Research Associate (Horticulture and Plant Physiology)

The School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (CCEB) at NTU Singapore, in collaboration with Wageningen University & Research (WUR), is part of the Singapore Indoor Farming System (SingFarm)—a CREATE-NRF programme focused on building a sustainable, data-driven food production model with strong industry relevance. The programme contributes to Singapore’s ambition of achieving 20 per cent local production of its fibre (vegetables, mushrooms, etc.) by 2035. The candidate will work in a multinational team at the forefront of Singapore’s agricultural innovation and food security.

We seek an innovative Research Associate to develop an automated imaging pipeline for autonomous crop growth systems in vertical farming. The successful candidate will design RGB-D camera setups and algorithms to extract biologically relevant crop traits from image and climate data, supporting mechanistic models for optimised light use and energy-efficient growth. Working closely with a modelling specialist, the candidate will help build a demonstrator system for autonomous, resource-efficient cultivation of leafy vegetables such as choy sum and kai lan.

Key Responsibilities:

• Set up cameras and climate sensors to monitor crop growth

• Develop processing pipelines for image analysis (e.g. segmentation) and trait quantification

• Design experiments to calibrate and validate growth estimation algorithms under dynamic climate conditions

• Support plant scientists in the project and collect ground truth data for traits such as biomass, area, and leaf area index

Job Requirements:

• A Master’s degree in plant science, biosystems engineering, or closely related fields

• Strong command of written and communication skills

• Experience in image processing, working with plants, and using AI is desirable

• Proven ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment, while also demonstrating strong independence, initiative, and work ethic

We seek a diverse and inclusive workforce and is committed to equality of opportunity. We welcome applications from all and recruit on the basis of merit, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, marital status and family responsibilities, or disability.

We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.