Research Assistant (Cognitive Ageing and Community Dementia Research)

Job Description

The National University of Singapore invites applications for a Research Assistant to support community-based studies on cognitive ageing, dementia risk detection, dementia prevention, and long-term follow-up of older adults.

The successful candidate will assist with participant recruitment and follow-up, cognitive and functional assessments, data collection, study coordination, and liaison with participants, caregivers, community partners, and the study team.

Appointment will be on a 1-year contract basis, with the possibility of renewal subject to performance and funding availability.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The Research Assistant will:

1. Assist with screening, recruitment, informed consent, scheduling, and follow-up of study participants.
2. Conduct or assist with cognitive, functional, behavioural, lifestyle, and health-related assessments according to study protocols.
3. Administer questionnaires and structured interviews with participants and, where required, caregivers or informants.
4. Maintain screening, enrolment, follow-up, and assessment logs.
5. Support long-term participant follow-up, including tracking visit completion, retention status, refusals, withdrawals, and uncontactable participants.
6. Perform data collection, data entry, data checking, and basic data summaries.
7. Maintain study documents and ensure confidentiality of participant and study data.
8. Liaise with community partners, study sites, and internal team members to support smooth study operations.
9. Assist with preparation of study materials, logistics, meetings, and other project-related tasks as assigned.

Qualifications

Applicants should have:

1. A Bachelor’s degree in psychology, life sciences, nursing, public health, social sciences, allied health, or a related discipline.
2. Good interpersonal, organisational, and communication skills.
3. Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
4. Meticulousness in following study procedures and handling research data.
5. Interest in ageing, cognition, dementia prevention, community health, or clinical research.

Prior experience in clinical research, cognitive assessment, community-based research, or working with older adults will be an advantage.

Language Requirements

 This role involves direct interaction with community-dwelling older adult participants in Singapore. While English proficiency is required for study documentation and team communication, many older participants may be more comfortable discussing study procedures, consent, scheduling, and assessments in Mandarin or other local languages. Mandarin proficiency is therefore strongly preferred to support clear participant communication and accurate study conduct. Ability to speak Chinese dialects, Malay, or Tamil would be an added advantage as it would further support communication with participants from diverse linguistic backgrounds. This requirement is based on the communication needs of the study population and is not intended to indicate preference for any race or nationality.  Proficiency in English is required. Proficiency in Mandarin is strongly preferred, as many study participants are older adults who may be more comfortable communicating in Mandarin. Ability to speak Chinese dialects, Malay, or Tamil would be an added advantage.

Other Requirements

The candidate should be willing to travel to community sites and may occasionally be required to work outside regular office hours or on weekends for study activities.

Application

Remuneration will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Informal enquiries may be made to Dr Yap Kwong Hsia at [email protected].

We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.