Meet Our Speakers
Hear from our distinguished speakers as they share their knowledge
and expertise covering diverse science disciplines.
Common Talks
Levelling Up Your CHS Journey
Associate Professor
Chng Shu Sin
Assoc Prof Chng received his BSc (Hons) from NUS and PhD in Chemistry and Chemical Biology from Harvard University, United States. His research focuses on elucidating the mechanisms of inter-membrane lipid trafficking in Gram-negative bacteria and mycobacteria and in identifying novel protein targets in these bacteria for the development of new antibiotics. For his work, he received the Faculty of Science Young Scientist Award (2018). He is also the recipient of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Walter Shaw Young Investigator Award in Lipid Research (2019). He is a passionate educator and has won multiple university and faculty level awards, including the NUS Annual Teaching Excellence Award and the Honour Roll. He is Vice Dean (Student Life and Alumni Relations) at the Faculty of Science.
Common Talks
The CHS Curriculum
Associate Professor
Tan Meng Chwan
Assoc Prof Tan was formerly a Major in the Republic of Singapore Air Force who completed his PhD with NUS. He went on to the prestigious California Institute of Technology, United States, as a postdoctoral fellow before returning to Singapore to join NUS in 2010. He is the founder of Southeast Asia's first and only String Theory group. He is Assistant Dean (Outreach and Admissions) at the Faculty of Science.
Chemistry
Chemistry: The Central Science
Associate Professor
Chin Wee Shong
Assoc Prof Chin earned her BSc (Hons) and PhD in Chemistry from NUS. She subsequently carried out postdoctoral research at the University of Bristol, United Kingdom, under a Commonwealth Fellowship. Her current research focuses on the fabrication and application of nanostructures and their hybrids. Assoc Prof Chin is the Deputy Head (Administration) in the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science.
Cross-Disciplinary Programme
Environmental Studies
Defending the Environment
Associate Professor
Peter Todd
Assoc Prof Todd, a marine biologist, has been teaching ecology and marine science at NUS for 18 years. His interdisciplinary research synthesises elements of biology, geography and engineering to answer ecological and environmental questions. In particular, he studies tropical coastal organisms and communities and the effects urbanisation has on them. He is the Director of the Bachelor of Environmental Studies (BES) programme.
Life Sciences
One Major, Two Specialisations, Diverse Disciplines
Associate Professor
Henry Mok
Assoc Prof Mok obtained his PhD from the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, in 1996 on the study of folding and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of the DNA binding domain of the human papillomavirus E2 protein. His expertise is in determining the structural / functional relationship of proteins involved in human diseases using both NMR and X-ray crystallography. His group has determined structures of allergens from dust mites and cockroaches that lead to understanding of diseases like asthma and atopic dermatitis. Currently, they are working on the interaction between the dengue virus and human plasmin. Assoc Prof Mok is Deputy Head (Undergraduate Matters) in the Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science.
Food Science and Technology
Preparing Professionals for the Future of Food and Health
Dr
Liu Mei Hui
Dr Liu graduated from the pioneering batch of NUS’ Food Science and Technology Programme. She received numerous food industry awards as a student. Following her first degree, Dr Liu was awarded the prestigious Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) Graduate Scholarship to pursue a PhD in Molecular Biology. Her research work at the Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR and Cornell University, United States, brought her on many scientific journeys in the fields of molecular biology, nutrition and genomics. Her multidisciplinary research has been recognised in prestigious journals including Nature. She is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Science.
Mathematics
10 Questions to Ask If You Are Choosing NUS Math
Associate Professor
Victor Tan
Assoc Prof Victor Tan received his BSc from NUS and PhD from the University of California, United States. His research interests are in algebra and number theory. He was a former Fellow of the NUS Teaching Academy and served as a member of the University Teaching Excellence Committee. As a former President of the Singapore Mathematical Society, he organised a wide range of mathematics enrichment programmes for school teachers and students. He has received multiple university and faculty level awards for teaching excellence, including the Outstanding Educator Award, the highest recognition for educators at NUS. Assoc Prof Tan is Deputy Head (Teaching) in the Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science.
Quantitative Finance
Quantitative Finance in NUS
Dr
Li Wei
Dr Li Wei holds a PhD in Mathematics from NUS. Her expertise encompasses areas such as quantitative finance, game theory and discrete structures. She is recognised for her dedication to education and received the Faculty Teaching Excellence Award for several years (2019, 2021, 2022, 2024). Currently, she serves as the Director of the Quantitative Finance Programme and is concurrently a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science.
