Application Guide
How to Apply for Principal/ Lead/ Senior Scientific Officer (Epidemiological & Outbreak Research)
at Singapore Government, Communicable Diseases Agency
🏢 About Singapore Government, Communicable Diseases Agency
The Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) is Singapore's central authority for public health policymaking, operating as a statutory board under the Ministry of Health. What makes CDA unique is its direct impact on national and global health security through real-time disease surveillance, outbreak investigations, and vaccination programs. Working here offers the opportunity to contribute to Singapore's renowned public health system while collaborating internationally on communicable disease control.
About This Role
This Principal/Lead/Senior Scientific Officer role focuses on epidemiological and outbreak research, involving strategic collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to answer critical infectious disease questions. The position is impactful because it directly informs Singapore's public health policies through data analysis, predictive modeling, and research that guides outbreak response strategies and preventive measures.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day involves analyzing real-time surveillance data to monitor disease trends, meeting with clinicians and scientists to design outbreak investigation studies, and developing predictive models for disease transmission scenarios. You might also be preparing grant applications, reviewing literature on emerging pathogens, and presenting findings to inform public health decisions.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Singapore Government, Communicable Diseases Agency Is Looking For
- Has 5+ years of hands-on experience managing large-scale epidemiological datasets (like national surveillance systems or outbreak databases) and performing complex disease surveillance analyses
- Demonstrates proven ability to create and validate predictive models for infectious disease transmission using statistical software (R, Python, SAS) and epidemiological methods
- Possesses experience preparing successful research grant applications for infectious disease studies, including designing protocols and coordinating multi-institutional collaborations
- Has presented original research at international scientific conferences (like International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases or similar) and published in peer-reviewed epidemiology journals
📝 Tips for Applying to Singapore Government, Communicable Diseases Agency
Quantify your experience with epidemiological datasets - specify the size (e.g., 'managed national surveillance data covering 5 million records'), types (clinical, laboratory, demographic), and analytical methods used
Highlight specific infectious disease outbreaks you've investigated or modeled (e.g., COVID-19, dengue, influenza) and the public health impact of your findings
Include examples of successful grant applications you've prepared, specifying the funding agency, amount secured, and how the research addressed communicable disease priorities
Demonstrate knowledge of Singapore's public health landscape by referencing specific CDA initiatives like the National Immunisation Registry or Disease Outbreak Response System
Showcase your ability to translate complex epidemiological findings into actionable recommendations for policymakers and clinicians
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Your experience with infectious disease surveillance systems and how you've used data to inform public health decisions during outbreaks", "Specific predictive modeling projects you've led for disease transmission and how the findings were applied in real-world settings", 'Your track record of successful interdisciplinary collaboration with clinicians, scientists, and statisticians on communicable disease research', "How your research grant experience aligns with CDA's priorities in outbreak investigation and prevention"]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → CDA's recent outbreak response initiatives and published surveillance reports (check their website and Ministry of Health publications)
- → Singapore's communicable disease priorities and current epidemiological trends (dengue, COVID-19, antimicrobial resistance patterns)
- → CDA's international collaborations and partnerships with organizations like WHO and regional health agencies
- → Singapore's public health infrastructure, including the National Centre for Infectious Diseases and public health laboratories
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Focusing only on academic research without demonstrating how findings translate to public health action or policy impact
- Presenting generic statistical analysis experience without specific examples related to infectious disease epidemiology or outbreak investigation
- Failing to show understanding of Singapore's unique public health context and CDA's role as a statutory board under MOH
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Singapore Government, Communicable Diseases Agency!