SIBER SRTT PDRA position in Computational biology or Systems Biology for initially 3 years with a possibility to extend the appointment for an additional 2 years.

A*STAR Strategic Research and Translational Thrusts (SRTTs) are mission-focused programmes in strategic and emerging areas that are cross-disciplinary and of wider strategic interest to A*STAR and Singapore. Set up to address ambitious technological challenges towards impactful outcomes, each SRTT is led by a Programme Director (PD) and is centrally facilitated and supported by A*STAR HQ.

The Singapore Integrative Biosystems & Engineering Research (SIBER) SRTT harnesses synthetic biology capabilities to aid the sustainable transformation of Singapore's Energy & Chemicals sector with the aim to expand to other sectors. It will create a synthetic biology platform initially for sustainable chemicals and fuels, powered by a unique organism library utilising the biodiversity of Singapore. SIBER's vision is to be a premier hub in industrial biotechnology innovation for the energy / chemicals as well as other sectors, empowering Singapore to seize opportunities in the future bioeconomy.

We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher with expertise in computational biology or systems biology to join our laboratory in A*STAR SIBER SRTT.

Job Description:

• Contribute to the development and application of state-of-the-art computational tools to direct and inform the microbial strain engineering and metabolic engineering activities of the SIBER SRTT experimental team to produce high-value chemicals in microbial cell factories. This can include, for example, computational approaches to genome mining and retro(bio)synthesis, metabolic pathway modelling and optimisation, protein structure design for novel and improved biochemical functionalities, and the analysis of omics profiles of engineered strains to drive further iterations of the design cycle. All of these should be empowered by the latest advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) where appropriate.
• Work closely with the PIs leading the computational work and with the other SIBER SRTT team members
• Apply for individual research grants as part of career development and apply proactively for research proposals
• Present findings at seminars, meetings and national / international conferences
• Write manuscripts for publication
• Contribute to mentorship of students, interns and technicians in the laboratory
• Be an excellent communicator and team player
• Build and maintain strong relationships with local and international research network

Requirements:

• PhD in Computational Biology, Systems Biology, Bioinformatics, Cheminformatics, or a related field.
• Strong background in current developments in computational biology and systems biology, including relevant aspects of AI/ML, with demonstrated capability for developing and applying state-of-the-art tools for concrete biological applications at the cutting edge of the field.
• Excellent understanding of the key concepts and techniques of synthetic biology / engineering biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, chemical engineering, and process engineering.
• Track record of peer-reviewed scientific publications in internationally recognised journals. Having at least one first-authored paper will be a plus.
• Dedication, motivation, creativity and passion for scientific research and continuous learning.
• Exceptional analytical, experimental design, technical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in communication, writing and editing scientific documents.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as collaboratively and efficiently in an interdisciplinary team.
• A strong interest in the translational and applied aspects of research, including collaborations with industrial partners.
• Experience in omics technologies, data analysis, Design of Experiments (DoE), metabolite modelling, programming will be a plus.
• Strong supervisory skills would be also be a plus.

We offer:

• A well-funded laboratory supported by A*STAR, the National Research Foundation (NRF) and industry to pursue a combination of exciting projects and your scientific interests.
• A nurturing, supportive and stimulating environment with close mentorship to develop your scientific career.
• Access to state-of-the-art technologies, scientific resources, core facilities and infrastructure housed within A*STAR to facilitate your research work.
• Access to collaborations with industrial partners to translate research findings to commercial applications and societal impact.

The above eligibility criteria are not exhaustive. A*STAR may include additional selection criteria based on its prevailing recruitment policies. These policies may be amended from time to time without notice. We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.