NUS RESEARCH in brief DECEMBER 2019 Issue 2

WORLD-LEADING THE SCIENCE OF BOOSTING AI MATERIALS RESEARCH EDUCATION RESEARCH FROM THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT NUS RESEARCH IN NUMBERS

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the NUS Research community for their continued effort in contributing essential $781.6m* $336.0m* $223.2m* $222.4m* knowledge across a wide range of fields. Many of these ideas and innovations promise to transform society for the better. Total research funds awarded by From industry and Total awarded by Awarded by the In 2019, we welcomed a number of distinguished faculty 10300 Research publications external sources other government the Ministry of National Research to NUS. Most notably, Prof Sir Konstantin Novoselov, 2010 sources (local and Education Foundation Nobel Laureate and co-discoverer of graphene, who joined the Our researchers collaborated with overseas) Centre for Advanced 2D Materials. We also welcomed Prof Li NUS Research is centred on eight integrative research clusters. These are ageing, Asian Rong from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where she studies, biomedical science and translational was Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Cell Biology. Prof Li 2858 medicine, finance and risk management, integrative sustainability solutions, maritime, has joined as Director of the Mechanobiology Institute. institutes and universities from materials science and smart nation. To all of our researchers who were recognised in 2019 for their commitment and contributions – congratulations! I would particularly like to recognise Prof Markus Wenk from Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, who received the 2019 University Recognition Award for his 146countries work in the field of lipidomics. I would also like to congratulate Asst Prof Loh Huanqian from the Centre for Quantum Technologies and the Faculty of Science, and Asst Prof Benjamin Tee from the Institute for Health Innovation and Technology (iHealthtech) and the Faculty of Engineering, for their selection by the World Economic Forum into the Class of 2019 Young Scientists, which is a community established to integrate scientific knowledge into society for the public good. Universities have a responsibility to address global concerns, and create solutions that mitigate these issues for future generations. The impact of climate change, green energy, food security, 4 5 and water conservation, are such areas where NUS will continue working to catalyse change and create solutions. These efforts will be augmented by our ongoing work to create innovative technologies for health and wellbeing, understand the dynamics of rapidly changing societies, Research Corporate and deploy innovative artificial intelligence systems that enhance how we live and work. Centres of Laboratories Excellence In shaping the future of NUS Research, I welcome Professor Liu Bin to the position of Vice President for Research and Technology. Prof Liu is a leader in the field of functional materials with applications in energy, environmental and biomedical research. I would also like to recognise the contributions her predecessor, Prof Philip Liu, made to the fields of oceanography and sustainable costal engineering, and wish him all the best as he returns to academic pursuits in the Faculty of Engineering. 17 28 Our researchers work to innovate 465 92 356 106 and develop solutions that meet the present and emerging needs Prof Chen Tsuhan Technology of Singapore, Asia, and the world. Deputy President for Research and Technology and Distinguished Professor Research Patents Invention Schools and Institutes and Patents filed licenses Faculties Centres issued disclosures executed

*Based on FY 2018. All other data based on Calendar Year 2018

2 NUS RESEARCH in brief NUS RESEARCH in brief 3 COVER STORY

WORLD-LEADING MATERIALS RESEARCH AT NUS

NUS has aggregated some of the world’s top materials PROFESSOR researchers to pioneer LIU BIN innovative solutions PRESIDENT’S ASSISTANT PROFESSOR NUS Vice President (Research and BENJAMIN TEE to pressing global Technology), and the Head of PROFESSOR SIR problems Konstantin Novoselov NUS Chemical and Biomolecular President’s Assistant Professor Benjamin Engineering, Professor Liu Bin actively Tee from NUS Materials Science and pursues green energy solutions, by The discovery of 2D materials is co- Engineering is currently researching aiming to convert solar energy into credited to Professor Sir Konstantin state-of-the-art smart electronic skin clean and accessible energy fuels. She Novoselov jointly with Professor Sir materials that can sense the environment. is seeking value-added products by About the cover: Andre Geim and the pair were awarded Being able to sense environmental developing highly efficient organic the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics for their changes in pressure, temperature and semiconductor catalysts. Materials Research focuses on the achievement. Prof Novoselov is now the humidity is a natural ability all humans Her work is instrumental in discovery and creation of new materials Tan Chin Tuan Centennial Professor at establishing innovative bio-imaging have, but it is much more difficult for (blue) for innovative technologies that NUS Materials Science and Engineering methods for biomedical applications. machines to do that today. To overcome will revolutionise the fields of healthcare and continues to investigate this rich “We endeavour to realise the this limitation, Asst Prof Tee is exploring (yellow), sustainability and green energy, research area. visualisation of crucial biological and developing new flexible, stretchable (green) and Smart Nation (pink). At just one atom thick, 2D materials processes and non-invasive treatment materials that provide more robust are as thin as materials can possibly be, for some diseases using biocompatible sensing capabilities. These flexible and today, approximately 700 stable organic materials, especially those with ‘electronic skins’ can also self-heal, just 2D materials have been predicted, with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) like real skin. This autonomous self- many remaining to be synthesised. characteristics,” she explained repair capability provides a new way for Materials research is poised to play a pivotal role in tackling some of the most pressing global challenges, “Different 2D materials hold different Prof Liu has invented imaging tools properties. They can be metals, electronic devices to withstand damage. from the emerging climate crisis to quantum computing. which are highly sensitive, specific, semiconductors, superconductors, His research in electronic skins will also photostable and biocompatible. Her To accelerate progress in materials research, NUS designated it a key area of focus. In turn, NUS has ferromagnets, and more,” Prof enable better prosthetic devices that are inventions have been commercialised amassed some of the world’s most prolific and prominent researchers in the field, and over the past Novoselov explained. sensitive to the environment. This could through the NUS spin-off LuminiCell, Prof Novoselov’s latest research reduce the phantom limb pain associated decade, has reached the top-tier level in materials research, globally. which provides real-time cell tracking combines 2D materials and the with limb loss, and the prosthetic devices with 3 times longer duration and One of the most important advances of the 21st century in the field of materials research was the isolation principles which govern living matter, would feel more natural and intelligent. 10 times brightness as compared to develop new functional intelligent “This can help patients regain normal of graphene — the world’s first two-dimensional (2D) material. Since this breakthrough, research into 2D to existing tools. With LuminiCell, materials with bespoke properties. lives and regain their mobility and researchers can image cell behaviour to materials has flourished, and ground-breaking applications have emerged in areas such as photovoltaics, These bio-inspired materials could have confidence,” Asst Prof Tee stated. enable new diagnostic and therapeutic semiconductors, electrodes and water purification. applications in everything from artificial capabilities for cancer, infectious neural networks to smart membranes. disease, vascular diseases and more.

