Research Fellow (Plant Biotechnology and Biochemistry)

About the role

The School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (CCEB) at NTU Singapore, together with Wageningen University & Research (WUR), is part of the Singapore Indoor Farming System (SingFarm), a CREATE-NRF programme aiming at a sustainable, data-driven food production model. The Research Associate/Research Fellow works on receptor-centric signalling, focusing on protein-protein interactions, bioengineering and transfer of receptor proteins to enhance disease resistance of Brassica for indoor farming systems. The work sits within a wider work package on resistance genes and effectoromics.

Key responsibilities

• Establish a proximity-labelling strategy in Brassica and identify proteins close to or interacting with receptors of important pathogens
• Validate selected interactor proteins using Co-IP, VIGS and BiFC
• Characterize the role of interactor proteins in plant defense by overexpression in Arabidopsis and disease tests
• Bioengineer and transfer receptors from other plant species into Brassica
• Overexpress engineered receptors or interactor proteins in Brassica and test their contribution to disease resistance
• Document results and contribute to reports, publications and presentations

Required profile

• PhD in Plant Biotechnology, Biochemistry or a closely related discipline
• Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals
• Experience in molecular biology and plant biotechnology techniques, including receptor protein engineering or transfer
• Research experience in plant-microbe interactions and plant disease resistance
• Proven ability to conduct independent research and collaborate in multidisciplinary projects
• Ability to work in a multinational research environment

Required skills

• Receptor-centric signalling and protein-protein interaction analysis
• Plant disease resistance research
• Molecular biology and plant biotechnology techniques