MOE START Scheme (Early Career Awards) - Food, Chemical and Biotechnology

European Commission; Singapore; On-site; SGD 20,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job description

Organisation/Company: SINGAPORE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (SIT)

Research Field: Agricultural sciences, Biological sciences, Chemistry

Researcher Profile: Recognised Researcher (R2), First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country: Singapore

Application Deadline: 25 Jun 2025 - 00:00 (UTC)

Type of Contract: Other

Job Status: Full-time

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? No

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

SIT's mission is centred on nurturing industry-ready graduates with deep technical expertise and transferable skills to address future challenges. We collaborate with industry in our education, providing a talented workforce and benefiting from our collaborative research endeavors.

Our university’s distinctive applied learning pedagogy integrates work and study, embedding authentic learning experiences within real-world settings. Through strategic industry partnerships, learners bridge theoretical knowledge with practical application, ensuring they enter their careers with relevant skills and competence.

In research, SIT faculty aims to bridge knowledge creation and utilization by working closely with industry on translational research and innovation to address significant industry challenges and positively impact businesses.

The Singapore Teaching and Academic Research Talent (START) Scheme, co-funded by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and SIT, supports exceptional Singaporeans interested in pursuing an academic career at SIT. The Early Career Awards (ECA) are designed to support recent postdoctoral graduates, enhancing their teaching capabilities and building a strong research portfolio. Awardees may receive research grants and are considered for Assistant Professorship after the scheme. They will also be assigned a faculty mentor.

Application Process

• Applications are open throughout the year, with consideration for the 2026 intake if received before 15 January 2026.
• Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed throughout the year, with a final panel interview from March to April 2026.
• Awards will be finalized by July 2026.

Supported Areas for START

Food, Chemical, and Biotechnology

• Sustainable and Functional Food: Sustainable food systems, circular food economy, alternative proteins, upcycled ingredients; AI & automation in food manufacturing, smart sensors, digital twins, AI-driven quality control; Food safety, supply chain tracking, blockchain.
• Biotechnology: Microbial strain screening and engineering, microbial physiology, high-throughput screening, bioprospecting for microbial hosts, enzymes, and metabolites for sustainable biomanufacturing.
• (Bio)pharmaceuticals: Processing science for bio- and chemical transformations, separations, purifications, formulation, process modeling, and optimization for pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Process Control: Process modeling, control, and optimization; data-driven modeling, machine learning; advanced process control, digital twins, real-time monitoring, PAT, process intensification, and sustainability.