Research Assistant – Gut‑Brain Axis Lab

About the role

The Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine at NTU Singapore is seeking a Research Assistant to join the Hwei‑Ee Tan laboratory, which investigates gut‑brain communication using mouse models. The role involves supporting both curiosity‑driven basic research and translational studies on host‑microbe interactions.

Key responsibilities

• Design, execute and document experiments independently, focusing on mouse handling, behavioural assays and neuro‑biological techniques.
• Perform molecular biology and histology procedures, microscopy, calcium imaging, and functional recordings.
• Carry out animal surgeries, gnotobiotic studies and microbiome analyses.
• Analyse data, prepare figures and present results to the research team.
• Maintain laboratory equipment, manage reagents and support administrative tasks.
• Mentor junior members and collaborate with interdisciplinary colleagues.

Required profile

• Motivated candidate with prior experience in at least one of the listed technical areas.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong interest in gut‑brain axis, neuroscience or microbiome research.

Required skills

• Mice/rodent handling
• Animal surgery and dissection
• Optogenetics and chemogenetics
• Calcium imaging
• Gnotobiotic techniques
• Microbiome analysis
• Molecular biology
• Histology
• Microscopy
• Rodent behavioural assays
• Data analysis