Senior Scientific Officer (Diagnostics Evaluation)

What the role is

You will lead a core team of scientists for the diagnostics validation section of the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) Research Laboratory.

The CDA is a new government agency that is being established by the Ministry of Health (MOH) to oversee Singapore’s communicable disease preparedness, prevention and control, surveillance, risk assessment and outbreak response. The CDA Research Laboratory’s role is to conduct research that can inform public health policies and clinical guidelines via in-house or commissioned projects. The CDA Research Laboratory’s diagnostic validation section focuses on developing, evaluating and validating diagnostics for new and emerging pathogens (including virus, bacteria, fungi).

You will be working in a fast-paced and dynamic environment that would require the ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders at the same time.

What you will be working on

• Establish and lead diagnostic validation section of CDA Research Laboratory.
• Ensure technical competency and proficiency of laboratory staff of diagnostic validation section.
• Ensure laboratory equipment and processes comply with national and international technical and biosafety standards.
• Work with relevant public health surveillance and national programmes in developing research projects.
• Ensure diagnostic validation section is able to respond rapidly to a nationally important outbreak.
• Participate in national and international collaboration and networks which are critical in outbreak response.
• Recruit and train laboratory staff.
• Design laboratory standard operating procedures.
• Conduct in-house research as well as collaborate in research that may involve external partners within Singapore.
• Work with public health surveillance and national programmes to develop key research questions, plan operational research activities that may be conducted in-house or via commissioning external partners with relevant expertise.
• Participate in and contribute to national and international collaboration and network.

What we are looking for

• Minimally Ph.D. in relevant field.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience.
• ISO/IEC experience preferred.
• Scientific expertise in diagnostics methodology and technologies.
• Experience in developing diagnostics for new and emerging pathogens (e.g., viruses, bacteria, fungi).
• Ability to build and manage a core team.
• Ability to engage stakeholders.
• Experience in analysing and communicating research outcomes.

As part of the shortlisting process for this role, candidates may be required to complete a medical declaration and/or undergo further assessment.