September 2026 – Singapore’s bioimaging infrastructure shares experiences, training activities and international exchanges.
Since last year, the Global BioImaging Newsletter has been brought to the community each month by a different GBI partner, offering a glimpse into imaging activities and developments from across our global network.
--> Explore the Newsletter archive
The September edition is hosted by SingaScope, Singapore’s microscopy infrastructure. To accompany the newsletter, we highlight some of SingaScope’s activities and international exchanges during 2026 — from job shadowing and training to connections with global and regional imaging communities.
SingaScope has been a Global BioImaging partner since 2021. The infrastructure connects multiple institutes, cutting-edge microscopy facilities and researchers across Singapore, providing a strong example of a bioimaging infrastructure bridging technologies, expertise and geographic barriers.
Growing Through Imaging: Global BioImaging Job Shadowing
One of the strengths of SingaScope is the close connection between imaging facilities across Singapore. Through Global BioImaging’s International Job Shadowing Programme, these connections are also creating opportunities for imaging professionals from Singapore and abroad to exchange practical knowledge and experience.
Earlier this year, Alfina Gracia Feronytha from Indonesia visited A*STAR iCORE Microscopy (iCM) from 8–22 March 2026. Alfina is a staff member at the Scientific Imaging Center (SIC), the only core imaging facility in Indonesia, where such facilities are still emerging.
Observing how an established microscopy facility operates at the forefront of scientific imaging was a
meaningful experience during my job shadowing program at the ASTAR iCORE Microscopy (iCM)
in Singapore. As a staff member of the Scientific Imaging Center (SIC), the only core imaging facility in
Indonesia where such facilities are still emerging, I gained valuable insights into advanced imaging
techniques alongside a deeper understanding of how an imaging facility is managed, sustained, and
developed into a strong, collaborative scientific community.
During the program, I supported the iCM team in the “Fundamentals of Microscopy in Life Science”
workshop. The course combined lectures and hands-on sessions covering essential microscopy
techniques, from bright-field imaging to advanced fluorescence methods such as confocal laser
scanning microscopy (CLSM), alongside image analysis. Beyond technical operation, it emphasized
applying microscopy to life science research through careful modality selection and experimental
design. A highlight was iCM’s collaboration with industry partners, demonstrating strong academia–
industry synergy. I also had the opportunity to serve as an assistant trainer, which strengthened both
my technical understanding and skills in supporting users.
I observed how core imaging facilities in Singapore are connected through SingaScope, a collaborative
community linking multiple institutions with an integrated platform like booking system. Through this
network, iCM arranged me to visit the National University of Singapore (NUS), including the Yong Loo
Lin School of Medicine and the Centre for Bioimaging Sciences (CBIS), where I saw daily operations
such as booking management and user training. I was also introduced to many advanced microscope
and custom-built microscopes, designed as educational tools to help users understand imaging
principles. Witnessing the dedication of staff members Lee Shu Ying (YLLSOM) and Lin Yangchen (CBIS)
in supporting both technology and researchers was particularly inspiring.
This experience has broadened my perspective and will guide how we continue to develop the
Scientific Imaging Center (SIC). I sincerely thank the iCM team, Ma Xiaoxiao, Graham Wright, Goh
Wah Ing, Annisa Ibrahim, Shuping, and John Lim for welcoming me and generously sharing their
knowledge and experiences, which were truly inspiring. Many thanks also to Global BioImaging for
supporting this Job Shadowing program. It has been a truly memorable experience, and I hope it will
continue to help imaging facilities and communities grow.*— Alfina Gracia Feronytha
In May, the programme also enabled an exchange within Singapore, with Lee Shu Ying and Delia Pang from NUS LMU hosting John Lim, Senior Image Analyst at A*STAR.
The one-week job shadowing visit to the NUS Microscopy Cluster at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine provided an opportunity to experience working in a new environment and observe how another microscopy facility runs its daily operations.
The visit included microscopy training, researcher support and an introduction to electron microscopy. John also conducted a basic Fiji training using the facility’s teaching classroom. Exposure to different research topics, equipment and approaches broadened his professional perspective and highlighted the value of learning from colleagues across facilities.
