NRF Fellowship

NRF aims to develop a strong science research and manpower base in Singapore. It runs initiatives to attract and retain top scientists, support competitive funding of research, establish world-leading research centres and engage eminent science and technology leaders.

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.

Each Fellow is provided with a research grant to support projects that exhibit high likelihood of a research breakthrough. The research grant can be used to cover personnel, equipment and consumables costs.

View list of the latest awarded NRF Fellows here.

Selection Process and Guidelines

NRF invites applications once a year, as well as taps on local research organisations and contacts to identify potential candidates.

There is a three-step selection process, comprising a longlisting process by prospective host institutions in Singapore, a shortlisting process and a final selection. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to Singapore for a final interview by the NRF Fellowship Evaluation Panel.

Interested applicants should refer to the detailed NRF guidelines outlined in the Integrated Grant Management System (IGMS) website.

NRF Fellowship Institutions

Appointees will be offered tenure-track faculty positions at the following Singapore-based universities and research institutions.
 
Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
A*STAR is the lead agency for fostering world-class scientific research and talent for a vibrant knowledge-based and innovation-driven Singapore. A*STAR oversees 14 biomedical sciences and physical sciences and engineering research institutes, and six consortia & centres, located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis, as well as their immediate vicinity.
 
National University of Singapore (NUS)
Currently ranked as the top university in Asia and 24th in the world, NUS is internationally respected for its high-quality research in science, technology, the humanities and the interfaces between these areas.

Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
NTU, the fastest-rising Asian university among the world’s top 50 universities, has 33,500 undergraduate and postgraduate students in the colleges of Engineering, Business, Science, Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, and its Interdisciplinary Graduate School. A research-intensive university, it has a new medical school set up jointly with Imperial College London.

Duke-NUS Medical School (Duke-NUS)
Duke-NUS was established in 2005 as a strategic collaboration between the Duke University School of Medicine, located in North Carolina, USA and NUS. Duke-NUS offers a graduate entry, 4-year M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) programme based on the unique Duke model of education, with one year dedicated to independent study and research projects of a basic science or clinical nature.

Singapore Management University (SMU)
SMU is internationally recognised for its world-class research and distinguished teaching. Its mission is to generate leading-edge research focused on social and behavioural science, management, and information technology, and in the emerging area of computational social science and analytics. Through its unique pedagogical style, SMU seeks to produce broad-based, creative and entrepreneurial leaders for the knowledge-based economy.

Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)
SUTD is one of the first universities in the world to incorporate the art and science of design and technology into a multi-disciplinary curriculum. Established in collaboration with Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Zhejiang University, SUTD seeks to nurture technology leaders and innovators in engineering product development, engineering systems and design, information systems technology and design, and architecture and sustainable design.

Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (TLL)
TLL’s vision is to build a pre-eminent organization of global talent to undertake bio-molecular science research and applications to benefit people in Asia and beyond.  The research institute focuses on understanding the cellular mechanisms that underlie the development and physiology of plants, fungi and animals which provides foundation for biotechnology innovation.

Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)
The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) is Singapore’s first University of Applied Learning, offering industry-relevant degree programmes that prepare its graduates to be work- and future-ready professionals. Its mission is to maximise the potential of its learners and to innovate with industry, through an integrated applied learning and research approach, so as to contribute to the economy and society.

The University’s unique pedagogy integrates work and study, embracing authentic learning in a real-world environment through collaborations with key strategic partners. Its focus on applied research with business impact is aimed at helping industry innovate and grow. Targeted to be ready in 2024, SIT’s centralised campus within the larger Punggol Digital District will feature a vibrant learning environment where academia and industry will be tightly integrated with the community.