Careers
The Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials (I-FIM) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) was newly established on 1 September 2021. Headed by world-renowned physicists Nobel Laureate Prof. Sir Konstantin Novoselov and NUS Distinguished Prof. Antonio Castro Neto, I-FIM will be the world’s first institute dedicated to the design, synthesis, and application of Functional Intelligent Materials (FIMs). Its global vision is to create a platform to develop FIMs with predetermined properties and autonomous, dynamic functionalities which can respond to changing environmental conditions. I-FIM will then investigate the use of such materials for smart applications in various sectors of technology and medicine.
Research Positions
We are seeking outstanding candidates with strong backgrounds in Physics, Chemistry, Engineering, Material Science, AI and Machine-learning to fill positions of junior scientists, ranging from Senior Research Fellows to Research Assistants. Successful candidates will join an interdisciplinary community at I-FIM with the opportunity to collaborate between labs, with international research institutes and with industry.
Please submit your application via the links provided for each position below. You may also submit your enquiries to I-FIM’s career mailbox ifim-careers@nus.edu.sg and an I-FIM staff will come back to you shortly.
FACULTY RECRUITMENT
The Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials (I-FIM), helmed by Directors Nobel-Prize-winning materials scientist Professor Sir Konstantin Novoselov and Distinguished Professor Antonio Castro Neto is seeking outstanding candidates to apply for appointments as NUS Presidential Young Professors, with proven and diverse array of expertise in the fields of material science research, but particularly with interests in soft materials and/ or Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Materials and engineering.
The institute is the sixth research centre of excellence (RCE) in Singapore, and the fourth RCE hosted at NUS which was officially launched on 7 October 2021 by the Minister for Education Mr. Chan Chun Seng. It is not only home to a team of world-class academic investigators and their groups, poised to embark on a new approach to Materials research but also the world’s first institute dedicated to the design, synthesis and application of Functional Intelligent Materials (FIMs) at the National University of Singapore.
I-FIM’s goal is to develop new approaches in science which would allow us to deal with out of equilibrium phenomena. This will lead to the creation of Functional Intelligent Materials – materials which can be programmed to perform specific functions and even change their internal structures and functionality depending on the environment.
“I-FIM will create the core expertise and facilities for the development of machine learning and AI solutions for smart technologies and material science in Singapore and worldwide. "
Prof. Sir Konstantin 'Kostya' Novoselov
The successful PYP candidate in an appropriate NUS department will hold joint appointments as Principal Investigator at I-FIM. Under the NUS Presidential Young Professorship (PYP) Scheme, he/she will be provided with a competitive salary package and benefits as an assistant professor at NUS, with laboratory space and core facility support as well as institutional research funding and a generous PYP start up package of up to SGD 1 million and a white space fund of SGD 250,000.
More details of the PYP scheme is available at:
https://cde.nus.edu.sg/cee/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2020/08/PYP-Scheme.pdf
REQUIREMENTS AND APPLICATION
Qualified candidates must have a PhD and/or M.D. degree in relevant fields, and an established record of research excellence that is internationally competitive for their career stage. He/She should have demonstrated research excellence with more than 6 years of postdoctoral research experience and ability to teach at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a campus visit interview.
Applicants are invited to submit a cover letter accompanied by: (a) their CV including a full publication list highlighting the best 5 publications (b) a statement of research and a 3-page research plan with a proposed start-up research budget and utilization plan (c) 3 letters of reference, including one from the applicant’s main PhD supervisor via email to ifim-careers@nus.edu.sg
The Koperski lab has multiple positions available in the field of creating strongly interacting quantum systems. The building blocks include multidimensional structures comprised of:
- Excitonic systems
- Single photon sources (e.g. quantum dots, colour centers, etc.)
- Molecular films
- Ferromagnets
- Superconductors
For further details or to submit your application, please send an email to ifim-optics@nus.edu.sg.
The Internship and Research Immersion in Singapore (IRIS)@NUS is organised by NUS Graduate School. This fully funded, two-month programme welcomes exceptional undergraduate and master’s students from ALL fields across ASEAN and around the world. It offers an immersive research experience and a unique glimpse into graduate studies at one of the top universities in the world.
Students will be mentored by NUS’ dedicated faculty upon joining their labs or research groups. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to contribute to ongoing projects, work in world-class facilities, and gain hands-on experience in cutting-edge research. A prestigious opening ceremony and poster sessions will also enable students to network with peers and NUS scholars, enhancing their communication skills and fostering a community that supports their potential PhD journey.
Beyond research, the programme features enriching experiences such as city tours, industry visits, and interactive workshops, offering deeper insights into Singapore and NUS' dynamic culture and innovative ecosystem.
Through IRIS@NUS, students will explore and tackle global challenges, gain tangible experience in graduate-level research, and unlock exciting possibilities for scientific research in their future careers.
