L-R: Terence Ong, Prof. Lam, Prof. Sri, Prof. Wang.{credit}Credit: Lisa Restelli{/credit}

Relocating to Singapore has benefits for scientists and their families.

Contributor Lisa Restelli

Scientists are expected to lead rather mobile lives. However, relocating to a new country, especially post PhD, can be quite demanding as by that point you might have a family to consider. Trailing, non-scientist spouses can have a hard time settling into a new life abroad, often not knowing the language of their host country, sometimes not permitted to work, and with the nagging worry that their children will have a hard time adapting to the new school system.

 At the Naturejobs London Expo, on Friday 19 September 2014, I attended the “Contact Singapore” workshop about science opportunities in the Southeast Asia city-state, and was pleasantly surprised to discover that it may not be so tough. With its stable political climate, its growing economy and its diverse population, the Republic of Singapore appears to be a great environment in which to foster discovery (more information at Contact Singapore), while at the same time offering attractive work and life opportunities to non-scientist immigrants.

Once they had us interested in Singapore, delegates presented some of the potential scientific opportunities in the College of Engineering at Nanyang Technological University, which recently placed first in an international ranking of young universities. Continue reading →