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