Scientist (Agritech Innovation)

[What the role is]

The mission of SFA is to ensure and secure a supply of safe food for Singapore. The Agriculture Technology Department (AGT) plans and conducts translational research in agri-inputs, crop management, crop protection, crop improvement, and precision agriculture. as well as leads the development of sustainable farming practices, and provides technical assistance to strengthen farm capabilities, while driving the Agritech Translation Programme.

The successful candidate will support SFA's efforts in evaluating and translating promising Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) technologies into practical, farm-ready solutions suited to tropical protected agriculture environments, contributing to the development of a productive and resource-efficient local agri-industry. The role also supports the development of farm technology benchmarking frameworks and maintains a structured knowledge base of local and global agri-tech developments to inform research priorities and enable targeted industry support.

[What you will be working on]

• Conduct landscape analysis and horizon scanning of local and global agri-tech developments, including technical evaluation of emerging CEA, precision agriculture, and engineering solutions relevant to Singapore's agri-food systems.
• Assess and benchmark the performance of CEA systems across local farms, analysing technology adoption levels and applying insights to inform the development of targeted industry support, capability-building, and sector development frameworks.
• Support the development and management of digital roadmaps, databases and knowledge management systems to organise, analyse, and synthesise agri-technology landscape data, including precision and digital agriculture solutions, leveraging data platforms and analytical tools to enable effective insights, reporting and, decision making.
• Plan and execute translational research projects to evaluate and validate promising CEA technologies under tropical greenhouse, rooftop and indoor farm conditions.
• Translate research findings into actionable technical advisory and policy-relevant inputs, supporting farms and stakeholders in improving productivity, resilience, and resource efficiency.
• Develop and sustain partnerships with Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), research organisations, technology providers, and industry stakeholders to advance translational research and cross-sectoral knowledge exchange.
• Represent Singapore at international platforms, contributing subject-matter expertise in CEA systems and greenhouse technologies to support the advancement of urban food production and agri-food innovation.
• Perform any other duties as assigned by supervisor to support departmental objectives.

[What we are looking for]

• Ph.D. or a Master's degree in Agricultural Engineering, Biosystems Engineering, Horticultural Science, or a related discipline with a focus on controlled environment horticulture in indoor and greenhouse farms. Candidates with a Bachelor's degree with at least 5 years of relevant applied research experience will also be considered.
• Strong technical background in CEA systems and solutions, including climate control, lighting, fertigation, production systems, automation, logistics, etc.
• Experience in evaluating and benchmarking greenhouse and protected agriculture technologies, with sound understanding of resource-use efficiency and systems integration.
• Prior experience in tropical agriculture, urban farming, or protected agriculture environments is highly advantageous.
• Experience with data management systems or database platforms with the ability to organise, maintain, and extract insights from structured knowledge bases.
• Experience applying robust statistical frameworks and data modelling to interpret systems performance datasets, using tools such as R, Python, or equivalent.
• A strong track record of technical and scientific writing, including the ability to translate findings into accessible materials for diverse stakeholders and policymakers.
• Experience collaborating with academic institutions, industry partners, and government agencies on joint R&D and translational projects.
• Demonstrated ability to distil complex technical concepts into clear, impactful narratives for diverse stakeholders and policy-makers.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams and adapt to evolving project needs.
• Demonstrated analytical thinking and a systematic approach to problem-solving, coupled with strong leadership and project coordination capabilities.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively in team settings, with a proven ability to engage and manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• A strong commitment to applied research, with the physical readiness to conduct fieldwork in tropical outdoor and greenhouse environments.