Lead/ Senior Scientific Officer (Bacteriology) (CDA Research Lab)

Communicable Diseases Agency

Fixed Terms

What the role is

You will lead a core team of scientists for the bacteriology section of the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) Research Laboratory.

The CDA is a new government agency that is being established by the Ministry of Health (MOH) to oversee Singapore’s communicable disease preparedness, prevention and control, surveillance, risk assessment and outbreak response. The CDA Research Laboratory’s role is to conduct research that can inform public health policies and clinical guidelines via in-house or commissioned projects. The CDA Research Laboratory’s bacteriology section focuses on endemic bacterial diseases of public health importance, emerging and zoonotic bacterial pathogens, and antimicrobial resistance.

You will be working in a fast-paced and dynamic environment that would require the ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders at the same time.

What you will be working on

Establish and lead bacteriology section of CDA Research Laboratory.
Ensure technical competency of laboratory staff of bacteriology section.
Ensure laboratory equipment and processes comply with national and international technical and biosafety standards.
Work with relevant public health surveillance and national programmes in developing research projects.
Ensure bacteriology section is able to respond rapidly to a nationally important outbreak.
Participate in national and international collaboration and networks which are critical in outbreak response.
Recruit and train laboratory staff.
Design laboratory standard operating procedures.
Conduct in-house research as well as collaborate in research that may involve external partners within Singapore.
Work with public health surveillance and national programmes to develop key research questions, plan operational research activities that may be conducted in-house or via commissioning external partners with relevant expertise.
Participate in and contribute to national and international collaboration and network.

What we are looking for

At least 5 years of relevant experience in fields related to microbiology, biological sciences, or related field.
Scientific expertise in bacteriology and antimicrobial resistance.
Ability to build and manage a core team.
Ability to engage stakeholders.
Experience in analysing and communicating research outcomes.
As part of the shortlisting process for this role, candidates may be required to complete a medical declaration and/or undergo further assessment.

As part of the shortlisting process for this role, candidates may be required to complete a medical declaration and/or undergo further assessment.

About Communicable Diseases Agency

The Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) was established in 2025 as a statutory board under Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) to serve as the central authority for public health policymaking to manage and control the threat of communicable diseases. This is aimed at strengthening Singapore's public health capabilities built during the COVID-19 response to ensure a unified command and coordinated approach across all situations, from routine disease control to future outbreaks. CDA safeguards the nation from communicable diseases through disease surveillance, outbreak investigations, vaccination programs, public education, and global health collaboration. Beyond domestic activities, the CDA aims to expand Singapore’s global outreach and foster collaboration with international partners.