4 NUS RESEARCH in brief NUS RESEARCH in brief 5 COVER STORY

PROFESSOR PROFESSOR PROFESSOR GUI BAZAN ANTONIO CASTRO NETO SILVIJA GRADEČAK-GARAJ Materials research is not

A pioneer in the field of atomically thin Professor Silvija Gradečak-Garaj from Professor Gui Bazan, who will be only one of the most materials is Distinguished Professor NUS Materials Science and Engineering, taking up a position in NUS Chemistry rapidly evolving and Antonio Castro Neto, Director of PROFESSOR is a pioneer in the field of green energy, PROFESSOR and NUS Chemical and Biomolecular the NUS Centre for Advanced 2D BARBAROS ÖZYILMAZ and is now developing new materials for LIM CHWEE TECK Engineering in January 2020, conducts fastest growing scientific Materials (CA2DM). CA2DM was energy applications by understanding innovative research in the area of living disciplines, but also established in 2010 for the conception, Deputy Director of CA2DM and and controlling materials at the atomic Professor Lim Chwee Teck, Director of composite materials. characterisation, theoretical modelling Head of NUS Materials Science and scale. the NUS Institute for Health Innovation “Our group is pioneering one which stands at the & Technology (iHealthTech) and and development of transformative Engineering, Professor Barbaros Prof Gradečak-Garaj has recently living ‘biocomposites’ containing forefront of modern technologies based on 2D crystals, Özyilmaz, is focussed on accelerating developed flexible and semi-transparent NUS Society Chair Professor at NUS microorganisms and a polymeric such as graphene. the widespread adoption of graphene solar cells that combine a range of Biomedical Engineering is using hydrogel matrix with metallic technology, spanning Prof Castro Neto is an expert in all and other 2D materials into industry. nanoscale materials to improve the micro- and nanomechanical tools, to properties,” he said. every facet of 21st century aspects of graphene and he further Recently, Prof Özyilmaz discovered solar cell efficiency. These nanoscale investigate why and how biomechanical Prof Bazan’s research coordinates life. The team of first-rate described the unique advantages that 2D materials could be synthesised materials include nanoparticles that changes occur in circulating cancer principles from chemical synthesis, that 2D materials offer, “They have in such a way that they are amorphous absorb sunlight and produce electrons, cells, so as to better understand their materials engineering, soft electronic researchers collected at films rather than crystals. Although nanowires that collect electrons contributions towards metastasis — the matter and electromicrobiology. It physical and chemical properties that NUS is revealing brand normal three-dimensional materials do crystalline 2D materials possess efficiently, and graphene to conduct main cause of death in cancer patients. lays the foundation for promoting not have — such as extreme quantum incredible electrical and mechanical electricity. “These devices are flexible, so Based on his research findings, and understanding electronic new research insights properties, they are often costly Prof Lim has developed a microfluidic behaviour. Meaning the electrons in they can be used on large and curved communication between synthetic and spearheading novel these materials behave like waves, not and tricky to scale up for many surfaces, unlike conventional solar cells cancer biochip which can detect and elements and microbial communities. particles.” industrial applications. In contrast, the that are flat and rigid. Furthermore, as isolate circulating tumour cells from “Living microbial biocomposites applications in all aspects peripheral blood of patients (known These extreme quantum behaviours amorphous 2D films discovered by Prof they are semi-transparent, they can be provide us with a unique opportunity to of this field. Ultimately, the could create the next generation Özyilmaz retain some of the desirable used even on windows,” she said. as liquid biopsy). This technology has harness the extraordinary diversity and cutting-edge materials of electronic components with properties of crystalline 2D materials, “Ultimately, the goal of our research since been commercialised by Biolidics adaptability of bacteria,” he described. revolutionary capabilities, and 2D but are much more hardy, and is to design ways we can utilise energy Limited, which obtained an FDA listing His work may reveal how to use research conducted at materials like graphene are already cheaper to make. This breakthrough more efficiently to preserve natural in USA and China, and is being used in wastewater as a source of food for NUS will have far-reaching being used in the development of is a leap forward in making 2D resources, address the challenges over 90 locations around the world. bacteria, allowing them to remove quantum computers. materials generally viable for industrial related to global warming, or heat island organic contaminants, while at the societal benefits in applications. issues specific to urban environments same time, producing electrical power Singapore and globally. like Singapore,” she explained. for a green source of energy.

