Biomed research salaries

[buzz]

Hey there guys,

I am considering moving to Singapore for a couple of years after I finish my PhD to do biomedical research.  Does anyone know what sort of salary I could expect to earn?  I know that post-doc fellowships start at around S$34k, but I am dubious about whether I could afford to live in Singapore on that.

Also - does anyone know what the standard of the HDB housing for 'foreign talent' is like?  Would I be better off finding a room with some other ex-pats?

Cheers

[fifa]

>> Also - does anyone know what the standard of the HDB housing for 'foreign talent' is like?

Sorry, I can't figure out what you mean by this statement. 85% of the population in Singapore live in HDB flats.

[buzz]

Thanks - I couldn't remember the name of the SHIFT program in my earlier post.  I didn't realise that HDB flats were so all-pervasive.

My PhD is in a good field and from a good university - all the same, post-doc salaries are notoriously low almost everywhere in the world.  Here in Australia $34-38k would be a normal post-doc starting salary - basically because it is still considered a training stipend.

Cheers

[fifa]

HDB flats, despite being government housing, are of very good quality. So you won't have a private tennis court or pool, but it is extremely affordable housing and for someone without the high salary, it's a good option to look into. You can also look for roommates who are interested in sharing an HDB flat. As I mentioned 85% of the population lives in them... they are a bit noisy if you have inconsiderate neighbours.... kids screaming, music on too loud, people arguing etc.

As for the pay - it really depends. It sounds like you want to work for the local university as a post-doc fellow. If you take on mentoring responsibilities, you might get better pay. The pay is not that bad, probably more than $34Kpa. The per month pay may look a little low, but ask about the 13th month annual wage supplement and interim pay bonuses. I have been told that previously, NUS has paid up to 15mths pay in a year when all the bonuses are factored in.

Or you could look into the private industry.

[ELIA]

I manage a research group of the IMCB, we work in bioinformatics. There are amazing opportunities for biomedical sciences at the moment, a lot of money being put in the field, a lot of Instiutes being set up. If you have a PhD, post-doc contracts can easily pay you 2000 S$ of housing allowance (which gives you a nice condo flat) and on top of that pay you around 4000S$ which is more than enough to live on once your flat is paid.

These are average figures that are being given to post-docs in Institutes here, it can be higher or slightly lower depending on your CV and your negotiation skills. Your negotiation can be strong because it is one of the few fields that has very high demand right now.

If you would like to chat more about this, or even if you actually want to hear about jobs in my and other Institutes mail me at elia@fugu-sg.org

Elia Stupka
(Fugu Informatics Project Manager, IMCB)

[buzz]

Thanks everyone - I am pretty sure I will move over there early next year some time.

Buzz

[KatyF]

I think if you check out the FAQs on this board you will find out more about SHIFT.  Apparently it's a bit of a lottery, and you may end up with a shell of an apartment, that you would have to paint and furnish for yourself.  Still, good rental prices and I'm sure would be worth it.

[InvisibleExpat]

I work as a postdoc at NUS but not in the science field and get around $42,000 so I would imagine that a science postdoc would get at least that if not more.  I don't think NUS give much of a housing allowance for postdocs and we're not eligible for their own housing.

as for SHIFT, i didn't consider it at all because you get an unfurnished flat (i.e. completely unfurnished) which you can't actually view beforehand!  

[fifa]

Hey buzz,

I found out from an aquantaince that she made about $5K pm as a pretty senior post-doc 3 years ago. She was overall in charge of the lab and also mentoring students and teaching. She also got about 3 months extra bonus by the time she left. She left to join the private industry with a pay cut.

From what I've been told, NUS went through a change in the past year and the bonuses are not as much as before, but they have recalculated the base pay in include the 13mth AWS that had always been given.

Sorry, it is somewhat heresay, but it sure looks better than the 34K pa you're talking about!

[Aus_Sin]

I joined as a post-doc fellow at one of the research institutes in Singapore as soon as I got my PhD. As a fresh graduate, I got S$4300 per month (plus 13th month bonus, and only paid <10% tax). I learned it was a fair pay - a friend of mine in NUS made only S$3500 as fresh graduate and others made more than me.

As far as I know, not many institutes nowadays would pay housing allowance, unless you are qualified to be considered as foreigner (staying out of Asia region for more than 5 years). You need to check with your employer whether you will be employed as local or foreigner term.

I am now working in Sydney. Got about AUD$4600 per month (without the 13th month bonus, plus have to pay >20% tax!!!) after post-doctoring experience in Singapore.

The SHIFT scheme is, as what I heard, not a good scheme. You might be better off to hunt for a room or house in the market.

Hope this help.