Research Fellow (Engineered Timber & Bamboo - Testing & Standards Dev)

Interested applicants are invited to apply directly at the NUS CareerPortal. Please note your application will only be processed if you apply viaNUS Career Portal.

NUS Career Portal link - https://careers.nus.edu.sg/job/Research-Fellow-%28Engineered-Timber-&-Bamboo-Testing-&-Standards-Dev%29/33272-en_GB/

We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

Job Description

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS) is seeking for highly motivated Research Fellow to join an industry-facing research programme on:
Harnessing Regional Tropical Timber and Bamboo for Sustainable and Durable Mass Engineered Timber Products for the Tropics.

This multidisciplinary project aims to develop and validate sustainable, low-carbon Mass Engineered Timber and Bamboo products for tropical climates, including Glued Laminated Timber (Glulam), Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT), Glued Laminated Bamboo (Glubam), and Laminated Bamboo Lumber (LBL). The work will focus on the use of regional tropical timber and bamboo species to support more cost-effective, durable, and structurally reliable building solutions for Singapore, Southeast Asia, and the wider Asia-Pacific region.

The appointed Research Fellow will work closely with academics, industry partners, timber manufacturers, testing laboratories, certification bodies, consultants, and regulatory stakeholders. The project is designed to move beyond laboratory research toward practical deployment, product qualification, regulatory acceptance, and industry adoption.

Key Responsibilities:

The Research Fellow will contribute to experimental research, data analysis, technical documentation, standards review, and industry engagement. Responsibilities include:

• Timber and Bamboo Testing, Grading, and Classification
Conduct mechanical testing of timber, bamboo, lamellae, finger-jointed specimens, and full MET products; determine key material properties such as strength, stiffness, density, moisture content, shear, and tensile performance; support lamellar strength classification; analyse results against relevant standards; and translate findings into practical design data.

• Product Development and Design Data
Develop practical product recommendations, including suitable product sizes and configurations, mechanical design properties, characteristic values, technical design tables, product summaries, and inputs for design guides. Compare tropical MET products with imported products and map regional performance data to Eurocode-equivalent requirements.

• Factory Production Control and Certification Readiness
Review international and regional practices for factory production control, quality assurance, audit, and certification; engage with manufacturers, testing laboratories, certification bodies, and stakeholders; and develop practical recommendations for product qualification and industry adoption.

• Fire Performance Testing
Conduct fire performance testing and interpret fire-related test data for timber, bamboo, and MET products.

• Standards Review and Eurocode Equivalence
Review relevant international and regional standards, including Eurocode, JIS, ISO, AS/NZS, Malaysian Standards, and China National Standards, to support the development of Singapore standards and Eurocode-equivalent pathways for the use of tropical timber and bamboo.

Why Join Us?
This position offers the opportunity to contribute to a high-impact research programme at the interface of timber engineering, sustainable construction, product development, standards translation, and industry adoption. Successful candidates will gain hands-on experience in mass engineered timber and bamboo product development, collaborate with academic and industry partners, publish in high-quality journals, present at international conferences, and contribute to future sustainable construction practices in Singapore and the region.

Job Requirements

• Possess a PhD degree in related areas such as Timber Engineering, Structural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Materials Engineering, Wood Science and Bamboo Engineering
• Strong technical knowledge or research experience in at least one of the following areas:
o Timber or bamboo material testing/
o Engineered wood products/
o Structural testing and mechanical characterisation/
o Timber design standards, especially Eurocode 5 or related international standards.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to interpret experimental data and translate results into practical recommendations.
• Good written and spoken communication skills, with the ability to prepare clear reports, research papers, technical documentation, and presentations.
• Strong project execution skills, including the ability to coordinate procurement, logistics, testing schedules, collaborators, and documentation.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct rigorous research and produce high-quality technical outputs.
• Open to fixed-term contract.