Postdoctoral Research Scientist (Translational Bacteriology Lab), A*STAR IDL

ASTAR Infectious Diseases Labs (ASTAR IDL) aims to be the global leader in tropical infectious diseases through scientific excellence in research and innovation to enhance human health and respond to future pandemics. We are seeking an exceptional, experienced postdoctoral researcher who is ready to take the next step toward scientific independence. The successful candidate will develop an integrated mAb discovery and translation pipeline targeting priority bacterial pathogens, working at the interface of microbiology, immunology, genomics, and translational biology. This role is designed for a scientist who wants to help build and lead a focused research program on monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against bacterial pathogens, with genuine intellectual ownership and strategic responsibility. This position is within the translational microbiology laboratory of Professor XXXX XXXX, a globally recognized leader in antimicrobial resistance and bacteriology, The lab's focus is on developing novel therapeutics and preventative strategies against antimicrobial-resistant pathogens and critical infectious diseases. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work alongside Professor Baker and a new dynamic team, contributing to high-impact research in immunology and antimicrobial resistance. This role also offers mentorship, exposure to cutting-edge technologies, and collaboration opportunities with leading researchers globally. Key Responsibilities: Research Leadership: Take intellectual leadership of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) research program targeting bacterial pathogens. Define research priorities, milestones, and experimental strategy in alignment with the broader AMR and infectious disease program. Identify and develop novel scientific directions within bacterial mAb discovery and translation. Antigen Discovery & Target Evaluation: Support and contribute to antigen discovery and prioritisation strategies, informed by bacterial genomics, surface biology, and clinical relevance. Analyse target conservation, expression, and accessibility across diverse bacterial isolates. Work closely with collaborators and existing datasets to assess translational relevance. Monoclonal Antibody Discovery & Characterisation: Design and conduct experiments for monoclonal antibody generation, screening, and characterisation. Perform and interpret binding and functional assays (e.g. bactericidal, neutralisation, or opsonophagocytic assays). Contribute to optimisation and selection of promising antibody candidates. Contribute to in vitro and in vivo evaluation of antibody candidates, in collaboration with internal and external partners. Data Integration, Analysis & Scientific Reporting: Integrate experimental findings with genomic, phenotypic, and clinical data. Maintain high standards of data quality, reproducibility, and documentation. Prepare figures, internal reports, and manuscripts for publication. Lead or co-lead scientific publications