Job Summary
The Berkley Educational Alliance for Research in Singapore Ltd. (BEARS) is a not-for profit entity incorporated in Singapore, managed by the University of California, at Berkeley (UCB) and funded by Singapore’s National Research Foundation. Its purpose is to carry out multi-year research projects in collaboration with universities and agencies in Singapore.
We are looking for a highly motivated person to fill the position of Postdoctoral Scholar to conduct and support the research work in the project “AxCIS Lab – AI xploration of Catalysis with Inorganics and Surfaces,” which is being performed in a collaboration between Nanyang Technological University (NTU), National University of Singapore (NUS), and BEARS. The Postdoctoral Scholar will have the opportunity to work closely with BEARS and NTU/NUS PIs and research staff to contribute to achieving the overall objectives of the research programme.
We are seeking a highly motivated and visionary materials scientist for the role of Junior Group Leader to lead the development of an autonomous laboratory for catalysis . This position is designed for a candidate transitioning from postdoctoral research to early-stage academic leadership, with the opportunity to shape and direct a cutting-edge research program at the interface of materials chemistry, high-throughput synthesis, AI, and robotic automation.
The Junior Group Leader will work closely with senior faculty while progressively taking on more independent responsibilities, including supervision of junior researchers, lab setup, and project leadership.
Duties & Responsibilities:
- Establish and manage an autonomous catalysis laboratory , integrating robotic platforms, AI-driven planning, and high-throughput experimentation for catalyst discovery and optimization.
- Supervise and mentor a small team of research staff, Ph.D. students, and interns, ensuring a collaborative and productive research environment.
- Develop and implement research protocols for accelerated synthesis and characterization of catalytic materials.
- Contribute to proposal writing and take principal investigator responsibility for specific grants where appropriate.
- Coordinate with external collaborators and consortia , including partners in academia, industry, and national laboratories.
- Disseminate research outputs through high-impact publications, presentations, and data releases in accordance with open science practices.
Qualifications:
- Ph.D. in Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
- Demonstrated experience in catalysis, solid-state synthesis, or materials discovery.
- Proficiency with automation, machine learning, and/or autonomous experimentation workflows.
- Strong publication record and experience with grant writing or project management.
- Excellent communication and team leadership skills.
