When our researchers team up with industry, imagination becomes practical. Across the Faculty, scientists work with industry partners to address problems that demand new thinking, from conserving endangered species to developing quantum systems that store information in light. The outcome is knowledge that moves from concept to application, finding relevance in daily life.
Assoc Prof Darren Yeo is working with the National Parks Board and Mandai Nature to study the globally critically endangered Singapore freshwater crab (Johora singaporensis) and swamp forest crab (Parathelphusa reticulata) using whole genome analysis. By examining genetic diversity and population history, the project seeks to enhance understanding of how low genetic diversity and habitat fragmentation and loss affect these crabs. The findings will guide conservation strategies to better protect these rare species in Singapore.
Prof Huang Dejian is collaborating with Amway (China) Co Ltd to advance knowledge in plant-based proteins, develop superior crop varieties and study novel antiageing ingredients. This initiative brings together expertise in research and product development, for advancements in functional foods and nutraceuticals in the future.
Photo credit: Timur Abdulla Javid
Assoc Prof Darren Yeo is working with the National Parks Board and Mandai Nature to study the globally critically endangered Singapore freshwater crab (Johora singaporensis) and swamp forest crab (Parathelphusa reticulata) using whole genome analysis. By examining genetic diversity and population history, the project seeks to enhance understanding of how low genetic diversity and habitat fragmentation and loss affects these crabs. The findings will guide conservation strategies to better protect these rare species in Singapore.
Prof Sam Li is collaborating with the Home Team Science and Technology Agency to develop portable sensors for rapid and sensitive onsite detection of controlled substances. These sensors overcome the constraints of conventional laboratory-based forensic analysis, such as sample degradation during transport. The sensors include synthetic polymers which are designed to recognise specific chemicals or similar substances.
Prof Huang Dejian‘s team developed a plant-based abalone analogue using mung bean, which is protein-rich but often treated as a sidestream in industry. It has protein content comparable to real abalone. It also contains enhanced nutrients such as essential fatty acids. In addition, cooked plant-based abalone presents physical properties similar to real abalone at a fraction of the cost and it is a sustainable option for high-protein seafood alternatives amid concerns of overfishing.
It is often assumed that dry foods are safe from bacteria but food outbreaks prove otherwise. Assoc Prof Li Dan’s study recently drew attention to this issue by uncovering how Salmonella can survive and resist sanitisation by forming dry surface biofilms. This has led to the development of a water-free antimicrobial strategy for dry food plants – one that could significantly reduce contamination, recall costs and threats to public health.
Assoc Prof Liu Shaoquan’s team developed an effective method to significantly boost the cocoa-like flavour of carob pulp in dark chocolate. They used easy-to-obtain enzymes that alter the profile of flavour precursors in roasted carob pulp, enabling it to more closely mimic the taste and aroma of cocoa. This method addresses the supply shortage of cocoa and provides chocolate lovers a healthier alternative that is caffeine-free and rich in D-pinitol, a natural antidiabetic agent.
Inside the Faculty’s laboratories, biologists, chemists and pharmacologists are not content merely to understand how life works; they seek to uncover where it falters. They are designing catalysts that convert simple molecules into medicines, refining peptides that last longer in the body and building portable devices for quick disease detection. Each development brings healthcare closer to being faster, more precise and within reach for all.
Cilia – tiny hair-like structures on cells – are essential for cell movement and sensing. Two proteins, Arl13 and Arl3, are well-known for their functions in lipidated protein transport and cell signalling. Assoc Prof Cynthia He‘s team uncovered a new pathway in which Arl13-Arl3 regulate the transport of cilia proteins required for motility. The findings improve current understanding of Arl13-Arl3 disease mechanisms and could lead to better treatments for diseases caused by cilia dysfunction.
