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NTU Singapore — BASE Lab

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BASE Lab @ NTU Singapore

BASE Lab @ NTU Singapore welcomes motivated researchers interested in advancing AI-driven solutions for intelligent and sustainable built environments. We offer opportunities for PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and visiting researchers to pursue impactful research, develop new ideas, and contribute to real-world applications.

Explore our current openings and find the right opportunity for you below.

  PhD + Postdoc Positions — Open Now

Agentic AI & Large Language Models for Intelligent Buildings

We are recruiting two PhD students and two postdoctoral researchers for a funded project developing a human-centric agentic AI system for next-generation building automation. The project integrates large language models (LLMs), multimodal sensing, and domain knowledge to enable buildings to learn occupant preferences, reason about environmental conditions, and adapt operations to enhance human comfort and energy efficiency. See the requirements below.

Agentic AI Systems Large Language Models Multimodal Sensing Personalised Building Control

Open Positions

PhD StudentsActively Recruiting · Aug 2027

Open to Singaporeans, Singapore PRs, and international students with a strong background in engineering, computer science, data science, or a related field. Actively recruiting for the August 2027 intake.

NTU MAE PhD Programme

The primary route for PhD admission at NTU. Successful applicants are considered for the NTU Research Scholarship (RSS) and Provost's Graduate Award (PGA) — covering tuition and a monthly stipend.

How it works

Intake Deadlines

  • August 2027 Intake: deadline 31 January (portal opens 1 Oct 2026)
  • January 2028 Intake: deadline 31 July (portal opens 1 Jun 2027)

Before starting this process, please read through the NTU Graduate Admission Guidelines carefully to understand the full process, eligibility, and document requirements.

Other PhD Scholarships

The following scholarships require separate applications and may have different deadlines. Please check the NTU Scholarships portal for current opportunities. If you are interested in any of these scholarships, please email me your CV and indicate your intended scholarship.

View scholarships
  • Nanyang President's Graduate Scholarship (NPGS) Open to all nationalities. Covers full tuition, monthly stipend, and annual conference allowance. Nomination-based by NTU.
  • AISG PhD Fellowship Open to all nationalities; SG citizens, PRs and ASEAN applicants especially encouraged. Covers full tuition, monthly stipend, and conference travel support. Focused on AI fundamental research. Nomination-based.
  • A*STAR Graduate Scholarship (AGS) Open to all nationalities. Covers full tuition, monthly stipend, and overseas research attachment support. International applicants commit to 3 years of work in Singapore after graduation.
  • Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship Singapore citizens only. Covers full tuition and a generous annual allowance for up to 5 years (PhD). Highly competitive with no bond requirement.
  • Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA) For international students. Joint A*STAR–NTU PhD programme. Covers full tuition, monthly stipend, and a one-time airfare grant.
  • Yunqi PhD Scholarship in Science & Technology Open to all nationalities. Covers full tuition and a monthly stipend for PhD candidates in science and technology at NTU.

Self-Funded & Part-Time PhD

Self-funded applicants are welcome to apply. Part-time PhD study may be available to working professionals, subject to NTU's admission requirements. Please contact me to discuss your circumstances and suitability before applying.

Postdoctoral Researchers2 Funded Positions

Project-funded openings: We have two funded Postdoctoral positions on our current project on agentic AI and LLMs for intelligent buildings. See the featured position at the top of this page and follow the steps in How to Apply below.

External fellowship positions: We also welcome applications from candidates holding or applying for independent fellowships. If interested, check the requirements and get in touch.

View fellowship opportunities
  • NTU Postdoctoral Fellowship — NTU's competitive internal fellowship for researchers within 3 years of their PhD. Covers full salary and a research budget.
  • Lee Kuan Yew Postdoctoral Fellowship — NTU's prestigious fellowship for outstanding early-career researchers. Covers full salary, research allowances, and travel support.
  • NRF Fellowship (Singapore) — Highly competitive national fellowship supporting early-career researchers in establishing an independent research programme in Singapore. Comes with a substantial 5-year grant.
  • A*STAR Research Fellowship Singapore — For Singapore citizens and PRs. Supports postdoctoral research at A*STAR institutes or local universities, with a focus on applied research.
  • Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) — EU Horizon programme open to researchers of any nationality. Supports international mobility with salary, travel, and research cost allowances.
  • Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship — Internationally recognised fellowship for researchers outside Germany to conduct extended research stays. Open to all career stages and nationalities.
  • NTU AI-for-X Postdoctoral Fellowship (AI4X) — NTU fellowship for early-career researchers applying AI to diverse domains. Supports independent research with a focus on AI-driven applications.