Executive and Administrative Positions
The Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials (I-FIM) is seeking an assistant manager/manager to support the institute on all student and outreach matters. The job scope will cover:
I-FIM PhD Student Training Support
- Oversee the PhD student cohorts entering I-FIM for PhD project training and track student numbers, admissions and candidature check points, graduation (in collaboration with host academic departments)
- Support the Deputy Director (Academic Matters) on overseeing I-FIM PhD and non-graduating PhD students undergoing training at I-FIM and oversee matters in welfare, laboratory compliance, travel application and claims, and travel records and entitlements
- Support students in conference applications and conference claims
- Organize PhD student graduation parties
I-FIM PhD Scholarship Budget
- Manage I-IM core grant and budget for I-FIM scholarships
- Track allocation and expenses
- Track budget and re-forecasting
DSO Graduate Scholarship
- Support the Admin Director in overseeing the DSO Graduate Scholarship scheme
- Support the Admin Director in Project Agreements for each student, financing, WBS creation and budget tracking
- Support the Deputy Director in supervisor matching, interviews and applications
- Support the Deputy Director in students' obligation to DSO grantor: internships, progress reports, graduation, etc
NUS Student Work Scheme (NSWS)
- Handle both the pre-employment and post-employment steps for students under NSWS: job posting, contracts, verification of PhD students’ eligibility for NSWS work
- Monitor timesheet and verification of hours worked with supervisor(s)
- Monitor payment process against the timesheets worked and approved by supervisor(s)
- Maintain files and records of NSWS students
I-FIM MSc and FYP Training
- Collaborate with the Department of Materials Science and Engineering on tracking the MSc students and FYP students placed at I-FIM for training
- Coordinate safety training and card access to labs
- Manage exit administration on end of training, termination of access to labs, etc
I-FIM Internship Coordination and Management
- Coordinate the administrative and logistical aspects of internships: offer letters, contracts, Training Employment Pass (or other pass) applications if applicable, and onboarding/offboarding checklists
- Maintain records and reporting: document internships, prepare status reports (number of interns), and gather feedback from interns
- Ensure all paperwork, processes and policies (work passes, insurance, safety, payments) are followed and arranged accordingly
I-FIM Summer Schools and Workshops
- Support I-FIM Principal Investigators (PIs) on organisation of summer schools and workshops
- Oversee all administration of participants, registration, indemnities
- Oversee venues and logistics of such events
- Oversee completion certificates and documentation
- Oversee logistics for overseas participants on airfares, accommodations, etc.
- Oversee financial matters of fees (if any)
I-FIM Student Outreach and Recruitment
- Source potential scholarships and funding sources for scholarships
- Source awards, fellowships and prizes for students
- Support I-FIM PIs on outreach matters
- Support I-FIM PIs on student selection and interviews (adhoc)
I-FIM Conference and Event-Related Matters
- Speaker liaision
- Liaise with speakers to book their flights and/or accommodation via NUS travel vendors
- Collect speakers’ information for withholding tax (WHT) purposes
- Act as intermediary between speakers and I-FIM HR for WHT purposes
- Invitation letters and certificates of participation
- Prepare invitation letters for participants (pre conference) and letters of participation (post conference)
- Finance matters
- Attend refund enquiries
- Identify and prepare refund documents
- Support the conference sponsorship team with billing administration
- Event secretariat support
- Support other administrative and logistics work (e.g., prepare documents, printing, labels, name tags, transport concierge, etc)
- Event liaision
- Attend to general enquiries about events
- Support I-FIM in the planning and execution of other events, including conferences, visits and workshops
Job Requirements
- At least 5 years working experience in a university setting, with preference for experience in managing students or academic matters
- Good communication skills (spoken and written)
- Good organisational skills and with track record of planning, development and project coordination
- Demonstration of resourcefulness and creative solution-seeking
- Good interpersonal and stakeholder management abilities
- Passion for working with students and junior scientists
- Familiarity with University policies and schemes would be an asset
To apply, please click here.
The Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials (I-FIM) is recruiting a laboratory technologist/executive in providing technical and research support for the core laboratories.
The job responsibilities include:
Core Facility Booking and Billing
- Oversee end-end billing workflow for paid customers for all I-FIM core facilities, specifically for the non-NUS clients
- Manage core facilities equipment software and user licenses
Issue service agreement - Maintain database of users and clients
Track and analyze revenues
Core Facility Technical Support
- Support laboratory safety, functional operation, and ensure cleanliness of core facility laboratory spaces, especially the core facility laboratories being built at level 7
- Create and implement a label system for laboratory storage units for easy track-down of small tools, consumables, parts, etc
- Track and manage core facility laboratory consumables, chemicals, and spare parts inventory
- Liaise with laboratory managers on procurement and assist users with campus store procurement and vendor quotations
Core Facility Logistics Support
- Maintain an inventory dashboard to provide real-time visibility into what the laboratory owns, what is running low, and what is been ordered, reducing time spent manually checking stock and preventing shortages or over-ordering
- Maintain organized electronic/physical documentation of instrument manuals, service reports, and warranties
- Contribute to the development and optimization of laboratory SOPs and maintenance protocols
Training
- Provide basic equipment training to users before the technical managers train on the advanced functionalities
- Assist with installation and commissioning of new instruments
Job Requirements
- Diploma, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Engineering or equivalent
- At least 2 years of working experience or internship in a research laboratory setting in physics or engineering
- Good communication skills (spoken and written)
- Good organizational skills and recording keeping
- Demonstration of resourcefulness and creative solution-seeking
To apply, please click here.