| Position | Research Assistant |
| Department | Tuberculosis Group |
| Location | This post is based in OUCRU Ho Chi Minh City |
| Hours of work | Full-time |
| Tenure | Initially for 1 year, including a 2-month probation period, including a 2-month probation period. The project last for 18 months, with possibility of extension |
| Reporting to | Dr. Le Thanh Hoang Nhat, Lead of Data team |
| Vacancy reference | JD-1224-029 |
| Background | The Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) is a large-scale clinical and public health research unit, with sites offices in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in Vietnam, Jakarta in Indonesia and Kathmandu in Nepal. In Vietnam, we are hosted by the Hospital of Tropical Diseases (HTD) in Ho Chi Minh City, and the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases (NHTD) in Hanoi. OUCRU Nepal has partnerships with the Patan Academy of Health Sciences and Patan Hospital, and OUCRU Indonesia exists in partnership with the University of Indonesia. As a Wellcome Trust Africa Asia Programme, we have received considerable support from the Wellcome Trust since our establishment in 1991. OUCRU’s vision is to have local, regional and global impact on health by leading a locally driven research programme on infectious diseases in Southeast Asia. Priority is given to health issues important to the hospitals where we work, and to the countries as a whole where we operate: Vietnam, Indonesia, and Nepal. All work is intended not only to benefit the patients seen daily at our host hospitals, but also to help improve patient care. Please see more information on OUCRU website: www.oucru.org |
| Job summary | The TB group’s major research interests are improving TB diagnosis, treatment and identifying multi-drug-resistant TB by carrying out clinical trials of new diagnostic tests, therapeutic approaches, and novel vaccines. We also aim to understand how genetic variations in both host and pathogen influence disease presentations, treatment responses and outcomes. We are in collaboration with three hospitals in Vietnam (the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Pham Ngoc Thach Hospital and National Lung Hospital) and oversea institutions (Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Washington, California, Harvard, Melbourne, Radboud, Stellenbosch) to conduct clinical and laboratory studies. The TB group currently consists of six small teams, including Data team. Data team currently consists of two PhD students, three RAs, and one team leader. They are in charge of bioinformatics research and perform statistical analysis for various studies within TB group. We are seeking a motivated and talented individual to contribute to statistical analysis and bioinformatics, with a focus on investigating host responses associated with clinical phenotypes in patients with active TB. This work will utilize multi-omics studies conducted within the TB research group. |
| Key responsibilities and tasks | More specifically, the tasks involve: – Data Integration and Management: Curate, preprocess, and harmonize large proteomic, transcriptomic, and genomic datasets from diverse sources. Pipeline Development: Adapt existing bioinformatics pipelines and workflows, and optimize them for specific research questions. – Novel Methodologies: Develop and implement statistical and machine learning methods to analyze multi-omics datasets, with a focus on human. – Functional Interpretation: Use bioinformatics tools and resources to interpret results in the context of biological pathways, molecular mechanisms, and disease associations. – Quality Control: Perform quality control assessments for sequencing and proteomic data, ensuring data reliability and reproducibility. – Visualization and Reporting: Create informative visualizations of results and prepare technical reports, presentations, and publications. – Collaboration and Communication: Work closely with multidisciplinary teams, including wet-lab researchers and clinicians, to integrate computational insights with experimental data. – Database Management: Maintain and update databases relevant to the research project, ensuring data quality. Depending on qualifications, the research assistant may initially work under close supervision of the data team leader and receive thorough on-the-job training. Strong candidates will be encouraged to contribute to the bioinformatics research at TB group and to apply to the unit’s PhD program. |
| Selection criteria | Essential: – A BSc or Master’s degree in bioinformatics, molecular biology, biological sciences, computer science, mathematics, or data science. – Proficiency in R, Python, and Bash scripting for data analysis, database management, and pipeline development. – Solid understanding of statistical analysis principles. – Strong communication skills, with the capability to explain technical concepts clearly to interdisciplinary teams; both in Vietnamese and English (IELTS 6.5+). – Demonstrated willingness to learn, self-initiative, attention to detail, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently while critically addressing research challenges. Desired: – Experience in clinical research or biological sciences, with a focus on applying advanced statistical methods to complex datasets, such as time-to-event analysis or multi-omics integration. – Proficiency in bioinformatics and -omics technologies, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, or metabolomics, with familiarity in relevant biological databases and tools (e.g., ENSEMBL, KEGG, GO pathways, Reactome). – Experience with machine learning and AI techniques applied to biological data analysis. – Hands-on expertise in workflow automation and containerization technologies, including tools like Nextflow, Docker, or Singularity. |
| Benefits | – Contracted salary: $1,147 – $1,402 gross per month – Optional insurance : In-patient and out-patient medical coverage; Personal accident insurance coverage – Two months salary for annual bonus and clothes – Annual leave 18 days/year for the first year, a maximum of 30 days – Other responsibilities and benefits are based on Viet Nam Labor Law. |
| How to apply | Interested qualified candidates are invited to send their detailed resume and cover letter in English, including copies of relevant degrees, certificates, either by email or by post to the following address: Oxford University Clinical Research Unit Laboratory of Clinical Science Hospital for Tropical Diseases 764 Vo Van Kiet, Ward 1, District 5, HCMC Tel: 39237954 Email: hr@oucru.org * We thank all applicants for their interest, but only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview. |
| Contact person | Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Phuc |
| Deadline for submission | 05th Jan 2025 |