Scientist/senior Scientist

**[What the role is]**

Purpose of Job
- Drive strategic research to improve resiliency of local farming.
- Establish R&D ecosystem with capability and capacity to develop and translate technology to the local agri-industry.
- Provide technical expertise to support policies and operations on urban agriculture in SFA.

**[What you will be working on]**

**Duties**
- Lead and conduct independent research to develop breeding plans for key urban agriculture crops focused on resilience, productivity, and adaptation to tropical systems.
- Manage full project workflows, including lab and field trials, logistics, procurement, and biosafety compliance.
- Incorporate advanced phenotyping and data tools, such as AI imaging, remote sensing, and environmental sensors, to accelerate selection and improve accuracy.
- Screen and evaluate global germplasm for traits of interest, supporting breeding diversity and goals.
- Design and oversee controlled environment and field experiments, ensuring quality data and robust trial designs.
- Maintain detailed records of research protocols, raw data, and analysis to support traceability and reproducibility.
- Align breeding outcomes with market trends and national food security objectives, translating findings into deployable solutions.
- Collaborate with IHLs and research partners on co-funded projects, capability development, and translational research to scale innovation for local agri-industry adoption.
- Build and guide multidisciplinary teams, including scientists and technical staff, to enhance SFA’s R&D capacity.
- Represent Singapore at international platforms, contributing expertise on crop R&D, seed innovation, and urban agriculture strategies.

**[What we are looking for]**

**Qualifications**
- Ph.D. in Plant Breeding, Plant Sciences or related field; or M.Sc. with at least 5 years of relevant hands-on experience in breeding, genomics, or translational crop research.
- Proven experience in breeding programs for _Brassica _leafy vegetables and/or tropical fruited vegetables under controlled and field environments.
- Strong background in trait evaluation, including plant architecture, stress resilience, disease resistance, and productivity traits relevant to urban and indoor farming systems.
- Proficient in classical and modern breeding techniques, including marker-assisted selection, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), genomic selection, ploidy manipulation, mutagenesis, and high-throughput phenotyping.
- Demonstrated ability to design, execute, and statistically analyse agronomic and molecular experiments across lab, greenhouse, and field settings.
- Experience managing large and complex datasets, including the use of statistical software (e.g., R, SAS) and data visualization tools.
- Strong track record in scientific writing, with peer-reviewed publications in plant breeding or genetics; experience in preparing technical reports, stakeholder presentations, and grant proposals.
- Proven ability to collaborate with academic institutions, industry partners, and government agencies on joint R&D and translational projects.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and project management skills; able to work independently and lead multidisciplinary teams

**Other Requirements**
- Excellent command of written and spoken English, with the ability to communicate complex scientific concepts clearly and effectively.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams and adapt to evolving project needs.
- Demonstrated analytical thinking and a systematic approach to problem-solving, coupled with strong leadership and project coordination capabilities.
- Able to work independently while contributing effectively in team settings, with a proven ability to engage and manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

**Work Location**
- National Centre for Food Science, 7 International Business Park, Singapore 609919