Scientist/Senior Scientist (Urban Agriculture)

Singapore Food Agency; Singapore; On-site; SGD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Singapore Food Agency is seeking a dedicated leader to spearhead the Agri-tech and Food Innovation Department. This role involves conducting critical research, managing complex projects in urban agriculture, and collaborating with diverse stakeholders to enhance local food security. The successful candidate will drive innovative solutions in a dynamic and strategically important position.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in breeding programs for Brassica and/or tropical vegetables.
• Expertise in statistical analysis and dataset management.
• Strong background in trait evaluation and breeding techniques.

Responsibilities

• Lead independent research to develop breeding plans for urban crops.
• Manage project workflows including lab and field trials.
• Collaborate with research partners on co-funded projects.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical Thinking

Communication

Project Management

Education

Ph.D. in Plant Breeding, Plant Sciences or related field

M.Sc. with at least 5 years of relevant experience

Tools

R

SAS

Job description

What the role is:

Purpose of Job

The mission of SFA is to ensure and secure a supply of safe food for Singapore. The Urban Food Solutions Division drives the development of productive, resource efficient and climate resilient technologies and innovation in tropical aquaculture and urban agriculture by building scientific expertise and strategic partnerships with academia and industry stakeholders. The successful candidate will play a key role in leading the Agri-tech and Food Innovation Department to:

• Drive strategic research to improve resiliency of local farming.
• Establish R&D ecosystem with capability and capacity to develop and translate technology to the local agri-industry.
• Provide technical expertise to support policies and operations on urban agriculture in SFA.

What you will be working on:

Duties

• Lead and conduct independent research to develop breeding plans for key urban agriculture crops focused on resilience, productivity, and adaptation to tropical systems.

• Manage full project workflows, including lab and field trials, logistics, procurement, and biosafety compliance.

• Incorporate advanced phenotyping and data tools, such as AI imaging, remote sensing, and environmental sensors, to accelerate selection and improve accuracy.

• Screen and evaluate global germplasm for traits of interest, supporting breeding diversity and goals.

• Design and oversee controlled environment and field experiments, ensuring quality data and robust trial designs.

• Maintain detailed records of research protocols, raw data, and analysis to support traceability and reproducibility.

• Align breeding outcomes with market trends and national food security objectives, translating findings into deployable solutions.

• Collaborate with IHLs and research partners on co-funded projects, capability development, and translational research to scale innovation for local agri-industry adoption.

• Build and guide multidisciplinary teams, including scientists and technical staff, to enhance SFA’s R&D capacity.

• Represent Singapore at international platforms, contributing expertise on crop R&D, seed innovation, and urban agriculture strategies.

What we are looking for:

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Plant Breeding, Plant Sciences or related field; or M.Sc. with at least 5 years of relevant hands-on experience in breeding, genomics, or translational crop research.

• Proven experience in breeding programs for Brassica leafy vegetables and/or tropical fruited vegetables under controlled and field environments.

• Strong background in trait evaluation, including plant architecture, stress resilience, disease resistance, and productivity traits relevant to urban and indoor farming systems.

• Proficient in classical and modern breeding techniques, including marker-assisted selection, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), genomic selection, ploidy manipulation, mutagenesis, and high-throughput phenotyping.

• Demonstrated ability to design, execute, and statistically analyse agronomic and molecular experiments across lab, greenhouse, and field settings.

• Experience managing large and complex datasets, including the use of statistical software (e.g., R, SAS) and data visualization tools.

• Strong track record in scientific writing, with peer-reviewed publications in plant breeding or genetics; experience in preparing technical reports, stakeholder presentations, and grant proposals.

• Proven ability to collaborate with academic institutions, industry partners, and government agencies on joint R&D and translational projects.

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and project management skills; able to work independently and lead multidisciplinary teams

Other Requirements

• Excellent command of written and spoken English, with the ability to communicate complex scientific concepts clearly and effectively.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams and adapt to evolving project needs.

• Demonstrated analytical thinking and a systematic approach to problem-solving, coupled with strong leadership and project coordination capabilities.

• Able to work independently while contributing effectively in team settings, with a proven ability to engage and manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Work Location

• National Centre for Food Science, 7 International Business Park, Singapore 609919

We regret to inform that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

About Singapore Food Agency

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) is a new Statutory Board formed under the ‘Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) to oversee food safety and security. The SFA will serve as the single point of contact for public feedback on food-related issues, and strengthen management of foodborne disease outbreaks to protect public health.The SFA will also facilitate more business-friendly regulations with oversight of all food safety policies and consolidation of food laboratory capabilities to deepen competencies in food diagnostics, and research and development in food safety.