Timeline: The hiring process of international candidates typically takes 3–5 months from initial contact to start date, depending on administrative and visa requirements. Singaporeans and SPRs may have a shorter lead time.

Research AssistantsRolling Basis

We hire Research Assistants on short-term contracts or on an hourly basis for candidates with relevant experience. These positions are suited to recent graduates looking to gain research experience before a PhD, or those with strong technical skills who want to contribute to active projects in AI, sensing, and building systems. If you have relevant experience and are interested in contributing, please get in touch with your CV and a brief description of your background.

Timeline: The hiring process of international candidates typically takes 3–5 months from initial contact to start date, depending on administrative and visa requirements. Singaporeans and SPRs may have a shorter lead time.

Visiting Students & Researchers

We welcome self-funded visiting students and researchers from partner universities. NTU's Non-Graduating, Non-Exchange (NGNE) programme supports research visits of up to two years. Please email me well in advance to discuss a proposed research plan. Visits work best when there is a clear, mutually beneficial research agenda.

NTU Visiting Research (NGNE)
Master's Students (NTU)

NTU MSc and MEng students interested in dissertations or collaborative research in AI, sensing, building systems, or energy are welcome to reach out. Please attach your academic transcript and a short paragraph on your area of interest.

Undergraduate Researchers (NTU)

NTU undergraduates interested in Final Year Projects (FYP) or URECA research are encouraged to reach out. Please include your transcript and a sentence or two on which research topic interests you most.

What We Look For

We welcome applicants with diverse backgrounds who share a strong interest in AI, sensing, and sustainable built environments.

Academic Background A bachelor's or master's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, or a related field is required for PhD applicants. Postdoctoral applicants must hold a PhD in a relevant discipline. A strong academic record is expected for both.
Programming & Technical Skills Proficiency in Python is essential. For PhD applicants, experience with ML frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, or scikit-learn is an advantage. Postdoctoral candidates are expected to demonstrate strong hands-on experience with ML/DL frameworks, data analysis tools, and ideally familiarity with LLMs or agentic AI systems.
Research Experience & Domain Interest A strong background in AI, sensing, sustainable built environments, or energy systems. Prior research experience and thesis work are advantageous for PhD applicants; publications are a plus. Postdoctoral candidates should have a strong publication record and demonstrated ability to lead independent research.
Communication & Collaboration Excellent written and verbal communication in English, with the ability to clearly articulate research ideas and direction. We look for self-motivated researchers who work well both independently and as part of a team, and who bring intellectual rigour, curiosity, openness to feedback, and a genuine commitment to meaningful research.

How to Apply

1
Get in touch
Email zeynep.tekler@ntu.edu.sg with subject: [PhD/Postdoc/Visiting Researcher – Programme] Your Name
  • CV — education, research experience, publications (if any), and two referee contacts
  • Research statement — one page on why BASE Lab, your research interests, and the direction you hope to pursue
  • Relevant work — links to publications, code, or a personal website (optional but welcome)
2
Follow the application route
After an initial exchange and confirming a mutual fit, follow the next steps:
  • PhD: NTU MAE PhD Programme or relevant scholarship route
  • Postdoc and RA: email me directly to discuss your background and fit
  • Visiting researchers: NTU NGNE application process
  • NTU Master's & undergraduates: get in touch to discuss dissertation, FYP, or URECA projects
3
Check deadlines early
Scholarship and fellowship deadlines may differ from the standard admission calendar. Check the relevant official websites early to confirm eligibility and deadlines.
A Note on Enquiries
I review every application carefully, but due to the high volume of applications only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. I encourage applications that demonstrate a strong research background and a clear alignment with BASE Lab's research interests. I look forward to hearing from motivated researchers who are excited to contribute to our work at BASE Lab.