Research Fellow/Senior Research Fellow [LKCMedicine] Full-time

Research Fellow/Senior Research Fellow

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. Graduates from the five-year undergraduate medical degree programme will have a strong understanding of the scientific basis of medicine, with an emphasis on technology, data science and the humanities.

Research in the laboratory of Prof. Wolfrum aims at unveiling the cellular and transcriptomic differences that are responsible for the obesity and type two diabetes driven heterogeneity in metabolic phenotypes found between individuals, ethnicities, e.g. Caucasians vs. Asians and sexes. One focus is the disturbance of adipose tissue function caused by changes in the amount and types of cells found in healthy vs. diseased adipose tissue as well as altered gene expression. Another main research topic is metabolic flexibility in particular energy expenditure via engagement of futile cycling to waste/eliminate excess energy.

We are looking for a Research Fellow/Senior Research Fellow to work on the discovery and functional validation of novel mitochondria-derived micropeptides that modulate energy expenditure in adipose tissue (AT). The key aspects of this project are aimed at a) identifying existing endogenous mitochondrial peptides encoded by small open reading frames in AT and b) subsequent characterization of their function thereby filling a critical gap between molecular discovery and systemic level metabolic understanding. The ultimate goal of this approach is to explore the role of micropeptides as signaling molecules mediating cross-tissue adaptive responses between AT and other metabolically active sites with respect to energy homeostasis.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conceptualization, planning and execution of the project
• Candidate identification: Discovery of novel translated open reading frames in the mitochondrial genome across multiple mouse and human adipocyte cellular models
• Establish an integrative proteogenomics strategy combining ribosome profiling and mass spectrometry-based proteomics
• Apply molecular and cell biological approaches to mechanistically dissect the roles of selected mircro-peptides in mitochondrial function and cellular energy metabolism.
• Elaborate on the source of micro-peptides
• Widen the scope of translational analysis to other organs, including the liver and muscles.

Key Competencies and Requirements:

• PhD in Life Sciences, e.g. biology, molecular biology, biomedical sciences, biotechnology or related field
• At least 3 years of relevant experience in metabolic research in adipose tissue is advantageous
• Technical hands-on experience in proteomics and transcriptomics is advantageous
• Proficiency in micro peptide research is advantageous
• Good written and oral communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work independently and within a multidisciplinary team
• Strong work ethic and highly motivated
• Accurate & precise record keeping abilities.

We regret to inform that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

Hiring Institution: LKC