6 NUS RESEARCH in brief NUS RESEARCH in brief 7 RESEARCHER IN FOCUS AWARDS PROF SIR KONSTANTIN NOVOSELOV: CONGRATULATIONS TO PHYSICS & FINE ART On 22 October 2004, Professor Sir Konstantin from Manchester University to NUS. “I wanted Professor Sir Konstantin Novoselov often Novoselov along with other colleagues to take my research in a slightly new direction, paints with a combination of graphene ink including his former PhD supervisor Professor and I needed a place that would offer me and Chinese ink to encode secret characters Sir Andre Geim published one of the most a good start. Singapore has an established within his paintings. These can only be revolutionary scientific papers of the 21st and dynamic scientific community, with NUS revealed with a spectrometer and such century. offering strong collaboration opportunities methods can be used to authenticate the In it, they described the isolation of the from multidisciplinary backgrounds,” he stated. work. world’s first two-dimensional (2D) material. This new research direction will be looking Now he uses Chinese brushes and This atomically thin sheet was graphene — the deeper into cutting-edge advanced materials. techniques to paint anything that he likes — strongest, most stretchable, most conductive, “People know me as the graphene researcher, even using graphene ink in some paintings. material ever discovered — and the two but I would like to expand further. What “Graphene ink is not as black as Chinese ink; colleagues later shared the 2010 Nobel graphene and other 2D materials taught it has a silver sheen which I can use for the Prize in Physics for their ground-breaking us is that you can create artificial materials aesthetic quality,” he added. accomplishment. which are designed atom by atom for specific He continued, “But also, it’s possible PROFESSOR Whilst the Nobel Prize is often seen as purposes,” he explained. By building from the to paint with Chinese and graphene ink ASSISTANT PROFESSOR ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR the crowning achievement of any scientist’s atomic level up, these advanced materials in combination so that the graphene ink MARKUS WENK BENJAMIN TEE VINCENT TAN could push the boundaries of what is possible, cannot be seen with the naked eye. In fact, career, Prof Novoselov remains grounded and Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine NUS iHealthtech and Faculty of Engineering Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Science modest about the award. “Of course winning for example by being lighter, stronger, and the only way to observe the brushstrokes a Nobel Prize is special in the career of any more conductive than ever before. would be with a spectrometer. In this way, I scientist, but honestly, I’m the same person as Naturally, working with these atomically can encode secret characters and meanings ASSISTANT PROFESSOR ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR before,” he said. “Being a prize-winner doesn’t thin materials calls for a skilled and patient in my paintings using graphene.” However, Professor Markus Wenk from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine received the make you 100 times smarter, but people researcher. The intricate manipulations unfortunately, Prof Novoselov is staying tight- LOH HUANQIAN ANDREW HUI University Research Recognition Award certainly listen to you for a change,” he joked. involved often require a steady hand — lipped on where to look, and how to decipher NUS Centre for Quantum Technologies and Yale-NUS College at the NUS University Awards 2019 for Faculty of Science something which Prof Novoselov claims he these codes. his ground-breaking research in the field did not always have. “I like to work with my Since starting his positon at NUS just over of Lipidomics. Assistant Professor Loh Huanqian from ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR hands, but 20 years ago as a PhD student, I saw a month ago, Prof Novoselov mentioned that Lipids such as cholesterols, NUS Physics and the NUS Centre for that my professors were much more adept at he’s already been hard at work. “This first triglycerides, and other fats are essential Quantum Technologies, and Assistant YAN NING handling materials than me,” he said. “So, as month was very intense, with a lot of effort dietary nutrients for humans and Professor Benjamin Tee from NUS Faculty of Engineering a form of training, I bought a cutthroat razor on settling in. However, I’m very happy that other animals, but they also have an Materials Science and Engineering and to shave with. After much practice, my hands I managed to dedicate most of my time to involvement in many metabolic diseases NUS iHealthtech were among 21 young became steadier and I was able to perform science. I’ve continued some old projects, like stroke, hypertension, and diabetes. scientists from 10 countries selected by As such, the field of lipidomics is the the World Economic Forum (WEF) to be the skillful actions required. I still shave with a and also started some new ones too,” he said. The NUS Young Researcher Award 2019 study of the networks and pathways of in the Class of 2019 Young Scientists. cutthroat razor today,” he declared. Whether scientific or artistic, Prof Novoselov’s was awarded to Associate Professor cellular lipids in biological systems, with The Young Scientists community Andrew Hui from Yale-NUS College, Professor Sir Konstantin Novoselov enjoys working Now, Prof Novoselov admits that he has work is always interesting and innovative, and the goal of completely understanding was created in 2009 to convene rising- Associate Professor Vincent Tan from creatively, both in material science and in abstract art fewer opportunities for hands-on research, as such, his upcoming projects at NUS will forms (Photo: The University of Manchester) their roles. It involves the identification star scientists and engage them in the Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of as he encourages his team to perform many certainly be ones to look out for in the future. and quantification of thousands of work of the WEF to integrate scientific Science, and Associate Professor Yan of the practical elements of lab work. So cellular lipids and their interactions knowledge into society for the public Ning from Faculty of Engineering. This humble attitude also translates into to continue working with his hands, and to with other lipids, proteins, and other good. The community consists of With such a range of academic how Prof Novoselov conducts his research keep his dexterity keen, he has taken to more metabolites. extraordinary scientists from across backgrounds, the research interests of and works with his students. “I tend to work artistic pursuits and regularly paints. On his win, Prof Wenk stated, academic disciplines and geographies, the award-winners vary dramatically. “Winning this award, I am extremely under the age of 40. in small teams,” he said. “But of course, what “I was lucky enough to be trained in Assoc Prof Yan explores biomass delighted and proud, but also grateful Asst Prof Loh and Asst Prof Tee were is most important is the community. I find it traditional Chinese painting by a prominent conversion and green chemistry, Assoc that I continue to have the support from invited to the recent WEF’s Annual Prof Hui studies early modern Europe much more stimulating if you collaborate. Chinese artist,” he said. After painting NUS to conduct my research”. To any Meeting of the New Champions, held in and the Global Renaissance, and Assoc So, my task now is to create this sense of customary objects like bamboo, orchids, young researchers who would like to be Dalian, China, where they participated Prof Tan investigates information theory community in my lab at NUS,” he noted. lotuses, and cherry blossoms, Prof Novoselov in his shoes one day, he said, “My advice in discussions alongside business, and machine learning. Originally from Russia, but also a citizen started to use the same techniques to would simply be: enjoy what you do, political, media, academic and civil of the United Kingdom, Prof Novoselov has paint other objects, and his teacher was and do it well.” society leaders. a long collaborative history with the NUS encouraging. “He understood that it doesn’t A combination of graphene ink and Chinese ink can encode secret characters within the paintings. Centre for Advanced 2D Materials. However, matter what you paint, it’s how well you These can only be revealed with a spectrometer and such methods can be used to authenticate the work it was the new opportunities available which transfer the mood to the painting that’s (Photo: Konstantin Novoselov) ultimately attracted him to make the move important,” he explained.