Physics
Exploring Physics at NUS: Opportunities and Career Paths
Associate Professor
Wang Qinghai
Assoc Prof Wang obtained his BSc from the University of Science and Technology of China and his PhD from Washington University in St Louis, United States. His research interests include quantum mechanics, mathematical physics and cosmology. He is a recipient of multiple university and faculty level teaching excellence awards. Assoc Prof Wang is Deputy Head (Education) in the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science.
Data Science and Analytics
Elevate Your Career and Drive Business Success
Associate Professor
Vik Gopal
Assoc Prof Gopal graduated from NUS Mathematics and went on to complete his PhD in Statistics at the University of Florida, United States. He worked at the Centre for Strategic Infocomm Technologies (CSIT) and then IBM, before joining NUS in 2013. He has been teaching classes in statistics and data science to undergraduates and adult learners since then. He is Assistant Head in the Department of Statistics and Data Science, Faculty of Science.
Cross-Disciplinary Programme
Data Science and Economics (DSE)
The DSE Cross-Disciplinary Programme
Dr
Liu Chunchun
Dr Liu teaches in areas across various disciplines including economics (microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, mathematical economics, international finance, game theory) as well as mathematics, quantitative finance and business. As an economist and applied mathematician, her research interests include applied game theory, applied microeconomic theory, applied mechanism design, industrial organisation and platform economy. She is a Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science.
Statistics
Unlock the Secrets of Data: Learn the Techniques and Methods of Statistics Finance in NUS
Dr
David Chew
Dr Chew received his PhD from NUS. After a postdoctoral stint at the University of Southern California, United States, he joined NUS in 2009. He is Deputy Head (Undergraduate Programmes) in the NUS’ Department of Statistics and Data Science, Faculty of Science.
Special Programme in Science
What Makes the Special Programme in Science (SPS) Special?
Associate Professor
Liou Yih-Cherng
Assoc Prof Liou received his PhD from Queen’s University, Canada. After a postdoctoral stint at Harvard Medical School, United States, he joined NUS’ Department of Biological Sciences in 2003. He is Director of the Faculty’s Special Programme in Science and concurrently, Associate Dean (Research) at the Faculty of Science.
Masterclasses
Chemistry
The Second Law of Thermodynamics
Associate Professor
Kang Hway Chuan
Assoc Prof Kang received his BSc from Yale University, United States (US) and his PhD from California Institute of Technology, US. His research interests are surface chemistry and physics, and computational chemistry. His work focuses on the use of simulations grounded in statistical and quantum mechanics to provide molecular scale 'pictures' of physical and chemical processes in molecules, clusters, surfaces and bulk materials. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science.
Life Sciences
Insect Reproduction for Sustainable Solutions to Environmental Problems
Dr
Nalini Puniamoorthy
Dr Puniamoorthy received her BSc (Hons) and MSc from NUS and completed her PhD at the University of Zurich, Switzerland. She leads research at the Reproductive Evolution Laboratory in NUS, which investigates sexual selection as well as the role it plays in speciation and biological diversification. Her team focuses on widespread insect species and uses experimental methods involving fieldwork, geometric morphometrics as well as Next-generation-sequencing techniques to study macro-evolutionary patterns as well as micro-evolutionary processes involved in reproduction. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science.
Food Science and Technology
Improving Sleep Quality by Altering Our Diet
Dr
Kim Jung Eun
Dr Kim is a nutrition scientist with advanced training in dietetics and human clinical research. She earned her PhD degree in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Connecticut, United States (US) and further completed a dietetic internship at Yale-New Haven Hospital, US to become a registered dietitian. Dr Kim’s long-term research goal is to develop and validate dietary strategies and recommendations that effectively protect against age-associated chronic diseases and promote public health. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Science.
Mathematics
Infinity Paradoxes: When Math Defies Intuition
Dr
Wang Fei
Dr Wang Fei received his BSc (Hons) and PhD from NUS. He has established a strong reputation for his dedication to teaching, receiving the University Annual Teaching Excellence Award (2017) and the Faculty Teaching Excellence Award (2023, 2024). He currently serves as the Assistant Secretary of the Singapore Mathematical Society and is actively involved in nurturing young talent as a trainer for Singapore’s International Mathematical Olympiad team. Dr Wang is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and concurrently Assistant Dean (Continuing Education and Training), Faculty of Science.
