(Clockwise from top left) Prof Liu Bin; Prof Ho Teck Hua; Asst Prof Li Qianxiao; Assoc Prof Daniel Ting; and Assoc Prof Lu Jiong received the nation’s top honours for their research excellence and contributions to Singapore’s science and technology landscape. [Photos: National Research Foundation, Singapore & NTU]

Five outstanding professors from NUS received the nation’s highest honours for scientists and engineers as a recognition of their outstanding achievements in their respective fields.

Organised by the National Research Foundation, Singapore (NRF), the President’s Science & Technology Awards (PSTA) honours the exceptional contributions of researchers based in Singapore who have also helped to advance the country’s strategic research priorities.

At a ceremony held on 27 September 2024, President of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam presented the President’s Science Award to Professor Liu Bin, Tan Chin Tuan Centennial Professor as well as Deputy President (Research and Technology) at NUS. The PSA recognises accomplishments generally acknowledged by other Science and Technology (S&T) practitioners as being significant and impactful to their field.

Professor Ho Teck Hua, NUS University Professor and President of the Nanyang Technological University, was conferred the President’s Science and Technology Medal (PSTM) by President Tharman. This prestigious award is presented to individuals who have made distinguished, sustained and exceptional contributions, and play a strategic role in advancing Singapore’s development through the promotion and management of S&T.

Three research stars at NUS received the Young Scientist Award (YSA) from Mr Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of NRF. These highly accomplished scientists are:  Associate Professor Lu Jiong from the Department of Chemistry at the NUS Faculty of Science; Associate Professor Daniel Ting Shu Wei from the Singapore National Eye Centre, Duke-NUS Medical School, and the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the College of Design and Engineering; and Assistant Professor Li Qianxiao from the Department of Mathematics at the NUS Faculty of Science.

The YSA is awarded to researchers aged 40 years and below who are actively engaged in R&D in Singapore, and who have shown great potential to be world-class researcher in their fields of expertise. It is administered by the Singapore National Academy of Science and supported by NRF.

These awards, won by individual researchers and administrators in fields as diverse as organic functional materials and ophthalmology, demonstrate the strength of NUS’ research communities and commitment to scientific excellence.

The five award-winning scientists, with the support of their colleagues and institutions, have helped to push the boundaries in their respective fields, creating profound value and impact for both NUS and Singapore.

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam presented the President’s Science Award to Prof Liu Bin. She is the first female individual winner of the President’s Science Award. Prof Liu also made history in 2016 as the first female individual winner of the President’s Technology Award. (Photo: National Research Foundation, Singapore)

2024 President’s Science Award Recipient: Professor Liu Bin

NUS Tan Chin Tuan Centennial Professor Liu Bin is this year’s sole winner of the President’s Science Award (PSA). She received this prestigious accolade for her team’s breakthrough discovery of the role of carbazole isomers in room temperature phosphorescence of carbazole, an organic semiconductor, resolving a 95-year debate in the field.

The findings on carbazole isomer subsequently inspired Prof Liu’s team to develop an iso-structural doping strategy that captures and uses triplet state excitons efficiently to produce new materials with bright luminescence and long-lasting emission. This approach opens up possibilities in naked-eye sensing, afterglow devices, optical data encryption, and advanced medical diagnostics and treatments.

“I take great pride in the training I received at NUS,” said Prof Liu who received her PhD in Chemistry from NUS before her postdoctoral training at the University of California at Santa Barbara. She joined the University as an Assistant Professor in late 2005. She became a full professor in 2016 and is currently NUS Deputy President (Research and Technology). She is also a faculty member of the University’s Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering in the College of Design and Engineering.

“I am fortunate to work alongside very talented PhD students and postdoctoral fellows in my research group. I am grateful for their strong contributions to our success and deeply appreciate the unwavering support of my colleagues and international collaborators. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to my mentors for their invaluable coaching and guidance, which have inspired me to pursue excellence in both research and administration.”

An internationally acclaimed leader in the field of organic functional materials, Prof Liu has been highly recognised for her contributions in polymer chemistry and applications of organic nanomaterials for biomedical, environmental and energy research.