8 NUS RESEARCH in brief NUS RESEARCH in brief 9 NEW INITIATIVES NEW RESEARCH INITIATIVES CORPORATE LABORATORIES AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS

NEW R&D HUB TO BOOST DIAGNOSTICS STEPPING UP THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF RISK

A new partnership between NUS, Agilent Technologies and NUH to Aiming to further their mission to better communicate and improve the public develop diagnostics tools that will not only detect existing conditions understanding of risk, Lloyd’s Register Foundation Institute for the Public LATEST TECHNOLOGIES TO TRANSFORM in patients but also test for biomarkers of other diseases for early Understanding of Risk (IPUR) has established partnerships and collaborations HEALTHCARE prevention, was was launched by the Ministry of Health’s Director of with global analytics and advice firm Gallup and Understanding Risk (UR), a global A new consortium led by the Institute for Health Innovation and Medical Services Associate Professor Benjamin Ong on 17 August 2019. community of over 9,000 experts and practitioners interested and active in the NUS, CISCO COLLABORATE TO Technology (iHealthtech) at NUS was launched on 1 July 2019 to tap creation, communication and use of disaster risk information. BOOST DIGITAL ECONOMY on the latest science and technologies originating from Singapore’s At the Institute’s official office opening on 4 June, NUS signed a Memorandum research laboratories and create novel and personalised healthcare of Understanding with Gallup, agreeing to work together to generate new research solutions. The Health Technologies Consortium (HealthTEC), was and development activities centred around the global perception, measurement established with funding of $1.5 million over three years from the and communication of risk. National Research Foundation (NRF). NUS is the first university in Singapore and Southeast Asia to partner Gallup on The consortium will bring together researchers and companies the Lloyd’s Register Foundation World Risk Poll, a first-of its-kind endeavour aimed in order to leverage on deep tech in areas such as bioelectronics, to understand the attitudes of 98 per cent of the world’s adult population on the biomimetic materials, robotics and smart sensors, as well as big data most pressing risks faced and feared by individuals in their daily lives. Through this to develop and provide health and wellness solutions. Researchers collaboration, NUS researchers will be able to access new emerging data, as well will have the opportunity to learn the pain points of product as Gallup’s global archive of cross-country comparable data. The analysis from the development and collaborate with companies to solve them. With results of this Poll could lay the groundwork to shape international policy and the access to research and technologies from Singapore’s research From left: Prof Tan Eng Chye, NUS President; Assoc Prof implementation of relevant interventions. Benjamin Ong, Ministry of Health’s Director of Medical Services; IPUR’s collaboration with UR — an initiative of the Global Facility for Disaster institutions, companies could gain a competitive edge by applying Mr Mike McMullen, Agilent President & CEO; and Assoc Prof From left: Prof Chen Tsuhan, Deputy President Eugene Liu, Chief Executive Officer of NUH, launching the NUS- Reduction and Recovery which is part of the World Bank Group — was also for Research and Technology and Mr Naveen the latest innovations and technologies to improve existing products Agilent Hub Menon, President ASEAN, Cisco signing an MOU to collaborate on innovation and research (Photo: Cisco) and services as well as develop new products and services. announced. They will partner to organise the 10th anniversary of the UR Forum which will be held in Singapore from 18 to 22 May 2020. The forum is held every two “Our ultimate aim is to capture value through faster translation of The NUS-Agilent Hub for Translation & Capture (NUS-Agilent Hub), years and offers opportunity for the members to share knowledge and experience, research output into benefits to patients, to society as well as the is a S$38 million research facility and Singapore’s first integrated NUS and Cisco will promote joint research and collaborate, and discuss innovations and best practice in risk assessment. economy. So far we have excellent industrial participation, not only translational R&D hub leveraging on biochemical innovation and development activities in the areas of Data Analytics, IPUR was set up in 2017 through a donation from the Lloyd’s Register Foundation from multinational corporations but also local enterprises, SMEs research data analytics to develop new methods of translating Internet of Things (IoT), Automation, Cybersecurity, and funding from NUS to offer an Asian context in the research into the public as well as start-ups,” said Professor Lim Chwee Teck, Director of clinical research into clinical diagnostics. Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Software understanding of risk and communication of risk. The Institute accomplishes its iHealthtech and HealthTEC. The collaboration aims to be a global premier one-stop research Defined Networking. aims by conducting scientific and empirical research, and organising workshops centre for informing clinical testing through the use of emerging The collaboration will see the two sides identify and outreach events. technologies and translational studies to provide greater insight and joint research projects and sponsored chairs, as accuracy. well as exchange scientific, academic and technical Comprising laboratories located in NUS and NUH, some 1,000 information. The research projects will focus on key square metres of research space, NUS-Agilent Hub represents a areas and sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, unique and innovative approach to conducting joint research in customer experience and Smart Nation. In addition, health and medical science. Its “hub and satellite model” will allow they will make use of the NUS Kent Ridge campus research to be conducted centrally in Singapore — and shared as a living laboratory for the co-creation, exploration globally through key partnerships and alliances supported by NUS and evaluation of innovative ideas, technology and and Agilent. scenarios in real-life use cases. NUS researchers will develop innovative analytical tools for These technologies are key not just to successful detection and quantification of small molecules of clinical interest digital transformation of businesses, but also to using technologies from Agilent such as mass spectrometry, which efforts of governments across the world as they can then be tested in a clinical setting at NUH. Initial research will look to digital adoption to improve citizen services. From left: Prof Lim Chwee Teck, Director of iHealthtech and HealthTEC; Prof Chen Tsuhan, Deputy President for Research and Technology; Prof Tan Chorh Chuan, (From left:) Prof Tan Eng Chye, President of NUS; Prof Richard Clegg, Executive Executive Director, Ministry of Health Office for Healthcare Transformation and Chief focus on cardiovascular disease and diabetes, which accounted for Singapore is among the global leaders on that front Health Scientist at the Ministry of Health; Mr Lim Tuang Liang, Executive Director of the Director of Lloyd’s Register Foundation; and Prof Koh Chan Ghee, Director of IPUR, Research, Innovation and Enterprise Coordination Office at NRF; and Mr George Loh, 30 per cent of all deaths in Singapore in 2017, and affected 440,000 with its Smart Nation initiative focusing on the Digital Director of Services and Digital Economy at the National Research Foundation, officially officially launching the Institute launching the consortium Singaporean adults in 2014 respectively. Economy, Digital Government and Digital Society.

