| Job title | Research Assistant (Biostatistics/Bioinformatics) |
| Group | Tuberculosis Group |
| Location | This post is based in OUCRU Ho Chi Minh City |
| Hours of work | Full-time |
| Tenure | This is a 1 year contracted position, including a 2 month probation period, with possibility of extension |
| Reporting to | Dr. Le Thanh Hoang Nhat, Lead of Data team |
| Vacancy reference | JDHCM-0126-002 |
| 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 closely collaborates with the National Academy of Medical Sciences in Kathmandu, 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 and treatment by carrying out clinical trials of new diagnostic tests and therapeutic approaches. 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 overseas 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 one PhD student, 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 person who will contribute to the biostatistics and bioinformatics with a primary focus on tuberculosis (TB), including pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and tuberculous meningitis (TBM). The post holder will work with moderate independence to conduct statistical analyses and bioinformatic workflows for multi-omics and clinical datasets, while receiving scientific guidance from senior team members. The role aims to deliver robust statistical analyses, reproducible bioinformatic pipelines, and high-quality outputs suitable for peer-reviewed publications and competitive grant applications. |
| Key responsibilities and tasks | 1. Statistical analysis – Conduct statistical analyses for clinical and observational studies under an agreed analysis plan. – Apply regression models, basic mixed-effects models, and longitudinal analyses with supervision. – Perform data quality control, exploratory data analysis, and result validation. – Contribute to the interpretation of results with guidance from senior analysts. 2. Bioinformatics analysis – Analyze biological datasets such as bulk RNA-seq, proteomics, or metabolomics data. – Run and adapt established bioinformatic pipelines. – Perform standard downstream analyses, including differential analysis, pathway enrichment, and basic network analysis. – Support integration of multiple data types. 3. Research collaboration – Work closely with clinicians, and laboratory scientists to understand datasets and research questions. – Contribute figures, tables, and analytical summaries for manuscripts, reports, and presentations. – Participate in internal and external scientific discussions related to assigned projects. 4. Reproducibility and data management – Write clear, reproducible analysis code using R and/or Python. – Maintain documentation, version control, and organized project structures. – Adhere to OUCRU and funder data governance and ethical requirements. 5. Capacity building and development – Support junior team members or interns on specific analytical tasks when appropriate. – Actively develop skills in advanced statistical or bioinformatic methods. – Contribute to group training activities and shared analytical resources. |
| Selection criteria | Essential – BSc or Master’s degree in biostatistics, bioinformatics, computational biology, epidemiology, computer science, mathematics, medicine or a related quantitative discipline. – Experience programming in Python and R for data analysis. – Appropriate English language proficiency (IELTS 6.5 or above, or equivalent). – Experience in biostatistics and/or bioinformatics research. – Knowledge of the principles of statistical analysis. – Good communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to researchers from different disciplinary backgrounds. – Strong critical thinking and analytical problem-solving skills, with a willingness to learn and develop, self-initiative, and attention to detail. Desirable – Experience in clinical research and/or basic science research. – Familiarity with statistical methods for complex and high-dimensional data structures. – Experience working with at least one type of omics data (e.g. RNA-seq, proteomics, metabolomics, genomics). – Experience in machine learning and AI. – Knowledge of database management. – A strong and competitive academic trajectory from highschool education to undergraduate study is considered an advantage. |
| Benefits | – Salary ranges: 1,094 – 1,325 USD 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 candidates are invited to send curriculum vitae, application and copies of relevant certificates, by email to: 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 candidates for their interest but only short-listed applicants will be notified for interview. |
| Contact person | Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Phuc |
| Deadline for submission | 27th Febuary 2026 |