Scientist / Senior Scientist (Food Additives)

[What the role is]

The mission of SFA is to ensure and secure a supply of safe food for Singapore. The National Centre for Food Science (NCFS) under SFA oversees the application of science and technology to enable evidence-based risk assessment for foodborne hazards to support SFA’s food safety program. NCFS collaborate with stakeholders across the entire food chain and research institutions to address emerging food safety and security concerns.

You will join Food Additive Team under Food Science Rapid Response Department (FSRRD) of NCFS to lead the team in conducting food additive testing, strengthening testing capabilities through method development and research activities, and conducting risk assessment to support SFA’s operation needs for food safety regulation, market monitoring programs, and outbreak investigations. This position provides an opportunity for you to learn and apply cutting-edge testing and diagnostic technologies to solve real world problems and safeguard the food safety of Singapore.

[What you will be working on]

Laboratory operation

Conduct food additive testing and review analytical results against applicable regulatory requirements, ensuring the delivery of reliable results within required turnaround times to support regulatory decision-making.

Support rapid laboratory response to food safety incidents and emerging issues, including prioritisation of testing and timely communication of analytical findings.

Uphold the laboratory quality assurance programme in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standards.

Maintain laboratory operational readiness through effective management of equipment, reagents, reference standards, consumables and other critical laboratory resources.

Procure scientific equipment and laboratory supplies based on operational needs, ensuring compliance with applicable financial and procurement requirements.

Serve as an expert witness in court to support prosecution cases related to the enforcement of food safety rules and regulations.

Testing capability development

Develop and enhance analytical capabilities for priority and emerging food additive risks to support regulatory testing, surveillance and food safety incident investigations.

Validate, verify and implement new or improved testing methods, and obtain accreditation where required, and troubleshoot analytical methods.

Evaluate and adopt new analytical technologies and approaches to enhance laboratory capability, efficiency and scientific robustness.

Strengthen laboratory productivity via automation and digitisation.

Communicate testing outcomes, technical findings, and research achievements through technical reports, presentations, and scientific publications

Data analysis, risk assessment and standard setting

Analyse and interpret data to support policy reviews, national regulatory limit setting, and adjustment of food safety programmes.

Conduct dietary exposure and risk assessments of food additives and other relevant chemical hazards.

Review scientific literature, international risk assessments and relevant scientific developments to support food safety assessment and regulatory review.

Review and update food additive regulatory limits to ensure alignment with international standards and scientific developments.

[What we are looking for]

Bachelor of Science and preferably a MSc or PhD degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Food Science, or other related scientific fields.

Good knowledge and hand-on experience in analytical method development, sample extraction and cleanup, and instrumental analysis of chemical hazards using techniques, such as LC-MS/MS, GC-MS/MS, LC-HRMS, GC-HRMS.

Knowledge or experience in the implementation and maintenance of an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 laboratory quality system is beneficial.

Skills in data analytics, digitalization or application of computational tools to laboratory and scientific work are an advantage.

Excellent written and verbal skills, with the ability to communicate scientific and technical information effectively.

Proactive, self-motivated, able to work independently and collaboratively, and willing to take on additional duties when required.