In honour of her exceptional performance in research, education and service, Prof Liu has been elected to the US National Academy of Engineering, Singapore National Academy of Sciences, Asia-Pacific Academy of Materials, the Academy of Engineering Singapore and the Royal Society of Chemistry. She has also received many prestigious awards, both locally and overseas.

Prof Liu is especially passionate about nurturing the next generation of research leaders and encouraging more women to pursue careers in science and engineering. As the first female individual winner of the PSA since it was first given out in 2009, Prof Liu is conscious that receiving the nation’s highest honour for scientific achievement represents a milestone not just for herself or the University, but for everyone in the scientific field.

“Being a scientist is great,” she said, “but life is more rewarding if we can elevate others. I am motivated to build a more conducive research environment to help my colleagues excel.”

Read the full citation here.

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam presented the President’s Science & Technology Medal to Prof Ho Teck Hua. Prof Ho said that the greatest challenges facing Singapore are an ageing population, sustainability, and the AI revolution. “Finding powerful, holistic solutions to address these three challenges requires expertise from multiple disciplines,” he shared. (Photo: National Research Foundation, Singapore)

2024 President’s Science & Technology Medal Recipient: Professor Ho Teck Hua

NUS University Professor Ho Teck Hua and current President of the Nanyang Technological University was awarded the President’s Science and Technology Medal (PSTM) for his profound impact on the science and technology landscape in Singapore especially in nurturing a pipeline of top talent, fostering interdisciplinary research, and building national R&D ecosystems.

At NUS, Prof Ho served two roles, as the Deputy President of Research and Technology from 2015 to 2018, and later, Senior Deputy President and Provost from 2018 to 2023. The university saw remarkable growth and expansion during these years. In 2016, he was appointed the founding Executive Chairman of AI Singapore, to lead the nation’s nascent efforts in artificial intelligence. In 2023, Prof Ho assumed the role of the fifth president of NTU.

An NUS alumnus, Prof Ho’s most significant contribution to Singapore was the creation of a strong pipeline of talent in science and technology. He is also a strong believer in interdisciplinary research, having led the creation of the College of Design and Engineering (CDE) at NUS through a merger of the Faculty of Engineering and the School of Design and Environment. Today, CDE champions research that cuts across multiple disciplines and offers an enriching interdisciplinary education.

“Our universities work very hard to attract and embrace both young talent and stars from around the world,” said Prof Ho. “Our goal is to support and empower our researchers to create solutions that will make the world a better place and improve the lives of Singaporeans.”

“My dream,” he added, “is to produce some Nobel prize and Turing Award winners for Singapore.”

Read the full citation here.

Addressing major challenges in science and technology now requires closer collaboration among diverse teams of experts, according to Assoc Prof Lu Jiong whose research on green catalysts won him the YSA. (Photo: National Research Foundation, Singapore)

2024 Young Scientist Award Recipient: Associate Professor Lu Jiong

Assoc Prof Lu Jiong, from the Department of Chemistry at the NUS Faculty of Science, received the YSA for developing novel catalysts that significantly advance sustainable chemical manufacturing processes.

Assoc Prof Lu, who is also a Principal Investigator at the NUS Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials and an NUS alumnus, works at the forefront of next-generation materials and catalytic technologies, focusing on achieving atomic-level precision and high sustainability. His pioneering work promises significant economic and environmental benefits, particularly in transforming manufacturing processes in the fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals industries.

These industries are major sources of air pollution, with some studies showing that the carbon footprint of the pharmaceutical industry surpasses that of the automotive industry. Currently, the catalysts used in these industries face several challenges, including high production costs, difficulties in separation and reuse, and the risk of harmful metal contamination.

Under Assoc Prof Lu’s leadership, his team developed advanced catalysts that not only achieved significantly higher yields and greater efficiency, but also saw a remarkable 10-fold reduction in environmental impact and production cost compared to conventional options.

Assoc Prof Lu is also dedicated to nurturing the next generation of researchers. Several members of his team have since established successful careers in other prestigious institutions, emerging as influential leaders in their respective fields.