This immersive experience broadened my professional perspective, deepened my understanding of the common challenges we faced in our daily work and increased my willingness to learn from the expertise of others. I want to express my sincere appreciation to SingaScope colleagues for walking through their daily routines and exploring valuable operational insights I can adopt. — John Lim
Also in May, Nick Condon from the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB), Australia, visited A*STAR through the Global BioImaging International Job Shadowing Programme.
Thanks to the Global Bioimaging International Job Shadowing Program, I recently had the opportunity to visit ASTAR hosted by Graham Wright from iCORE.
Throughout the visit, I spent time across a range of ASTAR technology platforms and management teams, learning how different facilities operate, the challenges they faced, and the innovative approaches they are taking to improve services and support researchers through analytics. I spent the most amount of time with the superstar ASTAR iCORE Microscopy team, learning about their broad user base and the types of research being conducted, to seeing firsthand how new users are onboarded, trained, and supported across their diverse portfolio of optical microscopy systems.
I had the opportunity to present some of my work at NTU (IDMxS), meet with some of the researchers and tour the facility. I also visited NUS, discussing microscopy, image analysis, and facility management in a large core facility supporting both light and electron microscopy.
The tools, software and facility structure that I’m familiar with from my home facility are similar to those at the different sites I visited around Singapore (PPMS, several similar microscopes and similar centralised facilities), allowing for knowledge to be shared both ways. From these great discussions I have already implemented subtle changes at home or plan to roll them out soon. I’m incredibly thankful for all the time facility experts from across Singapore spent with me, explaining their processes and procedures, and for Global Bioimaging for supporting my visit through this amazing program.* — Nick Condon
Sharing Expertise Through Training
SingaScope’s network also provides a platform for sharing expertise beyond individual facilities. In June, A*STAR iCORE Microscopy hosted Cameron Nowell from Monash University, Australia, for an advanced image analysis workshop covering segmentation and reproducible workflows using Fiji/ImageJ, CellPose, ilastik and Napari, alongside an introduction to AI and machine learning applications.
The same month, the SingHealth Advanced Bioimaging Core (ABI) welcomed young participants from non-profit community organisations for an interactive STEM learning experience, introducing them to microscopy technologies, high-end imaging systems and scientific imaging software.
Together, these activities illustrate the different ways in which SingaScope facilities contribute to capacity building—from supporting imaging professionals and sharing technical expertise to introducing microscopy to new audiences.
Connecting Singapore with the Global and Regional Imaging Community
SingaScope’s connections extend well beyond Singapore, linking its imaging community with both global and regional networks. Through international conferences and partnerships, SingaScope contributes to the exchange of expertise and ideas across the broader research infrastructure community, while also helping to strengthen connections between imaging communities across Southeast Asia.
In March, Graham Wright from ASTAR iCORE Microscopy attended the ABRF 2026 Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh, presenting ASTAR’s research infrastructure and digitalisation efforts. The ABRF Annual Meeting brings together core facility professionals, administrators and scientific leaders from across the research infrastructure community, providing an opportunity to exchange experiences across disciplines and learn from facilities operating at different scales.
Learn more here: [ABRF Website] [CTLS Website] [Wright G, Wantroba R. The ABRF 2025 Annual Meeting: A Whirlwind of Core Facility Insights in the Electrifying Landscape of Las Vegas.]
This global perspective goes hand in hand with SingaScope’s commitment to strengthening the regional imaging community. Established only in 2025, Imaging South East Asia (iSEA) is already growing into a regional platform for connecting imaging communities across Southeast Asia. Following the success of its first meeting in Malaysia, SingaScope supported the organisation of iSEA 2026, hosted by Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) in Indonesia.
The conference brought together regional imaging communities through scientific symposia, hands-on workshops in light microscopy, electron microscopy and data analysis, as well as outreach activities. Through its involvement in iSEA, SingaScope is helping build stronger connections between Singapore and neighbouring imaging communities and supporting the regional exchange of expertise, technologies and training.