10 NUS RESEARCH in brief NUS RESEARCH in brief 11 RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES

Deep-learning AI Asst Prof John Ho Study by Asst Assoc Prof Leher system developed developed smart Prof Ng Kok Singh finds by Prof Ooi Beng textiles that boost Hoe finds 1,000 English proficiency Chin puts Singapore wireless connectivity homeless people unaffected by on global map of 1,000 times in Singapore early exposure to big data analytics Hokkien

Asst Prof Assoc Prof Qiu Benjamin Tee Cheng Wei HEALTH INNOVATION created artificial discovered how nervous system to ‘lock’ heat in with exceptional place sense of touch Assoc Prof Prof Zhang Ang Wee Han Yong produced collaborated with light emitting Assoc Prof Giorgia nanoparticles to Pastorin to develop control biological STRENGTHENING CYBER SECURITY WITH LIGHT new ‘Trojan horse’ processes cancer drug In a major breakthrough for data encryption and cybersecurity, researchers led by Assoc Prof Alexander Ling from the Centre for Quantum Technologies, in collaboration with the NUS- Singtel Cyber Security Research & Development Laboratory, have developed a technique that allows pairs of entangled light Assoc Prof Edward GROUNDBREAKING NEW BLOOD TEST FOR Chow and Dr Toh particles to remain synchronised as they navigate the optical fibre ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE networks that carry data to our homes and offices. Tan Boon targeted The approach supports the deployment of quantum JAK/STAT pathway Researchers from the Institute for Health Innovation and Technology (iHealthtech) and the Faculty of Engineering, key distribution (QKD). In this technique, signals are sent in to inhibit tumour developed a novel device for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s particles of light known as photons. It is through the detection development in the liver Disease (AD) from blood samples. This work was led by Assistant of individual photons that encryption keys are created for Professor Shao Huilin. secure communication. In the trials, the researchers designed The technology, which was termed Amplified Plasmonic a photon source that created photons at specific wavelengths. EXosome (APEX), is designed to measure aggregates of amyloid beta (Aβ) protein— an early-stage molecular marker of AD — in The photons, which were joined through the quantum property the blood. The APEX system was found to be highly sensitive known as entanglement, remained synchronised as they travelled and accurate in its ability to diagnose to distinct detectors via different paths, encountering different Assoc Prof Koh AD. As the APEX system uses native obstacles, in the system. Maintaining the synchronisation of Hwee Ling blood plasma without additional entangled photons is crucial, as signals are identified by their uncovered sample processing, it conducts direct measurements and is very simple to use arrival time at the detectors. anti-cancer in clinical settings. The team are currently The success of the results, published in Applied Physics Letters, properties of in discussions with industry partners demonstrates potential applications for entangled photons, such as in plants to commercialise this technology. The synchronising clocks for time-critical operations like financial trading, device is expected to reach market and boosts expectations for QKD over commercial fibre networks. within the next 5 years.

