SIBER SRTT PI 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 PI (senior research fellow or senior principal scientist) with expertise in computational biology or systems biology to join our laboratory in A*STAR SIBER SRTT.

Job Description:

• Lead, design and perform 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 includes, 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.
• Develop applied research, translational and commercialisation strategies, in coordination with the SRTT leadership team.
• Work closely with the other SIBER SRTT team members across disciplines
• 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 PDRAs, 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.
• At least more than 12 years of postdoc experience or independent research experience and leading a research team.
• Strong background in current developments in computational biology and systems biology, including relevant aspects of AI/ML, with demonstrated capability for independently developing and applying state-of-the-art tools for concrete biological applications at the cutting edge of the field.
• Extensive 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 with at least five first-authored or last-authored papers in internationally recognised journals.
• 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.
• Strong supervisory skills.
• A strong interest in the translational and applied aspects of research, including collaborations with industrial partners.
• Experience in omics technologies, HTP automation facilities, data analysis using various software, state-of-art med-scale fermenters or scale-up fermenters and programming will 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.