer research in colorectal cancer, with a focus on tumor biology, molecular subtypes, and translational applications
• Design, plan and execute experiments using cancer models, including organoids, patient-derived xenografts (PDX), and functional genomics tools (e.g., CRISPR)
• Conduct animal studies with germ-free and conventional mice
• Perform high-dimensional data analysis (single-cell/spatial transcriptomics, genomics, metabolomics, immunoprofiling) and integrate findings with clinical datasets to identify biomarkers and therapeutic targets
• Collaborate closely with clinicians, cancer biologists and industry partners to ensure translational impact of research findings
• Contribute to grant applications and reports, ensuring timely delivery of milestones and deliverables
• Supervision of research assistants, graduated and exchange students
• Maintain compliance with institutional, ethical, and biosafety regulations in all research activities

Required educational qualification, experience, skills and competencies:

• PhD degree in Biological Sciences, Microbiology, Cancer Biology (Colorectal Cancer / Translational Oncology) or related field
• At least 2 years of relevant experiences in similar role, with hands-on expertise in microbiome research, molecular biology
• Familiarity with research methodologies and ethical guidelines related to clinical and animal studies
• Proficiency in multi-omics data analysis, and bioinformatics, preferably preferred
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently under strict timelines
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment and manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Entry level candidates are welcome to apply