12 NUS RESEARCH in brief NUS RESEARCH in brief 13 RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT IN THE NEWS

27 NUS RESEARCHERS AMONG THE WORLD’S NUS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE MOST INFLUENTIAL SCIENTIFIC MINDS RESEARCH GETS BOOST 27 NUS researchers were PROFESSOR PROFESSSOR ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR JIANG DONGLIN LEE JIM YANG ZHAO DAN named in the global Highly Dept of Chemistry, FoS Dept of ChBE, FoE Dept of ChBE, FoE A rapid advancement in AI-based technologies is changing the way In another project, Dr Arnab Bhattacharyya will develop efficient Cited Researchers 2019 list we work, live and interact as communities. Industries are becoming algorithms for causal inference. In data analytics, causal inference released by Clarivate Analytics. increasingly automated, and employees are being encouraged to gain refers to the process of inferring the cause of an action, event or effect. These outstanding researchers new skills so that they can work with these technologies. However, as Dr Bhattacharyya and his research group will study the mathematical have contributed essential PROFESSOR PROFESSOR PROFESSOR LIU BIN LIM CHWEE TECK ANG BENG WAH societies look to embrace the benefits of improved AI, people remain foundations of algorithmic causal inference and apply these insights knowledge to the fields of acutely aware of the challenges posed in its deployment, in particular into AI and other domains such as economics and biology. Dept of ChBE, FoE NUS Institute for Health NUS Energy Studies Institute Innovation and Technology Dept of ISEM, FoE Chemistry, Computer Science, Dept of BME in the protection of data, privacy and even identity. “Machine learning is routinely used not only to classify data but Dept of MechEng, FoE Economics and Business, The development of AI technologies thus requires a holistic to also assist in policy making and policy predictions,” said Dr approach, where technological innovations are pursued with societal Bhattacharyya. “This can be a dangerous task, as correlations in data Engineering, Materials Science, PROFESSOR PROFESSOR DR LIU XIAOGANG BARBAROS ÖZYILMAZ SU BIN concerns in mind. Such work is continuing at NUS, and has been do not necessarily indicate that there is causation.” Physics and more. boosted with the Singapore National Research Foundation (NRF) To solve this problem, Dr Bhattacharyya and his team aim to find Dept of Chemistry, FoS Dept of Physics, FoS NUS Energy Studies Institute The annual Highly Cited Dept of MSE, FoE recently awarding three researchers from NUS Computing with the a way of incorporating causal inference to machine learning. “Causal Researchers list from the Web NRF Fellowship for Artificial Intelligence. modelling is an essential component of human intelligence — we of Science Group identifies One recipient, Dr Kuldeep Meel, aims to develop a mathematical use it routinely to make predictions about our world. Yet it is a core ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR PROFESSOR scientists and social scientists PROFESSOR framework that addresses real-world problems in AI. His work is problem for AI systems,” Dr Bhattacharyya explained. “We want to XIE JIANPING STEPHEN JOHN GE SHUZHI SAM PENNYCOOK motivated by a particular paradox of AI systems. He explained, “The develop a framework that is able to automatically build large causal who have demonstrated paradox is this: while cutting-edge AI systems can now achieve models through feature extraction, experimentation, and inference, significant influence through Dept of ChBE, FoE Dept of MSE, FoE Dept of ECE, FoE human-level accuracy in their predictions, these same systems can and then apply it to problems in economics, biology, and medicine.” publication of multiple papers easily fall prey to the simplest of adversarial attacks, unlike humans.” that are ranked in the top 1 per PROFESSOR ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR PROFESSOR To solve this issue, Dr Meel and his research group will be studying cent by citations for their field LOH KIAN PING QIU CHENG-WEI ARJEN HOEKSTRA† AI systems in three dimensions: to design formally correct AI systems, (Adjunct Senior Research Fellow) and year of publication. ensure verification of AI systems and to explain decisions made by these Dept of Chemistry, FoS Dept of ECE, FoE Institute of Water Policy, LKYSPP systems. “Today’s AI systems have achieved significant progress similar The Highly Cited to those achieved by software and hardware in the past. However, Researchers 2019 list draws ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR PROFESSOR ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR that is also when incorrect behaviour of computers could lead to on the data and analysis ZHANG RUI SEERAM RAMAKRISHNA GOKI EDA catastrophic impact on society. Hence, all these goals we aim to achieve performed by bibliometric Dept of ECE, FoE Dept of ME, FoE Dept of Chemistry and Dept of can significantly impact the safe adoption of AI,” Dr Meel added. experts from the Institute for Physics, FoS Another recipient, Dr Angela Yao, will be conducting cutting-edge Scientific Information at the research in artificial visual intelligence. Specifically, Dr Yao and her team aim to analyse and develop efficient algorithms for video analysis Web of Science Group. This PROFESSOR PROFESSOR PROFESSOR SIR FREDDY BOEY GENE YEO KONSTANTIN NOVOSELOV and explore methods for learning from large-scale video data. year, some 6,000 unique (Distinguished Visiting Professor) “Video is the next frontier in artificial visual intelligence,” said Dr researchers have been named NUS Computing Assistant Professors Dr Bhattacharyya (left), Dr NUS Deputy President Dept of Physiology, YLLSoM Dept of MSE, FoE Yao. “There is now an unprecedented amount of video data coming Highly Cited Researchers (Innovation and Enterprise) Meel (middle), and Dr Yao (right) received the NRF Fellowship Dept of BME, FoE from CCTVs, internet video platforms, robotics and more. However, for Artificial Intelligence across 21 fields of study, with most computer vision algorithms treat video as a collection of image PROFESSOR ASSISTANT PROFESSOR PROFESSOR over 3,500 in specific fields frames, and current algorithms are unable to analyse and predict all CHEN WEI THOMAS YEO ANTONIO CASTRO NETO and close to 2,500 for cross- of these data. The immediate challenge is to develop new AI models Dept of Chemistry and Dept of Dept of ECE, FoE NUS Centre for Advanced 2D Materials THE NRF FELLOWSHIP IN AI IS GIVEN TO OUTSTANDING YOUNG Physics, FoS Dept of Physics, FoS that are efficient, flexible and powerful.” field performance. Dept of MSE, FoE RESEARCHERS TO LEAD IMPACTFUL AND INDEPENDENT AI Dr Yao believes that results from her study will help inform the RESEARCH IN SINGAPORE. FELLOWS WILL RECEIVE A FIVE- progress of many high-impact applications such as autonomous YEAR RESEARCH GRANT OF UP TO S$3 MILLION TO FUND PROFESSOR PROFESSOR PROFESSOR vehicles, home assistance robotics, surveillance and content-based NEAL CHUNG TAI-SHUNG ZHANG YONG VLATKO VEDRAL THEIR STUDIES. THIS FEATURE HAS BEEN ADAPTED FROM THE video indexing. “In these systems, an enormous amount of video data Dept of ChBE, FoE Dept of BME, FoE Centre for Quantum Technologies at NUS needs to be processed. We hope to develop efficient and intelligent NUS SCHOOL OF COMPUTING NEWS. Dept of Physics, FoS video understanding algorithms for these tasks.”

