Discovering the joy (and pain) of research

Laboratory work during UROPS

NG Hong Xiang’s passion for research began in junior college where he gained deeper exposure to biology at the molecular level. Topics relating to infectious diseases and pathogens validated his decision to pursue his undergraduate degree in Life Sciences.

Hong Xiang hopes to pursue a career in research or in the healthcare / biomedical sectors and to this end, he actively sought out research opportunities. For instance, prior to matriculating into university, he secured an internship at a microbiology laboratory in NUS working on a molecular cloning project on an antibiotic resistant gene. This further piqued his interest in research.

As a result, he did not hesitate to participate in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities in Sciences (UROPS) programme.

Hong Xiang’s UROPS project focused on the development of a high throughput detection method for parasites that cause blood-borne diseases, which has numerous useful downstream applications. He was also involved in evaluating disease prevalence in Singapore, which yielded useful insights into the risk of these parasites in the local context.

The UROPS journey was not an easy one, says Hong Xiang. “Experiments are unpredictable and changes have to be made constantly. I faced enormous stress when I thought I could not finish my experiments within the short project runway.”

Nevertheless, the experience was entirely worthwhile. He got to engage with, and learn from like-minded individuals as well as experts, and in troubleshooting problems on experimental processes, he sharpened his critical thinking and presentation skills.

On his takeaways, he adds, “I discovered that research requires swift decisions, in view of experimental results that deviate from what one desires. By working independently, I gained valuable insights into the complexity and rigour of planning experiments. “

Hong Xiang is also reading a Minor in Public Health as he believes that cross-disciplinary knowledge from both disciplines will prepare him for a research career in infectious disease epidemiology.

Volunteering @ Young Women’s Christian Association (Organised by the NUS Science Volunteer Corps)

Picnic @ UTown Green with Leo House in Residential College 4