Quantitative Finance
Growing your savings: The power of compounding
Dr
Li Wei
Dr Li Wei holds a PhD in Mathematics from NUS. Her expertise encompasses areas such as quantitative finance, game theory and discrete structures. She is recognised for her dedication to education and received the Faculty Teaching Award for several years (2019, 2021, 2022, 2024). Currently, she serves as the Director of the Quantitative Finance Programme and is concurrently a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science.
Physics
Entering the Age of Quantum Science and Technology
Dr
Ho Wen Wei
Dr Ho graduated from the University of Geneva, Switzerland with a PhD in Theoretical Physics, a Masters in Physics from the University of Waterloo, Canada and Perimeter Institute, Canada, and a Bachelors in Physics from Princeton University, United States (US). He was a postdoctoral scholar at Harvard University, and Stanford University, US. His research spans the areas of quantum many-body dynamics and quantum information science. In a nutshell, he theoretically studies novel non-equilibrium quantum phenomena that can be realised with modern day programmable quantum systems - which include quantum simulators and quantum computers - using the lens of quantum information theory. Dr Ho is a Presidential Young Professor and a CQT Fellow at the Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT). He is also a recipient of the prestigious National Research Foundation (NRF) Fellowship (2023).
Data Science and Analytics
Exploring Low-Dimensional Worlds and Data Science
Associate Professor
Yao Zhigang
Assoc Prof Yao’s research interests are in statistical inference for complex data. In recent years, his focus has shifted towards Non-Euclidean statistics and low-dimensional manifold fitting. He is dedicated to advancing research that lies at the intersection of statistics and geometry. He has proposed novel methods and theories that extend traditional principal component analysis (PCA) to Riemannian manifolds. These innovations offer new manifold fitting theories designed to address the limitations of conventional statistical methods by incorporating the geometric structure of data. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Statistics and Data Science, Faculty of Science.
Cross-Disciplinary Programme
Data Science and Economics
Data Science: New Tricks for Economics
Dr
Denis Tkachenko
Dr Tkachenko’s research focuses on theoretical econometrics and its applications in macroeconomics and finance and was published in the top five and top field economic journals. At NUS, he teaches classes in econometrics, forecasting and machine learning. His teaching is recognised with multiple teaching awards at the university, faculty and department levels. He is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Economics, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
Statistics
Seeing the Unseen: A Journey Through Spatial Data
Associate Professor
Li Cheng
Assoc Prof Li Cheng’s research focuses on Bayesian statistics, spatial statistics and machine learning. His long-term research goal is to develop computationally efficient Bayesian methods with strong theoretical guarantees for large and complex data. He has taught a wide range of statistics courses and is the recipient of multiple teaching excellence awards at both the university and faculty levels. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Statistics and Data Science, Faculty of Science.
NUS Libraries
Learning to Learn
Dr
Magdeline Ng
Dr Ng holds a BSc (Hons) and MSc in Chemistry from NUS and a PhD in Chemistry from NTU. She has taught undergraduate courses on learning sciences and cognitive biases at NUS, reaching thousands of students. Dr Ng developed the THE1004 Learning to Learn course to help students optimise their learning by debunking common learning myths. Her interests include pedagogical research, innovative teaching methods, educational interventions and research impact assessment. She is the Vice University Librarian and Cluster Head of Digital Strategy and Innovation at NUS Libraries, as well as the Head of Learning and Innovation.
Cross-Disciplinary Programme
Environmental Studies
Shorelines of the Future
Associate Professor
Peter Todd
Assoc Prof Todd, a marine biologist, has been teaching ecology and marine science at NUS for 18 years. His interdisciplinary research synthesises elements of biology, geography and engineering to answer ecological and environmental questions. In particular, he studies tropical coastal organisms and communities and the effects urbanisation has on them. He is the Director of the Bachelor of Environmental Studies (BES) programme.
Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science Talks
Student Life Sharing by NUS Pharmaceutical Society (NUSPS)
Nandhini
Renganathan
Nandhini is a Year 2 Pharmacy student and the current President of NUSPS. She oversees the external cell, which includes the International Relations, Interprofessional Education and Awareness committees (inclusive of both Pharmacy Profession Awareness and Industrial Relations Awareness). As their advisor, she guides her project directors and connects them with opportunities to help NUSPS members grow professionally. In her role as President, she also serves as a liaison between NUSPS and external organisations such as healthcare institutions, pharmaceutical companies and other societies. Committed to keeping NUSPS forward-looking, she has spearheaded new initiatives, including internal welfare grants. Outside of NUSPS, Nandhini occasionally performs at events and is an active member of Tembusu College where she leads The Book Club, a place for students to engage in thoughtful discussions on themes of literature.