Natural products, such as ibuprofen and penicillin, are vital drugs produced by biosynthetic enzymes. Asst Prof Brandon Morinaka harnesses nature’s biosynthetic processes to create new drug molecules that are difficult to design. His team discovered a novel enzyme that catalyses two critical reactions essential for creating drug molecules. This could lead to the development of targeted treatments for hard-to-treat diseases like antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and cancer.
Our immune system typically identifies and attacks cancer cells by detecting foreign peptides on the tumour surface. Cancers develop when this process fails. Assoc Prof Wu Wei’s team is aiming to change that by developing universal vaccines as broad-spectrum cancer therapeutics. This could open the door to new treatment possibilities for a wide range of cancers.
Scientific progress is rarely a straight line – it is a winding path traced by those who refuse to stop asking why. Here, that quiet determination defines the spirit of discovery. Researchers pursue answers that bridge the smallest and the vastest scales of understanding. Their work is earning international recognition, not just for excellence, but for impact: advancing knowledge, deepening insight and improving lives.
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Assoc Prof Ryan Chisholm was recognised for his groundbreaking ecological study that advances understanding of the effects of immigration on species coexistence in intertidal communities.
Assoc Prof Koh Ming Joo is acclaimed for his research in sustainable catalysis that led to the discovery of cheaper, energy-efficient catalysts, contributing to chemical production with lower emissions and waste generation.
Asst Prof Lee Si Ying was recognised for introducing a new approach to an important problem in the Langlands Program, successfully reducing it to a local problem.
Assoc Prof Ryan Chisholm was recognised for his groundbreaking ecological study that advances understanding of the effects of immigration on species coexistence in intertidal communities.
Assoc Prof Koh Ming Joo is acclaimed for his research in sustainable catalysis that led to the discovery of cheaper, energy-efficient catalysts, contributing to chemical production with lower emissions and waste generation.
Asst Prof Lee Si Ying was recognised for introducing a new approach to an important problem in the Langlands Program, successfully reducing it to a local problem.
The nation’s highest scientific honour stands as a beacon of excellence, celebrating brilliant minds whose work reshapes our world. Each awardee is more than a pioneer; they light the path forward for innovators to come.
Assoc Prof Lu is renowned for developing next-generation dynamic atomic precision catalysts that significantly enhance green and sustainable chemical manufacturing processes.
Asst Prof Li Qianxiao received the award for his innovative work on the mathematical foundations of deep learning, its connections with dynamical systems and applications in artificial intelligence for science.
Adjunct Assoc Prof Jonathan Göke pioneered computational methods for ribonucleic acid (RNA) transcription and modifications at unprecedented accuracy, paving the way for greater insights into RNA’s role in human diseases.
In classrooms and laboratories, the next generation of scientists is already questioning what is known and what remains to be discovered. Each project adds a new thread to the wider story of science, proving that discovery grows from patience as much as inspiration.
Inspired by her grandfather’s battle with cancer, Raegan Sim (Year 4, Major in Life Sciences, Minor in Public Health) turned grief into purpose through research and discovery. Her Final Year Project on ovarian cancer uncovered how giant polyaneuploid cancer cells transfer specialised mitochondria to neighbouring cells, helping them survive chemotherapy. The breakthrough not only advances understanding of cancer resilience but also hints at promising regenerative applications. Raegan, the only NUS student recognised with the Global Undergraduate Award (GUA) and Thomas Clarkson Gold Medal, proudly represented Singapore at the GUA Global Summit this year.
Science progress is not always loud, but its impact is felt quietly – in healthier lives, cleaner energy, smarter technologies and moments of clarity that shape our understanding of the world we have and the one we dare to imagine.
“We have barely scratched the surface of Timor-Leste’s biodiversity. New discoveries can have profound impacts on conservation and policy-making.”
In August 2022, we led an expedition to Timor-Leste in collaboration with Conservation International and the government of Timor-Leste. The Museum’s herpetologist, Dr CHAN Kin Onn, discovered a new species of bent-toed gecko which was named Cyrtodactylus santana, in reference to the Nino Konis Santana National Park, in which the gecko was discovered.
