Postdoctoral Research Fellow (AI/ML for (Bio)retrosynthesis and biosynthetic

Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR); Singapore; On-site; SGD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative research institute is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to explore the intersection of AI and synthetic biology. This role offers the opportunity to develop cutting-edge computational tools that support the Design-Build-Test-Learn cycle in biosynthetic pathway engineering. You will collaborate with experimental scientists and contribute to significant advancements in sustainable chemical production. The position promises a nurturing environment with mentorship, access to state-of-the-art technologies, and the chance to work alongside an ambitious team at the forefront of scientific research. If you are passionate about AI and its applications in life sciences, this is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of synthetic biology.

Benefits

Access to state-of-the-art technologies

Mentorship opportunities

Collaborations with industrial partners

Supportive research environment

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field is required.
• Excellent coding skills in Python and R are essential.
• Experience with AI/ML and computational tools is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and validate AI/ML models for biosynthetic pathway engineering.
• Collaborate with experimental biologists to support synthetic biology.
• Present findings at conferences and write manuscripts for publication.

Skills

Python

R Programming

AI/ML Modeling

Data Analysis

Communication Skills

Education

PhD in Computer Science

PhD in Bioinformatics

PhD in Biotechnology

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

antiSMASH

Selenzyme

Job description

Postdoctoral Research Fellow (AI/ML for (Bio)retrosynthesis and biosynthetic pathway engineering), BII

A postdoctoral research fellow position (junior postdoc / senior postdoc) is available in the Breitling group in the Bioinformatics Institute (BII), A*STAR, Singapore in the area of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) for(Bio)retrosynthesis and biosynthetic pathway engineering.

In the Breitling group, we believe that computational approaches can make a real difference for scientific progress in the life sciences. We are committed to academic excellence and have created tools, such as antiSMASH, ipaPy2, RankProd and Selenzyme, that are used by thousands of researchers in academia and industry world-wide. We value curiosity, creativity and innovation, and support the intellectual growth and career development of our team members. Alumni of the Breitling group have moved on to build their own start-up companies and have joined the faculty of major universities.

The successful candidate will be part of an interdisciplinary team working on the development of computational tools to support the Design-Build-Test-Learn cycle of synthetic biology, in close collaboration with the team of experimental scientists at A*STAR?s newly establishedSingapore Integrative Biosystems & Engineering Research Strategic Research and Translational Thrust (SIBER SRTT).

Job descriptions:

• Develop and validate novel AI and ML models and methods for (Bio)retrosynthesis and biosynthetic pathway engineering.

• Apply these and other state-of-the-art computational tools to inform, guide and support the work of experimental biologists and biosystems engineers.

• Work closely with the other members of the computational synthetic biology team in BII, as well as with the team of experimental biologists at SIBER SRTT, to realise the shared mission of driving synthetic biology advances towards industrial implementation.

• Present findings at seminars, meetings and national / international conferences.

• Write manuscripts for publication in high-impact scientific journals.

• Prepare high-quality software for use by the wider community of researchers.

• Apply proactively for individual research grants as part of career development and contribute to the writing of larger grant applications.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with the local and international research network.

Requirements:

• PhD in Computer Science, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Microbiology or a related field.

• Excellent coding and software development skills, including proficiency in Python and R programming.

• Familiarity with state-of-the-art computational tools, methodology and data formats relevant for computational biology and bioengineering, with a special focus on (bio)chemistry, structural biology and enzyme engineering.

• Passion for joining a growing and dynamic group of researchers and a demonstrated ability to work independently as well as collaboratively and efficiently in an interdisciplinary team.

• Desire to work closely with experimental biologists to develop tools to drive the new green revolution towards decarbonisation and sustainable chemical production.

• Track record of peer-reviewed scientific publications in internationally recognised journals.

• Excellent communication skills both spoken and written, especially for the preparation of scientific manuscripts and reports.

• A strong interest in the translational and applied aspects of research, including collaborations with industrial partners.

Preferred Skills:

Whether you are an experienced bioinformatician excited about the possibilities of artificial intelligence, or a biology-curious machine learning expert looking for new exciting applications across disciplines, we want to hear from you. A strong willingness to learn and develop new skills is highly preferred. We will be looking for candidates with any of the following qualities:

• Familiarity with protein language models (PLMs) and their application for protein structure prediction and enzyme engineering.

• Practical experience with the tools and concepts of bio(retrosynthesis), such as Retropath / Selenzyme, and the underlying concepts of enzymology.

• Strong background in AI/ML modelling, statistics, and data analysis and visualization, preferably including practical experience with deep learning frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch).

• Extensive domain knowledge in (bio)chemistry, molecular biology, microbiology and the concepts of synthetic biology / engineering biology.

• Familiarity with the techniques of agentic AI.

We offer:

• A nurturing, supportive and stimulating environment with close mentorship to develop your scientific career and shape the future of synthetic biology through innovative computational approaches.

• An opportunity to work closely with an ambitious team of experimental biologists at the forefront of advances in synthetic biology.

• Access to state-of-the-art technologies, scientific resources, core facilities and infrastructure housed within A*STAR to facilitate your research work.

• Access to collaborations with industrial partners to translate research findings to commercial applications and societal impact.

• We welcome applicants from all background.

The above eligibility criteria are not exhaustive. A*STAR may include additional selection criteria based on its prevailing recruitment policies. These policies may be amended from time to time without notice. We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.