Valerie
Wang Yi En
Valerie is a Year 2 Pharmacy student and current Vice President (Special Projects) of NUSPS. She oversees the Freshmen Orientation Programme, which includes the Pharmacy Orientation Programme (POP), RxAG and RxFlag, by guiding and supporting the directors to translate their ideas into actions. As an advisor, she hosts monthly check-ins, offers advice throughout the journey and inspires the committee to grow as leaders and as a team. Her role of overseeing the whole process from ideation to the execution of large-scale projects for NUSPS members and incoming freshmen motivates her to consistently level up the quality of the freshmen experience. Outside of NUSPS, she is an undergraduate researcher and is highly motivated to explore other research fields in the pharmaceutical landscape. She also tutors daily.
Pharmacy
Pharmacist: So Much More Than You Imagined
Associate Professor
Chui Wai Keung
Assoc Prof Chui is a pharmacist who received his BSc (Pharmacy) (Hons) degree from NUS. He was conferred a PhD degree, majoring in medicinal chemistry, from Aston University in Birmingham, the United Kingdom. He headed NUS’ Department of Pharmacy (2013 – 2015). He is currently a council member of the Singapore Pharmacy Council. He also co-leads the design and implementation of the new competency-based BPharm(Hons) programme which integrates basic, clinical and systems sciences as its hallmark. He sits on working committees on the World Health Organization and the Western Pacific Pharmaceutical Forum.
Dr
Elaine Lo
Dr Lo obtained her PharmD from the University of British Columbia, Canada. She is a Principal Clinical Pharmacist at the National University Hospital and holds a concurrent appointment at NUS as Adjunct Assistant Professor. Her clinical interests include pharmacogenomics, immunology and gastroenterology. Beyond patient care at the immunotherapeutics clinic and the secretariat role at the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, her focus is to facilitate the clinical implementation of pharmacogenomics within the National University Health System and across the nation.
Ms
Priscilla Chua
Ms Chua is Director, Clinical Informatics Group, Synapxe and Deputy Director, HealthTech Policy Division, Ministry of Health (MOH). She drives the use of data standards such as the harmonisation of COVID vaccination codes in technology systems. During COVID-19, she facilitated the setup of 10 vaccination centres and supported the deployment of Vital Signs Monitoring equipment at Community Care Facilities. In MOH, she also supports the formulation of strategies and policies relating to the use of data. Before her work in Synapxe and MOH, Ms Chua championed the implementation of pharmacy and clinical ystems in a public hospital. Other than her pharmacy degree, Ms Chua holds Master of Science (Health Informatics) and Master of Health Administration qualifications.
Professor
Paul John Gallagher
Prof Gallagher was previously the Head of Pharmacy of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) (2010 - 2018). In that role, he reformed pharmacy education through his Directorship of the National Pharmacy Internship Programme and the establishment of the Irish Institute of Pharmacy. Before RCSI, Prof Gallagher established a pharmacy and medical centre in Dublin, Ireland. He is a graduate of University College London, the United Kingdom and Trinity College, Ireland, where he obtained his MBA and PhD, respectively. In 2016, Utrecht University, the Netherlands, and subsequently in 2019 the International Pharmaceutical Federation recognised him for his contributions to academic pharmacy practice.
Pharmaceutical Science
Your Pharmaceutical Science Adventure and Beyond
Associate Professor
Yau Wai Ping
Assoc Prof Yau received her BSc (Pharm) (Hons) and PhD from NUS. She was awarded the NUS Overseas Postdoctoral Fellowship and was a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, United States before rejoining NUS’ Department of Pharmacy in 2010. She has received multiple university and faculty level teaching excellence awards. She is currently the Deputy Head (Education - Undergraduate Matters) and the Director of the Pharmaceutical Science Programme at the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science.
Mr
Ryan Lee
Ryan is a Year 4 undergraduate. He received the NUS Global Merit Scholarship to pursue his degree in Pharmaceutical Science. He has been developing his research capabilities through attachments at NUS, the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and Cancer Science Institute (CSI) Singapore. He aspires to contribute to disease and therapeutic research and will be pursuing a PhD after graduation.
Mr
Joel Lim
Mr Lim works as a Brand Manager at Zuellig Pharma where he drives the commercialisation of innovative medication across a diverse range of disease areas to make them more accessible to patients. He graduated from the pioneer batch of NUS Pharmaceutical Science in 2022 as valedictorian. He previously worked at Sanofi as a Medical Engagement Executive before moving to his current role.