Director of Advanced Electron Microscopy Facility

National University of Singapore; Singapore; On-site; SGD 300,000 - 600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

None

Job summary

The National University of Singapore seeks a globally recognised scientific leader to serve as Director of the Advanced Electron Microscopy Facility, a flagship, university-level platform integrating state-of-the-art capabilities across materials science and life sciences.

The Director will shape the facility into a globally leading centre for atomic-scale imaging and analysis, driving both frontier research and national-level capabilities.

Qualifications

• Experience leading core facilities in electron microscopy or related fields.
• Proven track record of high-impact publications in relevant domains.
• Experience securing external funding and managing large budgets.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to position the facility as a hub for international collaborations and flagship programmes.
• Set long-term research directions aligned with facility strengths.
• Lead large, multi-year research programmes and coordinate stakeholders.
• Set targets and user satisfaction measures.
• Develop the facility roadmap for upgrades, new platforms, and capacity planning.
• Develop cost-recovery models, set internal/external rates, and manage budgets.
• Ensure compliance with laboratory safety requirements and NUS policies.
• Implement good data management practices.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Strategic planning

Communication

Education

Full Professor appointment

Job description

Job Description

NUS seeks to appoint a globally recognised scientific leader to serve as Director of the Advanced Electron Microscopy Facility, a flagship, university-level platform integrating state-of-the-art capabilities across materials science and life sciences. The Director will shape the facility into a globally leading centre for atomic-scale imaging and analysis, driving both frontier research and national-level capabilities.

The Advanced Electron Microscopy Facility is a newly established university-level microscopy facility at NUS combining the state-of-the-art Electron and Scanning Tunnelling Microscopes for both the materials and life sciences. It is a centralised shared facility serving the research community at NUS, in Singapore, and beyond. It enables high-resolution 3D structure determination (CryoEM, FIB-SEM) and materials characterisation (such as AC-EM and STM).

The facility aims to provide researchers with a unique competitive edge and students with excellent education and training opportunities. Driven by research of its members, it aims at being a world-leading research facility in Materials Science EM and Life Science cryoEM.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction to position the facility as a hub for large-scale international collaborations and flagship programmes.
• Set appropriate medium- and long-term research directions aligned with the facilities.
• Lead large, multi‑year research programmes by setting scientific directions and coordinating stakeholders.
• Set clear targets and user satisfaction measures.
• Develop the facility roadmap for future upgrades, new platforms, and capacity planning.
• Develop cost-recovery models (set internal/external rates), manage budgets and procurement.
• Ensure compliance with laboratory safety requirements and all NUS policies.
• Implement good data management practices.

Qualifications

NUS seeks to hire an outstanding research leader with strong relevant experience, possibly integrating material and life sciences EM.The appointment is anticipated at the Full Professor level and is expected to sustain an internationally leading research programme aligned with the facility’s strengths.

Requirements

• Currently holding a faculty position with experience in life sciences, materials science and engineering, physics, or a related field.
• Evidence of significant core facility leadership.
• Proven track record of excellent publications and scientific contributions in the electron microscopy field.
• Distinguished records of research and administrative experience, and evidence of excellent leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Proven ability to lead teams, manage budgets, generate consistent external funding, run service operations, and deal with governments and corporate organisations locally and internationally.

We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.