Background

We live in a microbial world with enormous genetic diversity and yet humanity's relationship with microbes has been primarily adversarial, shaped by a small number of pathogenic species. As part of a National Research Foundation Investigatorship grant to the lab (https://www.nrf.gov.sg/grants/nrfi/), we are developing high-throughput techniques to isolate and study microbial diversity from a range of environmental (e.g. soil, sewage etc) and human samples (e.g. stool, saliva etc). We will combine single-cell dispensing technologies, genome-resolved metagenomics, flow-cytometry and raman spectroscopy to functionally interrogate strains, study microbial interactions and build in silico models of community assembly. Our goals are to identify microbes and their functions that contribute to colonization resistance in the gut and the environment against multi-drug resistant bacteria.

Nagarajan Lab

The laboratory of metagenomic technologies and microbial systems (MTMS) is a hybrid lab that synergizes our capabilities in wet and dry-lab research. We are based out of the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS, A*STAR), leveraging the academic strengths of a globally-leading university (NUS) and the innovation and industry focus of A*STAR (GIS). At NUS, we are affiliated with the School of Medicine and the School of Computing, providing the perfect setting for exciting interdisciplinary research at the intersection of these two areas.

Why Singapore?

Singapore is a highly cosmopolitan city-state at the cross-roads of Asia with one of the highest standards of living in the world. We provide an internationally competitive remuneration package, a world-class research environment, an opportunity to contribute to global science from an Asian perspective, and a lab environment that is welcoming to all backgrounds and nationalities.

Qualifications

• PhD in Culturomics
• Strong publication track record
• Candidates with significant experience in technology development will be preferred

How to Apply

Please e-mail your CV (with contact details of 2 or more referees) and a statement of research interests (1-2 pages) to Prof Niranjan Nagarajan ([email protected]). Shortlisted candidates will be contacted via e-mail for interviews in Q1 2026.

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.