[What the role is]

The mission of SFA is to ensure and secure a supply of safe food for Singapore. The National Centre for Food Science (NCFS) supports SFA’s vision of ensuring safe food for all by being a national reference laboratory on food science, conducting food safety monitoring to generate scientific data for risk assessment and enforcement of food regulations to protect consumer health. NCFS oversees the application of science and technology to enable an evidence-based approach for ensuring food safety in partnership with stakeholders across the entire food chain and research institutions to address emerging food safety and security concerns.

You will be part of a dynamic team of Food Science Rapid Response Department (FSRRD) under NCFS to develop rapid diagnostic methods for foodborne pathogen detections and conduct regulatory food testing to support SFA’s food safety regulatory programs, accelerate foodborne outbreak investigations and enhance surveillance and responses to (emerging) foodborne diseases. This position provides an opportunity for you to learn and apply a wide range of cutting-edge testing and diagnostic technologies to solve real world problems and safeguard the food safety for the locals. As a Scientist working in the Food Microbiology Team under FSRRD, you will also play a key role in strengthening and broadening the technical capabilities in fast and robust approaches to detect emerging or re-emerging foodborne pathogens and provided expert opinion to support the food safety risk assessment and review of technical standard and regulatory policy.

[What you will be working on]

• Conduct microbiological research projects that allow rapid detection of (emerging) microbials in food and related environmental samples to support food safety regulatory programs.
• Perform laboratory microbiological analytical testing and functions to ensure quality result outputs in accordance with laboratory quality management and to accelerate outcomes of foodborne outbreak investigations .
• Provide solutions and conduct validation studies on new technologies/tools that can strengthen laboratory productivity and capability, e.g. automation and digitisation.
• Conduct data analysis, scientific interpretations, and literature search for preparation of technical papers and provide updated scientific knowledge to support laboratory operations, risk assessment and policy review.
• Communicate scientific findings through presentations, scientific publications, and reports for different audiences, such as academia, scientists, policy maker, senior management and public at national and/or international platforms.
• Partake in activities related to laboratory quality assurance programs and laboratory safety, e.g. write/review SOPs, participate in international proficiency testing, and provide risk assessment of safety on new lab activities, to ensure that the overall laboratory practices are in compliances with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 quality standard and safety management.
• Provide support in routine laboratory operations, such as quality assurance programme, procurement of lab equipment and consumables, contract management, etc.
• Carry out administrative and laboratory duties as assigned by supervisor to maximize laboratory efficiency.

[What we are looking for]

• Ph.D, Master, BSc (Hons) with experience in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biological Science, or other relevant disciplines.
• Hands-on laboratory experience in (food) microbiology and molecular biology in diagnostics or research laboratory.
• Excellent writing and presenting abilities are essential.
• Must have a good mindset and time management skills to multitask in a fast-paced atmosphere and provide outcomes within stipulated deadline.
• Must be self-motivated, able to work independently, a team player, and be prepared to take on extra roles and responsibilities for the team/organization as and when needed.
• Experiences in preparing SOP, report, grant project proposal, and scientific presentations/publications would be an advantage.
• Working knowledge of advanced molecular biology techniques, including NGS instruments and bioinformatics analysis, would be beneficial.
• Knowledge of quality assurance program and ISO/IEC 17025:2017 laboratory quality system is an advantage but not a must.

Work Location

National Centre for Food Science, 7 International Business Park, Techquest, Singapore 609919.

We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified for the interview.