Talent-Development

Talent Development

LKCMedicine’s vision is to transform healthcare and lives. As part of this, we aim to identify and train the next generation of biomedical and clinical research leaders, so that they can ​take our work forward through the next decades. Those interested to pursue their research ambitions at LKCMedicine can apply for the following schemes:

  • ​NTU Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship 
  • NMRC Open Fund - Young Individual Research Grant (OF-YIRG)
  • PhD by Research Programme
  • Nanyang President's Graduate Scholarship
  • NTU Research Scholarship 
  • Singapore International Graduate Award
  • Administered by MOH's National Medical Research Council (NMRC)
  • Administered by National Research Foundation (NRF) 
  • Fellowships

Talent Development Programmes

NMRC Open Fund - Young Individual Research Grant (OF-YIRG)

 

The Open Fund - Young Individual Research Grant (OF-YIRG) administered by the Singapore National Medical Research Council (NMRC) is a sub-category of OF-IRG. It is provided to young investigators to support the conduct of research proposals in basic, translational and clinical research that are relevant to human health and potential, including research that looks at the causes, consequences, diagnosis and treatment of human diseases. 

Research fellows are encouraged to apply for the grant. There are two grant calls per year (January and July). Please refer to the OF-YIRG grant website for more information. 

For enquiries, please contact Ms Joey Ng at [email protected].

 

 

NTU Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship 

The Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship (PPF) provides the opportunity for early career researchers from Singapore and around the world to conduct independent investigations in any discipline at NTU, often regarded as the most research intensive university in Asia. The postdoc appointment is intended to provide a pathway to an academic appointment as an assistant professor or another international postdoctoral assignment. 

For more information about the PPF, please click here.


PhD by Research Programme

The LKCMedicine PhD by Research Programme gives outstanding students the training they need to do world-class science that addresses the School’s key research themes – Metabolic Disorders, Infection and Immunity, Neuroscience and Mental Health, and Dermatology and Skin Biology. Graduates leave the programme equipped with the intellectual and technical skills to become independent research scientists, and have their clinical awareness and learning experiences uniquely reinforced through a range of local and overseas placements. To enhance our students’ employability and career mobility upon graduation, we also place strong emphasis on the development of interpersonal, presentation and management skills, coupled with training in business awareness and information technology.

Application Procedures
Before you apply
  1. Choose a PhD project from the list of PhD Project Proposals.
  2. Prepare a one page project proposal in your own words.
  3. Prepare supporting documents as stated here, under the "How to Apply" dropdown box.
  4. Prepare CV and a one page personal statement (Compulsory for applicants to LKCMedicine PhD programme Please upload the CV, personal statement and project proposal when submitting the online application).
How to apply​Submit an online application here.
When to apply​There are two intakes each year -  August and January. Please apply before the closing date for the preferred intake:

August intake: Application period is 1 October to 31 January.
January intake: Application period is 1 June to 31 July.

The application and all supporting/additional documents (including referees’ letters) must be completed and submitted by the closing date. Incomplete applications will not be considered.​​

Scholarships

Nanyang President's Graduate Scholarship

The Nanyang President's Graduate Scholarship (NPGS) is a competitive and prestigious scholarship scheme designed to encourage outstanding graduates or final-year students to take their first step towards a leading research career by studying for a PhD at NTU.

For more information on NGPS, click here.

NTU Research Scholarship

The NTU Research Scholarship is awarded to outstanding graduate students for research leading to a higher degree at the University. The Scholarship consists of a monthly stipend plus a tuition fee subsidy. It is tenable for one year in the first instance and is renewable subject to good progress. The maximum period of the award is up to four years for PhD candidates, subject to good performance and progress, as well as availability of research funding. The School, at its discretion, may appoint scholarship recipients to assist in academic or administration work not exceeding 10 hours per week. For details and other available graduate scholarships, please click here. 

Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA)

The Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA) is a collaboration between the Agency for Science, Technology & Research (A*STAR), the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). 

PhD training will be carried out in English at your chosen lab at A*STAR Research Institutes, NTU, NUS or SUTD. Students will be supervised by distinguished and world-renowned researchers in these labs. Upon successful completion, students will be conferred a PhD degree by either NTU, NUS or SUTD.

Singapore is the gateway to some of the fastest-growing economies in the Asia Pacific region. And with SINGA, you can pursue your PhD education in Singapore, establish global links and take your research career to greater heights.

SINGA fosters a vibrant and culturally diverse research community of international students. You’ll be working in a multi-cultural environment alongside distinguished and world-renowned researchers in state-of-the-art facilities.

For more information about SINGA, click here​.

Administered by MOH's National Medical Research Council (NMRC)


Singapore Translational Research (STaR) Investigator Award
The STaR Investigator Award is a prestigious award offered by the Singapore Ministry of Health’s National Medical Research Council (NMRC) to attract and nurture established world-class clinician investigators to undertake cutting edge translational and clinical research (TCR) in Singapore. STaR Investigators will be funded to start new biomedical research programmes in Singapore.

