Research Fellow (Functional characterization)

About TUMCREATE

TUMCREATE is a multidisciplinary research platform of the Technical University Munich (TUM) at the Singapore Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE). We are joining forces with universities, public agencies, and industries for the advancement of future technologies.

Our large-scale Food Science ‘Proteins4Singapore’ program is funded by Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF). The Technical University Munich (TUM) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) join forces with the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and A*STAR’s Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI) to research plant-based proteins.

Please visit www.tum-create.edu.sg for more information about TUMCREATE.

Job Purpose/Objective of the Position:

The human digestive tract harbors the most densely organized microbial ecosystem and metabolic activities of this microbiome contribute to the digestion, modulation and functionalization of food constituents. Food-microbiome interactions critically contribute to the nutritional value of alternative dietary protein sources and addressing open questions with these interactions emerges as a key requirement in the design of sustainable urban food systems. In a two-step experimental design, we propose to characterize the impact of intact proteins and its fractions of soybean, algae, or fishery proteins, on the composition and function of the intestinal microbiome and its metabolite profile by modelling food-microbe and metabolite-host interactions using continuous culture systems and intestinal organoid model systems. Further an intervention trial will be executed to test novel food items in the Singaporean population. This is a fixed term contract until March 2027.

Job Responsibilities:

• Team lead of the microbe-host team.
• Recruitment of human subjects and sample collection.
• Execution and management of the intervention trial.
• Establish continuous culture systems using human stool samples of healthy individuals and characterization of food-microbiome interactions.
• Analyses of gut microbiome with next-generation sequencing and metabolite profiling.
• Identify and purify target structures and characterize their role in modifying microbial communities.

Job Requirements/Competencies:

• A Master’s or PhD degree in Biology, Nutrition, Molecular Biology, Medicine or related research fields from a reputable university with 3 years of relevant working or academia experience.
• Experienced in ex vivo systems, gut microbiome and data analyses.
• Relevant experience in clinical trials.

What TUM CREATE offers you:

• Competitive salary that commensurate with experience.
• Medical insurance.
• Good amount of leave/vacation days.
• Vibrant, modern and positive working environment in Singapore.
• Campus-sited office location with a host of facilities.
• In-building perks including gym, game room and coffee room.

Applications:

Please send your application including cover letter and CV to hr@tum-create.edu.sg.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

We look forward to your application.