†Passed away 18 November 2019

14 NUS RESEARCH in brief NUS RESEARCH in brief 15 RESEARCH OPINIONS

feedback, their teachers have their best interests psychologists apply the same scientific rigour to PSYCHOLOGICALLY WISE at heart, and want them to improve. developing interventions. They start with a deep Imagine instead that you see a handwritten theoretical understanding of the psychological message from your teacher clipped to the root of the problem, refine and pilot test INTERVENTIONS FOR IMPROVING top of your red-inked essay, which reads: "I'm intervention designs, and test the efficacy of the giving you these comments because I have interventions on people using gold standard EDUCATION IN SINGAPORE high standards and I know that you can meet double-blind, randomised, controlled trials. them.” Now, what would your reaction be? Many This creates an evidence-based understanding students who received this ‘wise feedback’ of the psychological problem at hand, and how interventions is their high degree of precision in intervention, developed by Professor Geoffrey and why an intervention works (or does not). identifying and addressing the psychological Cohen at Stanford University, interpreted their This is crucial, as it is impossible to know what roots of problems — even problems as large as teachers’ feedback in a more positive light — interventions are truly effective without scientific racial achievement gaps in education. Take, for they saw the feedback as an affirmation (rather testing. example, the “social belonging” intervention than a criticism). These students were, in turn, For us in Singapore, we should consider, what led by Professor Gregory Walton at Stanford more likely to revise their essays incorporating would it mean to adopt this scientific approach University that was published in the leading their teacher’s feedback, and to submit final as a society. The most important ingredients are journal Science. An hour-long intervention essays of a higher quality. (a) an open mindset towards experimenting on session at the beginning of university, which By changing students’ subjective different learning approaches and pedagogies, addressed disadvantaged minority students’ interpretations in more adaptive ways, and (b) strong support of this research from the doubts about fitting into university, put these psychologically wise interventions enable them ministry, schools, teachers and parents. new wave of interventions to students on more positive academic trajectories to respond to the challenges of learning in more I believe that Singapore is ready for the A improve education is upon us. These throughout their undergraduate careers, relative effective ways — including greater persistence, application of psychological science to improve 'psychologically wise' interventions from social to peers who did not receive the intervention. investing in building better relationships with education. At NUS, I lead a team of passionate psychology have been gaining prominence This intervention, albeit brief, essentially their teachers and peers, and using better psychologists who believe that improving across scientific communities, educators halved the achievement gap between these learning strategies. In turn, these effective learning can be done in a scientifically rigorous and the mass media worldwide. Unlike most disadvantaged minority students and their behaviours can often lead to deeper learning, and psychologically precise manner. With traditional educational interventions, these more advantaged peer groups by the end of greater confidence, better relationships, and support from NUS leadership and the National focus on psychological factors that occur within college, three years later. higher performance in school — putting students Research Foundation, we look forward to the individuals, and tend to be relatively brief in What these interventions effectively change is on more positive academic trajectories in the many exciting things that we can accomplish in duration and conveniently scalable. to turn maladaptive thoughts into more adaptive long run. the years ahead. One example of such interventions is the ones. Put yourself in the shoes of a young When people first hear about these 'growth mindset' established by Professor student. Imagine that you receive an essay back interventions, they may think, “These must Carol Dweck at Stanford University. This is the from your teacher and your paper is covered in be magic,” or, “This is all just common sense.” About the author belief that intelligence is malleable, and that red markings. What would you think and how Psychologically wise interventions are neither. it can be developed over time through hard would you feel? Some students tend to think, Instead, they are immensely precise techniques Dr Patricia Chen is an Assistant Professor work and effective strategies. Growth mindset “I'm a lousy writer. My teacher must think I’m that identify and alter the root of the psychology in the Department of Psychology, NUS interventions have been incredibly effective really bad,” or, “That teacher just doesn’t like me.” of students, which otherwise poses a barrier to Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. She is at changing beliefs and raising academic In other words, they see their teacher’s feedback their learning and performance. also Deputy Director at the NUS Institute for Application of Learning Science and achievement; especially so in light of the brevity as criticisms about their ability or indications that Social psychologists specifically target the Educational Technology (ALSET). She is a and cost-effectiveness of these interventions. the teacher does not think they are good. Not psychological issues that students face — such as recipient of the 2019 National Research surprisingly, these students do not tend to feel how they interpret critical feedback from teachers, Today, governments, private organisations and Foundation Fellowship. even parents want to know how to cultivate a motivated to invest time and effort into getting or how they make sense of a bad grade on an growth mindset. better. This type of thinking is not uncommon exam — and then design precise interventions What characterises these psychologically wise among students, even though, when offering to address these issues. Like medicine, social

