Valedictorian diaries: Making a lasting impact

Valedictorian TAN Wee Leng’s interest in biomedical research was sparked during her first research project in school, where she encountered the reality of neuropsychiatric disorders that lacked effective treatments. The realisation that millions of people suffer due to unmet medical needs ignited a passion that continues to drive her today – the never-ending fight to seek better treatments in the face of new healthcare challenges.

For Wee Leng, who graduates with Honours (Highest Distinction) in Life Sciences and a Minor in Psychology, her journey is not just one of academic excellence. Equally important, she found the time to make meaningful contributions to the community.

Academic excellence, in Singapore and beyond

As a physics student in Junior College, joining NUS Life Sciences was a daunting challenge. However, despite a rough start to her academic journey, her determination eventually earned her a place on the Dean’s List.

She received the NUS Awards for Study Abroad (NASA) Exchange Scholarship to pursue her interest in life sciences at the University of Dundee, United Kingdom. Beyond this, she also participated in international internship and research programmes at Queen’s University Belfast, United Kingdom, and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan.

She says, “These rich and varied experiences broadened my awareness of the versatility of life sciences, and careers in this field.”

At Project Idea 2023 – AstraZeneca, Wee Leng’s team proposal – a metaverse-inspired mobile application incorporating social networking and gamification features to engage Singaporean youths on early chronic kidney disease prevention – emerged top in the Country Finals (Singapore) and thereafter, amongst the top three in the regional finals. Thanks to this experience, she came away with valuable insights on health entrepreneurship.

Insights at the interface of science and the social sciences

The field of neuroscience captivated her with its seemingly limitless boundaries and constant discoveries, and her courses in life sciences and psychology allowed her to delve deeper into this field.  “The blend of physical and abstract elements in neuroscience is incredibly intriguing,” she says.

In an especially memorable Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme in Science (UROPS) project at the NUS School of Medicine, she investigated schizophrenia-associated mutations of a neuronal motor adaptor protein, while her course in abnormal psychology allowed her to concurrently explore cognitive behavioural therapy for schizophrenia. The result: a better understanding of how neurobiology can explain psychological phenomena and how the latter can be reduced to underlying biological mechanisms.

She says, “Take the initiative to draw connections between different disciplines. It can be truly satisfying to witness how seemingly different disciplines can be so interconnected.”  Such varied perspectives, she adds, are crucial for a career in research.   

Deep diving into research

After her UROPS experience, Wee Leng embarked on a summer internship at the Agency of Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) where she delved into the crosstalk between the central nervous system, the gut and its microbiota.

“The interconnectedness of our biological systems opened my eyes to the complexities and the potential of biomedical research,” she says.  Gaining research experience outside of NUS did not only give her a different perspective of the impact of scientific research. It also allowed her to put her research skills to practice to address real-world problems.

Wee Leng’s passion and aptitude in research earned her the prestigious Amgen Foundation Research Scholarship. Under this scholarship, she embarked on another project at NUS Medicine to understand the disease mechanism for triple-negative breast cancer – a disease which presents a global health challenge due to its aggressive nature and limited response to conventional therapies. Specifically, she examined cytoskeletal rearrangements of breast cancer cells as a potential target for cancer immunotherapy.

“As a woman in science, I found it very meaningful to be doing science for women,” she says. Representing NUS, she presented her work at the Amgen Scholars Asia Symposium (2023) and received the ‘Best Oral Presentation Award’.

Her research journey did not stop there. In her Final Year Project, she focused on a rare genetic disorder known as type 2 Spinal Muscular Atrophy. She was moved by stories of young patients with financial difficulties who struggled with the disease’s debilitating symptoms and the high cost of treatments. This fired her interest to better understand the mitochondrial defects in the affected motor neurons contributing to the disease.

Her study on the feasibility of nutrient supplementation as a cost-effective supplementary treatment was recognised for its innovative approach, winning her the Outstanding Poster Presentation Award at the Singapore Fish Meeting (2024) and the NUS Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Prize (2024).

Reflecting on her experiences, she says, “The research process is often filled with setbacks and immense pressure. This serves as good ground to pick up important soft skills, such as resilience, patience and attention to detail,” attributes which cannot be directly learned in school.  

Student leadership  

At King Edward VII Hall, Wee Leng led various student initiatives and co-curricular activities. Notably, under her leadership as the project director of KEVII RAG, her team’s ideas for the virtual NUSSU RAG and FLAG (2021) clinched them the Silver Award, edging out 21 other teams.

As the team captain of KEVII Titans Cheerleading, her active efforts to promote cheerleading paid off when her team was invited to perform at university events as well as other key events such as the National Day Parade (2022).

“The spirit and teamwork of KEVII residents will always be a heartwarming reminder of the importance of a strong and close-knit community in our various endeavours,” she reflects.

Wee Leng was also an executive member of the NUS Students’ Science Club and NUS Life Sciences Society, where she led programmes ranging from orientation camps to academic sharing sessions and workshops for studies.

In recognition of her contributions to student life, she received the NUS Science Club Outstanding Subcommittee Member Award (2021) and the Student Life Award – Campus Vibrancy (2023).

Community champion  

Since school, Wee Leng has been volunteering at social service organisations, providing educational guidance to underprivileged youths.

This is a journey she continues to walk. To her, the realm of medicine and biomedical research extends beyond the application of scientific knowledge – it is also about compassion and service to the larger community. “By interacting with members of my community, I am better able to find my purpose and cater my research to their needs,” she says.   

During her Honours Year project, she also volunteered at a paediatric ward in KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital to support young patients during meals and play time on a weekly basis. She was also a community health screening volunteer, where she worked closely with seniors on their physical, social and emotional wellbeing.

Working with children and youths also led Wee Leng  to recognise the importance of youth mental health and she has since joined the Youth Corps Singapore to improve mental health literacy in youths.

“It is easy to lose sight of what’s out there beyond research. Volunteering keeps me grounded and allows me to contribute meaningfully,” she says. 

In recognition of her holistic achievements, Wee Leng received the coveted NUSS Medal for Outstanding Achievement.

Wee Leng is currently a Research Assistant at Duke-NUS Medical School, where her research focuses on human cortical circuit development and degeneration in neurological disorders. She also co-chairs the Neuroscience Foundation, a student-led humanitarian organisation dedicated to mentoring high school students with a passion in neuroscience.