“I am deeply grateful for the PhD training I received at NUS, which provided a solid foundation for my academic career and helped me gain a deeper understanding of the research ecosystem here,” he shared.

“Being closely connected with NUS, I feel a strong sense of responsibility to contribute to its research excellence and global impact. I am also truly honoured to receive this award, which recognises my team’s efforts and encourages me to continue driving innovation to position NUS – and Singapore – as a leader in the field.”

Read the full citation here.

The motivation behind Assoc Prof Daniel Ting’s cutting-edge approach to research is deeply rooted in a commitment to improving global health outcomes and advancing health diversity, equity and inclusivity. (Photo: National Research Foundation, Singapore)

2024 Young Scientist Award Recipient: Associate Professor Daniel Ting Shu Wei

Assoc Prof Daniel Ting, from the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) and Duke-NUS Medical School, received the YSA for his work in harnessing artificial intelligence in ophthalmology to prevent blindness.

Assoc Prof Ting’s approach to research combines cutting-edge AI technologies with practical clinical applications, seeking to reduce the global burden of eye and systemic vascular diseases. His AI research innovations have extended to pixel-based imaging areas such as diabetic eye diseases, myopia, chronic kidney disease, generative AI for structured data, medical imaging, and large language models for electronic health records. He is also a strong advocate for safe and responsible AI, data and AI safety using privacy enhancing technologies, and AI thought leadership and community practice building. These advancements are not only implemented in clinical, research and educational settings but are also transitioning into new start-ups and licensing agreements, broadening their impact.

His current passion is to develop resource-efficient consumers centric generative AI agents for clinical care, clinical trials matching, remote monitoring, and AI-based health coach, to help manage sick care and well care for Singaporeans and global populations.

Assoc Prof Ting aims to position Singapore’s research, innovation, and startup ecosystems at the global landscape, particularly in AI and digital health. This is reflected in his complementary roles in research, clinical, and policy at Duke-NUS, SNEC, and as the Director of the AI Office at SingHealth. He currently holds other appointments at the Department of Biomedical Engineering in the College of Design and Engineering at NUS, as well as Stanford University.

Assoc Prof Ting also prioritises mentoring the next generation of researchers, with a particular emphasis on fostering innovation and collaboration across scientific, healthcare, and academic institutions.

Read the full citation here.

Mathematics is less about numbers, but more about logic and concepts, according to Asst Prof Li. His work examines how deep learning models, which uses layers of “artificial neurons”, can express very complex relationships between things. (Photo: National Research Foundation, Singapore)

2024 Young Scientist Award Recipient: Assistant Professor Li Qianxiao

Asst Prof Li Qianxiao, from the Department of Mathematics at the NUS Faculty of Science, was awarded the YSA for his innovative work on the mathematical foundations of deep learning, its connections with dynamical systems, and applications in AI for science.

Asst Prof Li pioneered the understanding of how expressiveness – the ability to learn arbitrary relationships – arises in deep neural networks. Together with his research team, they revealed the intricate connections between this modern technology and classical mathematics. This has not only improved our understanding of how and when deep learning works, but also how to systematically improve its performance in new application settings.

“Machine learning research is a fast-moving field, and we have witnessed rapid developments in the last 10 years, from classical supervised learning to modern foundation models. Yet, some fundamental questions remain unsolved, and many of them are mathematical in nature,” said the Presidential Young Professor who joined NUS in 2019. Asst Prof Li is also a Principal Investigator at the NUS Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials.

Asst Prof Li’s work is highly interdisciplinary, and he has published in leading journals spanning the fields of mathematics, computer science, and the sciences. “One important advice I have received was from my PhD advisor, Prof E Weinan, from Princeton University. He held the firm view that applied mathematics research must be connected to the broader scientific community,” he shared.

“This principle has driven my research since, and reminded me that I must constantly learn from and talk with scientists from other fields to formulate good research questions,” he said. “NUS has provided me with the opportunity, resources, and freedom to pursue research in my areas of interest, for which I am very grateful.”

Read the full citation here.

News from: https://news.nus.edu.sg/nus-professors-win-psta-ysa-2024/