Research Assistant/Project Officer (Animal Movement Ecology)

The Asian School of the Environment (ASE) at Nanyang Technological University is an interdisciplinary school that aims to be a world leader in environmental research focused on Asian environmental challenges. The ASE integrates earth and environmental life science, ecology, engineering and technology, human ecology, humanities, and the social sciences to address key issues of the environment and sustainability.

For more details, please view https://www.ntu.edu.sg/ase.

We are hiring a research assistant/project officer to provide operational support for the establishment and running of a new lab in movement ecology and conservation. The RA will be supporting a project on tracking shorebirds in Southeast Asia and other projects on tracking urban birds in Singapore. This role covers a variety of work and responsibilities, including field work, lab work, data management and administrative tasks.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide general administrative support and conduct procurement related to the lab’s ongoing research projects.
• Manage the inventory of laboratory and field consumables and oversee equipment maintenance
• Assist in applying for permits for fieldwork and import of specimens
• Assist in laboratory work, including identifying macrozoobenthic species from sediment samples and determining their biomass, and DNA metabarcoding.
• Support field operations, including bird catching and deployment of bird trackers in the field.
• Manage, curate, and maintain databases for research data and biological specimens.
• Assist in ensuring lab operations compliant with university health, safety, and environmental regulations.
• Write and update Risk Assessments and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for both lab work and fieldwork.
• Coordinate logistics of overseas fieldwork
• Provide training and technical support to students conducting research in the lab

Job Requirements:

• Possess a Polytechnic Diploma with 3 years of relevant working experience or Bachelor’s degree in Ecology, Environmental Science, Biology, Animal Behaviour, or a closely related field.
• Organized and meticulous, able to curate and manage large amounts of specimens and data.
• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Highly independent, proactive and a good team player

Preferred Qualifications (Advantageous but not required):

• Basic skills and experience in basic molecular taxonomy, such as DNA extraction, PCR, running gels, and processing of sequence data.
• Prior field experience in bird handling, including mist-netting, bird ringing, and tracker deployment.
• Familiarity with spatial data, GIS software or basic programming in R for handling ecological data
• Familiar with relational databases, data quality control and cleaning
• Familiar with local university’s administration, procurement systems and regulations

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