Research Assistant – Coral Reef Science

About the role

The Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS) at Nanyang Technological University conducts research on natural hazards, climate and environmental change, with a strong focus on Southeast Asia. The Coral Reef Eco-Geomorphology Group combines field ecology, scientific diving, photogrammetry and quantitative analysis to understand how reef structure and ecological function influence coral‑reef resilience. We are seeking a Research Assistant to support a regional programme investigating coral reefs across South and Southeast Asia.

Key responsibilities

• Plan and conduct coral‑reef field surveys and coordinate logistics, equipment, safety documentation, permits and local collaborators.
• Lead underwater photogrammetry and associated ecological data collection using approved scientific‑diving procedures.
• Process imagery in Agisoft Metashape to produce quality‑controlled 3D models, orthomosaics and analytical outputs.
• Maintain documented, secure and quality‑controlled databases for imagery, metadata, models and derived ecological datasets.
• Analyse reef structure and ecological function and contribute to figures, reports, presentations and peer‑reviewed publications.
• Support team training, equipment maintenance and other project duties assigned by the PI.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in marine biology, marine science, ecology, environmental science or a related field.
• Demonstrated coral‑reef fieldwork and scientific‑diving experience; Divemaster‑level certification or above is strongly preferred.
• Experience with underwater photogrammetry and Agisoft Metashape, including generation and quality control of 3D model outputs.
• Working knowledge of coral‑reef ecology and basic coral identification.
• Strong database‑management, organisational, analytical and communication skills, with the ability to work in remote locations and diverse international teams.
• Experience contributing to scientific publications and presentations is preferred.

Required skills

• Agisoft Metashape
• Underwater photogrammetry
• Database management