FACULTY AND STAFF UPDATES
New Faculty and Staff
Dr Mengmeng Sun
Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
Dr Mengmeng Sun received his bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Wuhan University and his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the Harbin Institute of Technology. He then conducted postdoctoral research at The Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems. His research focuses on the development of novel miniature robots with a particular emphasis on biomedical applications.
Dr Irmandy Wicaksono
Assistant Professor, Division of Industrial Design
Dr Irmandy Wicaksono joined the Division of Industrial Design as an Assistant Professor under the Presidential Young Professorship. Dr Irmandy earned his BEng in Electronic Engineering from the University of Southampton, MSc in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology from ETH Zurich, and SM/PhD in Media Arts and Sciences from the MIT Media Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has been involved in several companies and institutions, working in areas such as fashion and wearable technology, flexible-stretchable devices, and consumer electronics. His research interests include digital fabrication and the system integration of intelligent textiles and sensor-actuator networks for various applications, ranging from health and well-being to human-computer interaction, interactive arts, architecture, and beyond. He will direct the Soft Technologies Lab at the NUS Division of Industrial Design.
Dr Fu Xianbiao
Assistant Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Dr Fu Xianbiao was a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow in the Surface Physics & Catalysis (SurfCat) Center within the Department of Physics at the Technical University of Denmark. He received his BS degree from Central South University and PhD from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China. During his PhD studies, he spent two years as a visiting graduate student at Northwestern University and one year at Johns Hopkins University. His research focuses on catalysis, electrocatalysis, and electrosynthesis, specifically concentrating on electrochemical ammonia synthesis, nitrogen activation, and ammonia energy.
Professor Alain Bourdin
Ong Siew May Visiting Professor, Department of Architecture
Professor Alain Bourdin taught sociology at the universities of Tours and Toulouse, then urbanism at the universities of Geneva (Switzerland), Louvain (KUL - Belgium) and Paris. He was Dean of the Institut Français d'Urbanisme (and co-founder of the Paris school of urbanism). He is editor of the Revue Internationale d'Urbanisme. His work has focused on urban heritage (historic districts, industrial heritage), major projects, metropolises, and contemporary methods and processes of city production. In recent years, he has developed several research projects on what residents expect of their city and neighbourhood. He is currently leading an analysis programme on the production of Olympic facilities and the Olympic urban legacy. In 2024, he published (ed) Major French Cities facing Metropolization (Springer).
Dr Yutaka Sho
Ong Siew May Visiting Professor, Department of Architecture
Yutaka Sho is a partner and co-founder of the non-profit architecture firm General Architecture Collaborative (GAC). Sho is also a professor of architecture at Meiji University in Tokyo, Japan. Sho’s scholarly research focuses on the roles of architecture in the global development industry and post-conflict reconciliation processes. Her publications include “Five Aesthetics of the Global Development Industry: Building Low-Cost Housing in Rwanda” in The Plan Journal, “Regenerative Material-Human Ecologies: Investigating Mycelium for Living and Decentralized Architectures in Rwanda” in Design for Rethinking Resources from Springer Nature, among many others. She received her PhD in Environmental Studies from Tokyo University’s Department of Socio-Cultural Environmental Studies in the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences. She also received a Master of Architecture from Harvard Graduate School of Design, a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Rhode Island School of Design.
Ms Mok Sin Mun
Manager, Centre for Environment and Ageing Well, Dean's Office
Sin Mun has experience in programme and project management from various industries and has operations experience supporting research projects. She looks forward to being part of the Dean’s Office (Centre for Environment and Ageing Well) in advancing knowledge and practices essential for enhancing living environments that foster individuals' physical, psychological, and social well-being across all age groups, especially considering demographic shifts and climate change.
Ms Cindy Ng Ching Yee
Senior Executive, Department of the Built Environment
Cindy will support the administration of Undergraduate Programmes in the Department of the Built Environment and collaborate with other team members on various departmental matters. She brings a wealth of industry experience from the banking and human resources sectors, with a strong focus on learning and development. Before joining the department, Cindy managed the human resource operations and streamlined processes at a local healthcare institution.
Ms Lee Yi Ru, Yoyo
Executive, Office of Graduate Programmes, Dean‘s Office
Before her current position, Yi Ru had gained experience as a Quantity Surveyor in both the private and public sectors. She will support administrative matters for the Graduate Programmes in research and coursework.
Ms Ang Rui Shan Rosanne
Executive, Office of Student Life, Dean’s Office
Rosanne is a recent psychology graduate from NUS, bringing her passion for psychology and mental wellness to the team. With a strong belief in the importance of mental well-being and holistic development, she is excited to join the Dean’s Office (Office of Student Life), Care and Growth team and looks forward to collaborating with like-minded faculty members to help students thrive.
Promotions
| Name of Staff | Department/Division | Promotion |
| Zhao Dan | Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering | Full Professor wef 1 Jan 2025 |
| Huang Guang-Lih, Kenneth | Industrial Systems Engineering and Management | Full Professor wef 1 Jan 2025 |
| Yan Wentao | Mechanical Engineering | Associate Professor with tenure wef 1 Jan 2025 |
Retirement
We thank the following colleagues for their contributions and wish them all the best!
- Mdm Jamilah Bte Mohd, Laboratory Technologist, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
The College would like to thank Mdm Jamilah Bte Mohd for her dedicated service to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering for over 45 years. Throughout this time, she has been a mainstay in the CEE Geotechnical Laboratory, serving in various roles and contributing significantly to the growth and development of the lab over the last four decades. She has also been a great help and support to the many students and researchers working in the lab over the years, earning their respect and deep appreciation. We wish her all the very best for the future! Her last day of service is on 28 February 2025. - Mr Ooh Sing Hua, Laboratory Technologist, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Mr Ooh Sing Hua has dedicated 42 years to the university and played a key role in the development of in-house data acquisition systems for material testing. This was groundbreaking in an era when ready-made solutions were not readily available. His diverse responsibilities included supporting Final Year Projects, laboratory classes and research initiatives, managing equipment and inventories, and serving as the Fire Warden for the Structural Engineering Laboratory. We are truly grateful for his remarkable contributions and wish him a happy and well-deserved retirement. His last day of service is on 31 March 2025. - Mr Lee Chiang Soon, Laboratory Technologist, Department of Mechanical Engineering
With over 40 years of dedicated service, Chiang Soon has devoted a significant and invaluable portion of his life to the Department. In the 1990s, Chiang Soon worked in the Mechanical Workshop, where he was a key pillar of support, adept at solving complex assembly and fabrication challenges with his exceptional knowledge and skills—when advanced machines and technology were not available. His expertise and ingenuity were unmatched, yet he was selfless in sharing his knowledge. He was always ready to guide and mentor young staff to help them enhance their skills and grow professionally. When Chiang Soon took charge of the Design Lab, he unleashed his full potential by setting a high standard for how a lab should be established and run. Under his meticulous management, the lab became a benchmark for excellence. Over the years, Chiang Soon has guided hundreds of students in completing their designs and prototypes, playing an instrumental role in shaping their learning journeys and success. While it is a profound loss for the department to see Chiang Soon retire, we are heartened to know that he is embarking on a new chapter of his life, with more time to enjoy the pursuits and passions he cherishes. The department extends its deepest gratitude and heartfelt wishes to Chiang Soon for a fulfilling and joyous retirement. He leaves an enduring legacy that will be remembered and appreciated for years. His last day of service was on 31 January 2025.