Research Fellow, Viral Immunopathogenesis [LKCMedicine] Full-time

Research Fellow Position

The Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine), a partnership between Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) and Imperial College London, is committed to training doctors who place patients at the centre of exemplary care. Guided by its vision to redefine medicine and transform healthcare, LKCMedicine advances research through impactful discoveries with national and global relevance. The School's research focuses on five key areas: Neuroscience and Mental Health, Population and Global Health, Respiratory and Infectious Diseases, Nutrition, Metabolism and Health, and Skin Diseases and Wound Repair. These programmes address Singapore's evolving healthcare needs, including those of a rapidly ageing population, and are supported by cross cutting strengths in Data Science, Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, and Microbiome Medicine.

The JChen Lab, led by Dr. Weiqiang (Javier) Chen, Assistant Professor of Viral Immunopathogenesis, is part of the Respiratory and Infectious Diseases programme and is building a dynamic and interdisciplinary research environment to uncover how viral infections drive inflammation, neurological injury, and musculoskeletal disease. The lab integrates molecular virology, immunology, and advanced disease models to investigate how emerging viral infections reprogram host immune responses and disrupt tissue homeostasis across organ systems, with a central focus on viral immunopathogenesis and host responses.

We are seeking a motivated Research Fellow to join the JCHEN Lab, which studies how viral infections disrupt immune homeostasis to cause inflammation, neurological injury, and bone pathology, especially in ageing. The role supports our mission to uncover mechanisms of viral disease and develop therapeutic strategies.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, execute, and manage independent research projects from conception through data analysis and manuscript preparation
• Conduct experimental research to a high standard in accordance with institutional biosafety, animal ethics, and research integrity guidelines
• Develop and optimize experimental protocols involving molecular and cellular biology, virology, and animal disease models
• Analyze and interpret complex datasets and present findings at lab meetings, institutional seminars, and scientific conferences
• Prepare manuscripts, grant related documents, and progress reports in a timely and professional manner
• Supervise and mentor junior researchers, students, and technicians, fostering a collaborative and productive laboratory culture
• Contribute to the overall scientific operations of the laboratory, including experimental planning, reagent management, and shared resources
• Actively engage in interdisciplinary collaborations within NTU and with external partners

Key Competencies and Requirements:

• PhD in Microbiology, Immunology, Virology, Molecular Biology, or a related biomedical science discipline
• Relevant postdoctoral or equivalent research experience in infectious disease research, with expertise in viral pathogenesis or host immune responses preferred
• Strong hands-on experience with virology techniques, including virus culture, viral quantification, plaque assays, and molecular approaches such as qPCR, Western blot, and flow cytometry
• Demonstrated expertise in cellular and molecular immunology assays, including immune cell phenotyping and functional analyses
• Experience with next generation sequencing approaches (e.g. bulk RNA sequencing and single cell RNA sequencing) and associated data analysis
• Familiarity with bioinformatics tools and pipelines for analysis and interpretation of high dimensional datasets
• Familiarity with biosafety level 2 and biosafety level 3 laboratory practices and compliance with institutional and national safety regulations
• Proven ability to design, execute, and interpret experiments independently and contribute to scientific publications
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to present research findings and collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams
• Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects and timelines
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative research environment
• Experience in mentoring junior researchers or students is advantageous
• Experience with interdisciplinary or international collaborations is desirable

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

Hiring Institution: LKC