Research Engineer, Organic Synthesis and Polymer Chemistry, ISCE2

A*STAR RESEARCH ENTITIES; Singapore; On-site; SGD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

State-of-the-art facilities

Multidisciplinary team

Job summary

ISCE² in Singapore seeks a motivated Research Engineer to advance adaptive and sustainable soft matter materials, bridging chemistry and industrial translation.

You will design organic syntheses, develop polymerisation routes and formulate functional polymer systems, contributing to reports, patents and publications while collaborating with industry partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science or closely related discipline.
• Hands-on expertise in organic synthesis and/or polymer chemistry with understanding of reaction mechanisms.
• Proficiency with standard characterisation methods (NMR, FTIR, GPC/SEC, DSC/TGA, rheology).
• Strong problem-solving, experimental rigour and attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication in a collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute organic synthesis of monomers, crosslinkers and building blocks.
• Develop and optimise controlled polymerisation routes to target properties.
• Formulate and characterise functional polymer systems (adhesives, hydrogels, stimuli-responsive networks).
• Establish structure-property relationships via chemical, thermal, mechanical, spectroscopic characterisation.
• Support scale-up and process transfer toward pilot and industrial application.
• Maintain meticulous records and contribute to reports, patents and publications.
• Present findings to internal teams and industry stakeholders; uphold safety and data integrity.

Skills

Organic synthesis

Polymer chemistry

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemistry/related

Tools

NMR

FTIR

GPC/SEC

DSC/TGA

Job description

Job Description and Requirements

About the role

The Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE²) is seeking a motivated Research Engineer to support our research focus in adaptive and sustainable soft matter materials. You will join a multidisciplinary team developing next-generation functional and sustainable materials - from monomer and crosslinker design through to advanced polymer platforms with applications in adhesives, coatings, gels and stimuli-responsive systems. The position bridges fundamental materials chemistry and applied industrial translation, offering the opportunity to work alongside leading scientists and directly with industry partners.

Key responsibilities

• Design and execute organic synthesis of novel monomers, crosslinkers and functional building blocks.
• Develop and optimise controlled polymerisation routes (e.g., free-radical, photo-initiated and step-growth chemistries) to deliver target polymer properties.
• Formulate and characterise functional polymer systems, including adhesives, hydrogels/organogels and stimuli-responsive networks.
• Establish structure-property relationships through rigorous chemical, thermal, mechanical and spectroscopic characterisation.
• Support scale-up and process transfer of promising formulations toward pilot and industrial application.
• Maintain meticulous experimental records, and contribute to technical reports, patents and peer-reviewed publications.
• Present findings clearly to internal teams and industry stakeholders, and uphold laboratory safety, quality and data-integrity standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science or a closely related discipline.
• Demonstrated hands‑on expertise in organic synthesis and/or polymer chemistry, with a strong grasp of reaction mechanisms and purification techniques.
• Proficiency with standard characterisation methods (e.g., NMR, FTIR, GPC/SEC, DSC/TGA, rheology).
• Strong problem‑solving ability, experimental rigour and attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to work effectively in a collaborative, cross‑disciplinary environment.

Desirable

• Experience with functional or sustainable polymers, adhesives, ionic liquids, photopolymers, or debondable/recyclable materials.
• Familiarity with formulation, coating or thin‑film processing.
• A track record of peer‑reviewed publications, patents or successful industry collaboration.

What we offer

You will work in one of Singapore's foremost public‑sector research environments, with access to state‑of‑the‑art facilities and a vibrant network of academic and industry collaborators. ISCE² is committed to sustainability‑driven innovation, and you will play a direct role in translating chemistry into real‑world impact.