Jobs in Structural Biology and Related Fields

National Research foundation postdoctoral fellowship in DUke-NUS medical School (Singapore

Duke-NUS, Singapore 169857, Singapore

Application deadline: 30 Oct 2026

A position is available for exceptional newly graduated PhD students who have high potential in becoming independent PI in the near future.

National Research Foundation Postdoctoral Award 2026

In Situ Structural Biology at Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore

The laboratory of Professor Shee-Mei Lok at Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, is seeking an outstanding early-career researcher whose hiring is contingent to being awarded the National Research Foundation (NRF) Postdoctoral Award 2026/2027.

The successful candidate will join the Lok laboratory and develop a research programme focused specifically on in situ structural biology, using state-of-the-art cryo-electron tomography and related approaches to study biological structures in their native cellular context.

The NRF Postdoctoral Award is a prestigious national initiative supporting exceptional researchers undertaking their first postdoctoral appointment, with the aim of developing future independent research leaders.

Research Focus

The fellow will work in the area of in situ structural biology, with opportunities to apply and develop approaches including:

• Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET)
• Cryo-FIB milling
• Subtomogram averaging
• In situ structural analysis of macromolecular complexes
• Correlative and complementary imaging approaches
• Method development for studying biological structures in native cellular environments

Research in the Lok laboratory has a strong emphasis on virus structure and virus-host interactions, including flaviviruses such as dengue and Zika viruses. The fellow's work will therefore sit at the interface of in situ structural biology, cryo-EM and virology.

Our laboratory has access to the cryo-EM facility at the National University of Singapore, approximately 10 minutes from Duke-NUS. The facility houses G1 and G4 Titan Krios microscopes and an Arctis system for high-throughput cryo-FIB milling.

The fellow will also benefit from the broader research environment across Duke-NUS Medical School, the National University of Singapore and SingHealth, with opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.

Award Package

The award provides:

• S$106,800 fixed base salary per year for 4 years
• For Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents, an additional S$18,200 per year in employer CPF contributions
• S$250,000 research grant
• 4 years of support
• Host institution: Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore

The award is designed to give an exceptional early-career researcher the resources and intellectual space to develop towards research independence and a future Principal Investigator role.

Candidate Profile

Applicants must:

• Hold a PhD 
• Have no more than 3 years of post-PhD research experience at the time of application
• Demonstrate strong academic performance and research ability
• Show evidence of originality, innovation and potential for future research leadership

We are particularly interested in candidates with experience in one or more of the following:

• AI machine learning
• Cryo-electron tomography
• Cryo-EM
• Cryo-FIB milling
• Subtomogram averaging
• Structural biology
• Cell biology or virology with a strong interest in structural approaches

How to Express Interest

Potential applicants interested in joining the Lok laboratory should contact:

Professor Shee-Mei Lok
Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
Email: sheemei.lok@duke-nus.edu.sg
Lab website: https://www.loksheemeilab.com

Please send:

• Your CV
• A brief description of your previous research
• Your research interests
• Your expected PhD completion date or date of PhD award