Research Fellow - Lipid Nanoparticle Delivery, Imaging & Membrane Biophysics

About the role

The School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) is recruiting a Research Fellow for its Nano-Bio Interface Lab, led by Assoc. Prof. Wenting Zhao. The lab studies how nanoscale membrane organisation, geometry and biophysical properties regulate cellular and biomolecular processes in disease and therapeutic delivery. The fellow will join an interdisciplinary programme on the cellular entry, intracellular trafficking, membrane interaction and endosomal escape of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for next-generation RNA and nucleic-acid therapeutics.

Key responsibilities

• Lead research projects on LNP-membrane interactions, intracellular trafficking and endosomal escape.
• Apply advanced fluorescence imaging, including super-resolution microscopy, live-cell imaging and single-particle tracking.
• Use supported lipid bilayers, lipid vesicles and other biomimetic membrane systems.
• Prepare and characterise LNPs, perform cellular delivery and quantify intracellular trafficking and cargo release.
• Develop quantitative image-analysis methods and analyse data and literature.
• Write manuscripts, help with grant applications and present results.
• Collaborate with researchers from engineering, cell biology, biophysics and imaging, supervise junior researchers and students, and support lab operations and safety.

Required profile

• Ph.D. in bioengineering, biomedical engineering, biophysics, cell biology, chemical engineering, materials science, nanotechnology, pharmaceutical sciences or a closely related field.
• Strong scientific independence, problem-solving and communication skills; ability to work in a multidisciplinary team.
• A strong publication record, including first-author papers in peer-reviewed journals, is preferred.

Required skills

• Experience with super-resolution microscopy (e.g. STED, SIM, PALM/STORM) and single-particle tracking is highly desirable.
• Experience with lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, RNA delivery and nanoparticle formulation is strongly preferred.
• Membrane biophysics, mammalian cell culture and biochemical assays are desirable.
• Programming or quantitative image-analysis experience is advantageous.