16 NUS RESEARCH in brief NUS RESEARCH in brief 17 RESEARCH OPINIONS

security. In fact, many countries have The goal of such efforts, in essence, is to SECURING already started multi-million-dollar research determine whether it is possible to achieve programs to develop the next-generation practical quantum cryptography with as little About the author quantum cryptosystems, with the intent assumptions as possible about the quantum to deploy them by the next decade. One devices. If successful, this would significantly Dr Lim Ci Wen Charles is an OURSELVES Assistant Professor at NUS Electrical notable example is the European Quantum close the gap between the theory and and Computer Engineering, and the Flagship initiative, which, with over EUR1 practice of quantum cryptography, thereby Centre for Quantum Technologies, billion in funding, aims to commercialise making it more viable for practical use. a Research Centre of Excellence THROUGH hosted at NUS. He is a 2019 National quantum cryptography across Europe. To this end, my group at ECE and CQT Research Foundation Fellowship To achieve long-term information security, focuses on two interrelated multidisciplinary recipient, and was awarded a 2019 quantum cryptography employs a technique programmes that use quantum correlations Quantum Engineering Programme QUANTUM (QEP) grant with which he will called quantum key distribution (QKD). This to self-test quantum devices. The basic continue his work on quantum enables the secure exchange of secret keys idea is to employ statistical correlations to cryptography and communication, CRYPTOGRAPHY in an untrusted network, e.g. the Internet. In distinguish good quantum devices from the and in particular, its role in smart mobile devices. practice, the secret key is transmitted using malfunctioning ones. a sequence of carefully prepared single- Leveraging on this idea, we consider photon signals, which can only be retrieved approaches to understand how one can if the receiver uses the same coding scheme mathematically prove the security of oday, we use the internet for almost as the sender. The basic idea is that if an quantum cryptography with only partially Teverything, from shopping and bill attacker tries to learn the secret key, the characterised quantum networks. A mobile devices and wireless sensor networks payments, to banking and entertainment. In process of monitoring will invariably disturb practically interesting approach is to to strengthen their information security. doing so, we place our trust in cryptosystems the quantum signals. This quantum effect consider quantum signals with bounded All in all, our ultimate goal is to make that protect our private information and allows the authenticated users to verify if energy constraints, but with no assumptions quantum cryptography more practical and identities. However, the emergence of someone else has monitored the quantum made about the quantum receivers. cost-effective. quantum computing is threatening all channel. If the noise is sufficiently low, then To determine if the network is indeed Of course, we are not alone in our efforts of that. No longer a theoretical dream, the secret key can be used for encryption, quantum in nature, we have designed to establish a reliable infrastructure for quantum computers have undergone rapid otherwise the protocol is aborted, and the statistical tests that only quantum devices quantum cryptography and communication. development in recent years, and if built with users restart the process. which are functioning close to their original Although the quantum computers available enough memory, can break even the most However, while quantum cryptography is a design intent can pass. Importantly, in this today lack the ability to hack our most sophisticated cryptographic systems. Put relatively mature quantum technology, it still approach, no device modelling is required in secure systems, it is only a matter of simply, the advent of quantum computers faces some fundamental issues. In particular, the security analysis. From the perspective time before they are able to do so. With will break nearly every cryptosystem in use there is still a considerable gap between the of information security, this new framework the theory already so well advanced, it today, rendering most of the digital services mathematical models used in the theory and could provide information security against is somewhat naïve to believe that the completely insecure. the actual quantum devices employed in side-channel attacks and unreliable devices, technology is not already reaching such To that end, the feasibility of migrating practice. From the standpoint of information as evidenced in one of our recent findings. capabilities. In a sense, a technological critical information to quantum-secure security, such a gap can be very dangerous, We also take an experimental approach, arms race for quantum computers is under infrastructure is being explored. Currently, for it is highly vulnerable to deliberate which aims to develop new photonic devices way. As quantum computers become more the best candidates are platforms using hacking attacks or information leakages. that can make quantum cryptography faster powerful, so too will the systems that defend quantum cryptography, which are based on As such, efforts are currently underway at and cheaper. One of our objectives here is to against their malicious use, and protect the the established laws of quantum theory, one NUS Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE), design and produce a micro-chip self-testing private information of governments and of the most successful physical theories to and the Centre for Quantum Technologies quantum random number generation industries alike. For individuals, this will date. Quantum cryptography is in principle (CQT), seeking to establish quantum protocols device whose randomness is guaranteed mean continuing to live ‘online’, without fear unbreakable and is widely regarded as that are secure even when the underlying by quantum correlations. We envisage that that one’s identity or private information the top solution for long-term information quantum devices are unreliable. such a device could be installed in smart could be compromised.

18 NUS RESEARCH in brief NUS RESEARCH in brief 19 Office of the Deputy President (Research & Technology)

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