Scientist (Immune-Microbiota Interactions), SIgN

The Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN) is seeking an exceptional, interdisciplinary postdoctoral fellow to join us in contributing to high-impact research on host-microbiome interactions.

The successful candidate will develop novel tools and research questions to target the role of maternal antibody secreting cells (ASCs) in mediating early life host-microbe homeostasis. They will work at the interface of immunology, microbiology, genomics, and translational biology and apply molecular, immunology, microbiology, and computational tools to interrogate mouse models and human samples.

This role is designed for an experienced researcher who loves team science and wants to expand their intellectual ownership, mentoring, and collaborative skills. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work alongside Dr. Meera Shenoy in SIgN and a dynamic new team, contributing to high-impact research in immunology and early life development. This role offers mentorship, exposure to cutting-edge technologies, and opportunities for taking the step towards scientific independence.

Key Responsibilities:  

Research Leadership:

• Take intellectual leadership of a maternal microbiota-reactive antibody program
• Define research priorities, milestones, and experimental strategy in alignment with broader SIgN and A*STAR research priorities
• Identify and develop novel scientific directions within maternal regulation of neonatal health

Team Contribution, Mentoring, and Collaboration:

• Provide scientific guidance to students and junior researchers
• Contribute to a collaborative, inclusive, and supportive lab community
• Participate in shared lab activities, training, and knowledge exchange
• Work closely with the PI and other team members to ensure rigorous, high-quality data and conclusions
• Collaborate on research projects with students and scientists to advance team science
• Engage with multidisciplinary collaborators across A*STAR, Singapore, and worldwide
• Present work accurately and professionally at internal meetings and scientific conferences

Investigate the role of maternal antibody secreting cells and antibodies in neonatal homeostasis:

• Conduct in vitro wet lab experiments, including cell culture, bacterial culture and genetic manipulation, antibody binding and functional assays, and clinical sample interrogation
• Conduct in vivo mouse model experiments, including mouse handling, procedures, breeding, and end-point sample harvesting, ensuring compliance with regulatory and ethical requirements
• Design, execute, optimize, analyse, and interpret a wide array of experiments, using techniques such as flow cytometry, microscopy, ELISA, and biochemical assays
• Handle and manage clinical samples, ensuring compliance with regulatory and ethical requirements
• Analyse data using a combination of field standard software, e.g. FlowJo for flow cytometry, and bioinformatics tools, e.g. data analysis pipelines and graphical presentation in R for microbiome and RNA sequencing data
• Work both independently and with a team of scientists to perform complex and intensive experiments that yield large, high-quality datasets

Data Integration, Analysis, Recordkeeping, and Scientific Writing

• Integrate experimental findings into the broader fields of mucosal immunology, maternal-neonatal health, etc.
• Maintain high standards of data quality, reproducibility, and documentation
• Maintain meticulous records of experiments and meetings
• Prepare figures, internal reports, and manuscripts for publication
• Lead, co-lead, and contribute to scientific publications arising from work
• Contribute to PI grant applications as well as submit independent fellowship and grant applications with PI support

Job Requirements:

• PhD in Biomedical Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Microbiology, Immunology, or a related field, with a proven track record in field of mucosal immunology
• Strong track record of peer-reviewed publication and fellowship applications appropriate to career stage
• Experience designing, executing, and optimizing experiments with a high degree of technical rigour
• Ability to work independently on defined projects while contributing effectively to a team-led research program
• Strong scientific communication skills, both written and oral
• Intellectual curiosity and ability to think strategically about experimental design and data interpretation
• Collaborative mindset and team spirit, with the ability to work effectively across disciplines
• Organised, self-motivated, and able to manage multiple workstreams with guidance and support
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with mucosal immunology and molecular biology techniques, e.g. flow cytometry, ELISA, Luminex, BCA, etc, and animal models
• A passion for learning new skills and tackling new challenges.

Preferred Experience:

• Expertise in bioinformatics and analysis tools (e.g., R programming, GraphPad Prism, Microsoft Excel, FlowJo, ImageJ, Imaris, etc).
• Experience with bacterial culture, cloning, and genetic manipulation
• Experience with protein techniques (e.g., protein purification, Western blot).

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a laboratory advancing cutting edge research into host-microbe interactions
• You are passionate about combining wet lab and computational research and being part of a dynamic team
• Access state-of-the-art facilities and technologies.
• Gain mentorship and professional development opportunities