Job Description & Requirement

We seek an accomplished research leader with internationally recognised expertise in Food Materials Science, Food Structure Engineering, Food Processing and Structure–Function Relationships, Food Sensory, Food Oral Processing, or closely related disciplines. The successful candidate will establish and lead a globally competitive research programme that advances the science of food materials and structure design or food sensory science to address emerging challenges in nutrition, healthy ageing, sustainable food systems and future foods.

This is a strategic leadership appointment. The successful candidate is expected to provide scientific leadership for SIFBI's Food Science or Food Sensory Science research theme, build interdisciplinary collaborations across A*STAR and international partners, strengthen industrial innovation, and contribute to the long-term scientific leadership of the Division of Food and Sensory Science.

Research interests may include, but are not limited to:

• Food materials science
• Food structure engineering and design
• Structure–processing–function relationships
• Food colloids and soft matter
• Food ingredient functionality
• Food sensory
• Eating behaviour
• Sensory physiology
• Sensory psychology
• Texture engineering
• AI-enabled food formulation and modelling
• Structure design for healthy ageing and medical nutrition

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Develop and lead an internationally recognised research programme in Food Materials Science, Food Structure Engineering or Food Sensory Science.
• Provide strategic scientific leadership for SIFBI's Food and Sensory Science research theme and contribute to the Division's long-term research vision and international visibility.
• Establish multidisciplinary collaborations across A*STAR, universities, healthcare institutions and industry partners to accelerate scientific discovery and innovation.
• Secure competitive national and international research funding and build strong industrial partnerships.
• Lead high-impact research programmes resulting in publications in leading international journals, intellectual property, translational outcomes and technology deployment.
• Mentor and develop junior researchers, postdoctoral fellows and students, fostering scientific excellence and leadership.
• Build research capabilities, recruit outstanding talent and cultivate an innovative, collaborative research culture.
• Work closely with business development teams to translate research into industrial innovation and commercial opportunities.
• Ensure the highest standards of research integrity, data management, safety and ethical compliance.

Job Requirements:

Applicants should possess:

• A PhD in Food Science, Food Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• At least 10 years of independent research experience in academia, research institutes and/or industrial R&D following completion of the PhD.
• An internationally recognised research profile in Food Materials Science, Food Structure Engineering, Food Sensory Science or closely related areas.
• A sustained record of scientific excellence demonstrated through high-impact publications, invited keynote lectures, successful competitive funding and international collaborations.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and lead multidisciplinary research programmes with significant scientific and industrial impact.
• Strong experience in supervising and mentoring early-career researchers and building high-performing research teams.
• A proven track record of successful collaboration with industry, technology translation, intellectual property generation and/or commercialisation would be highly advantageous.
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• A strategic vision for advancing Food and Sensory Science research and strengthening Singapore's global leadership in future foods, healthy nutrition and food innovation.

Preferred Attributes

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• International scientific reputation.
• Visionary leadership.
• Ability to build new research directions.
• Passion for mentoring the next generation of scientists.
• Experience working across academia and industry.
• Strong collaborative mindset.
• Entrepreneurial thinking and translational research experience.