  • ​Funding Quantum: $8M over 5 years, inclusive of up to $5M direct cost with 20% overheads, $2M PI’s salary support (capped at $400K per year) (Salary support can be adjusted up to $3M by applicants capped at $600K per year, where direct costs and 20% IRC will be revised accordingly)
  • Funding Period: 5 years
  • Estimated Annual Cycle: May & Nov, opens for 1 month only

Clinician Scientist Award (CSA)
The Clinician Scientist Award (CSA) provides salary & funding support for selected outstanding clinician scientists, who possess a consistent record of excellence in research, to enable them to carry out internationally competitive translational and clinical research.

Senior Investigator (SI) Category

  • Funding Quantum: Grant Support up to S$1.75m with 20% IRC and PI’s salary support
  • Funding Period: 5 years
  • Estimated Annual Cycle: May & Nov, opens for 1 month only

Investigator (INV) Category

  • ​Funding Quantum: Grant Support up to S$675k with 20% IRC and PI’s salary support
  • Funding Period: 3 years
  • Estimated Annual Cycle: May & Nov, opens for 1 month only
Transition Award (TA)
Transition Award provides mentored research funding support for aspiring Clinician Scientists who have just completed their formal research training, with the aim to help budding Clinician Scientists (CSs) transition to a stable, independent research position or research funding to build up their research capabilities. The long-term goal of the award is to increase the cohort of new and talented, NMRC-supported independent CSs.
  • ​Funding Quantum:  Grant support of $375K with 20% IRC and PI’s salary support 
  • Funding Period: 3 years
  • Estimated Annual Cycle: May & Nov, opens for 1 month only

Clinical Innovator Development Award (CIDA) 
The Clinician Innovator Development Award aims to support clinicians with potential medical innovation ideas. This pilot programme provides a seed fund and salary support, so that the clinician innovators can generate pilot data and bring their ideas to the next level. The award is non-renewable as the award recipients are expected to apply for subsequent funding (e.g., NHIC I2D) after this award.

  • ​Funding Quantum: PI's salary support up to 0.3 FTE & in accordance to NMRC annual salary cap, Grant Support up to S$100k
  • Funding Period: 2 years
  • Estimated Annual Cycle: May & Nov, opens for 1 month only


For more information about NMRC Talent Development Programmes, click here.

Administered by the National Research Foundation (NRF)


NRF Investigatorship
The NRF Investigatorship provides opportunities for established, innovative and active scientists and researchers, in their mid-career, to pursue ground-breaking, high-risk research. It is designed to support a small number of excellent Principal Investigators who have a track record of research achievements that identify them as leaders in their respective field(s) of research.

  • ​Funding Quantum: S$3 million (inclusive IRC)
  • Funding Period: 5 years

NRF Fellowship
The Singapore NRF Fellowship provides opportunities for early career researchers to carry out independent research in Singapore, over a five-year period. It is open to all areas of science and technology and outstanding young scientists and researchers of all nationalities are welcome to apply.

  • ​Funding Quantum: S$3 million (inclusive IRC)
  • Funding Period: 5 years
For more information about NRF Fellowship, click here​. ​

Fellowships​

​

ASEAN - India Research Training Fellowship
To promote mobility of scientists and researchers from the ASEAN-Member Countries to India and provide them opportunity to work at Indian R&D/ academic institutions to upgrade their research skills and expertise.

To facilitate exchange of information and contacts between the scientists and researchers of India and ASEAN Countries and create a network for building research collaborations.

  • ​​Funding Quantum: Indian Rupees (INR) 50,000 per month (non-taxable) for accommodation, meals and other miscellaneous expenses
  • One-time grant of INR 40,000/- for 6 months period for research contingency expenses, airport transfers, domestic travel (by road) for attending scientific/events and field-trips within India, and Institutional overhead charges @ Rs. 2,500/- per month​​
  • Funding Period: 2 to 6 months
  • Estimated Annual Cycle: Jun & Dec The completed applications / proposals can be submitted online throughout the year in two cycles ending 30th June and 31st December each year.

AXA Research Fund – AXA Fellowship
The AXA Fellowship is a funding scheme aimed at supporting young promising researchers on a priority topic aligned with AXA and the society. The support of the AXA Research Fund should be transformative for the researcher and the advancement of her/his research field.

  • Funding Quantum: EURO  €140,000
  • Funding Period: 2 years
  • Estimated Annual Cycle: May

Human Frontier Science Program (HSFP) Postdoctoral Fellowship
The HFSP fellowship program supports proposals for frontier, potentially transformative research in the life sciences. Applications for high-risk projects are particularly encouraged. The projects should be interdisciplinary in nature and should challenge existing paradigms by using novel approaches and techniques. Scientifically, they should address an important problem or a barrier to progress in the field.

  • ​Funding Quantum: Not stipulated. Fellows are paid allowances to support their living (salary portion) and a research and travel allowance
  • Funding Period: 3 years
  • Estimated Annual Cycle: Aug

L'Oréal Singapore For Women In Science National Fellowships
L'Oréal Singapore for Women in Science National Fellowships is organised annually with the support of the Singapore National Commission for UNESCO and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). The programme recognises talented women researchers in the scientific field, and aims to encourage women to not only pursue and maintain careers in science; but actively participate in Singapore’s research and development sector as well.

  • ​Funding Quantum: $15,000
  • Funding Period: 1 year
  • Estimated Annual Cycle: Jun to Sep