FACULTY AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Associate Professor Kua Harn Wei appointed Vice Chair of International Biochar Initiatives (IBI)
Congratulations, Associate Professor Kua Harn Wei, on being appointed as Vice Chair of International Biochar Initiatives (IBI).
As a Vice Chair, his mission is to strengthen the connection between IBI and the global biochar academic network; this includes bringing the research community closer to the industry by encouraging more research on problems encountered by the industry, as well as bringing more academic research to the attention of commercial stakeholders seeking solutions to specific problems, including greener concrete and more sustainable ways of purifying air with biochar.
We look forward to Associate Professor Kua's valuable contributions to the global community in the years ahead!
Associate Professor Stephen Tay elected Board Member in the Singapore Green Building Council Board
Congratulations to Associate Professor Stephen Tay on his election to the Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC) Board (2025/2027). This marks his second term as an elected Board Member in the SGBC Board.
The SGBC is a non-profit organisation that advocates green building design, practices, and technologies to achieve a sustainable built environment in Singapore through public-private partnerships across the value chain. Globally, the SGBC is an Established Member of the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and participates actively through international efforts.
We look forward to Associate Professor Stephen Tay's contributions to the green building community in the years ahead!
Professor Richard Liew and CEE PhD Alumnus receive Feature Paper Award from Engineering Structures (Elsevier)
Professor Richard Liew (CEE) and CEE PhD Alumnus Dr Chua Yie Sue, Lecturer, School of Engineering, Monash University have received the Feature Paper Award from Engineering Structures (Elsevier) for their article, "Innovative Modular Systems for High-Rise Buildings" (Volume 323, 15 January 2025, Article 119270).
Professor Yang Hyunsoo elected as Fellow of the Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association (AAIA) and receives 2025 Mid-Career Award of the IEEE Magnetics Society
Prof Yang Hyunsoo received the 2025 Mid-Career Award from the IEEE Magnetics Society. This award is given annually to a single individual in the mid-stages of their career for making outstanding research and technological contributions to the field of magnetism. The IEEE Magnetics Society is the largest international professional organisation of scientists and engineers working in the field of magnetism.
He was also elected as a Fellow of the Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association (AAIA). The AAIA is an academic, non-profit, and non-governmental organisation that aims to build a broad AI industry, bringing together scientists and entrepreneurs related to AI applications to develop AI industries, including AI Ocean, AI Transportation, AI Computing, AI Communication, AI Robotics, AI Education, AI Agriculture, AI Finance, AI Medicine, AI Energy, and dozens of other AI application fields. The main mission of the AAIA is to support scientists in the field of AI and other fields worldwide to promote the development and application of AI.
Associate Professor Sanjib Kumar Panda elected Member at Large for the IEEE Power Electronics Society Administrative Committee (AdCom)
Assoc Prof Sanjib Kumar Panda has been elected as Member at Large for the IEEE Power Electronics Society Administrative Committee (AdCom).
The AdCom role is to strategically steer the IEEE Power Electronics Society, electing the president and vice-presidents, and interact with the society’s members. He will be serving on a three-year term (Jan. 2025 – Dec. 2027).
Assistant Professor Wang Xinchao recognised as one of IEEE AI’s 10 to Watch for 2024
Asst Prof Wang Xinchao has been recognised as one of IEEE AI’s 10 to Watch for 2024, a prestigious honour awarded by the IEEE Computer Society to outstanding young researchers in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This global recognition highlights Asst Prof Wang’s contributions to Efficient Machine Learning and his impact on shaping the future of AI.
The AI’s 10 to Watch award is presented biennially to 10 exceptional AI researchers worldwide who have demonstrated groundbreaking innovation, technical excellence, and visionary leadership in advancing the field. According to the IEEE’s official statement, the award “recognises exceptional talent, ground-breaking innovation, and vision shaping the future of Artificial Intelligence.”
Asst Prof Wang is the only recipient from Singapore in 2024, further underscoring the significance of this achievement. His pioneering research in Efficient Machine Learning focuses on optimising AI models for greater accuracy, scalability, and computational efficiency — key areas that drive real-world AI applications.
This marks a rare distinction for NUS, as the last faculty member from the university to receive this honour was Assistant Professor Kuldeep Meel in 2020. Asst Prof Wang’s recognition reinforces NUS’s standing as a leading institution in AI research and innovation.
Read more: https://cde.nus.edu.sg/ece/news-detail/dr-wang-xinchao-named-among-ieee-ais-10-to-watch-for-2024/
Assistant Professor Zhao Lin awarded Robert Brown Promising Researcher Award as part of the Ministry of Education (MOE) Academic Research Fund (AcRF) Tier 2 Grant Call
Asst Prof Zhao Lin has been awarded the Robert Brown Promising Researcher Award as part of the Ministry of Education (MOE) Academic Research Fund (AcRF) Tier 2 Grant Call in August 2024. This prestigious recognition underscores the recipient’s research potential and contributions to advancing academic excellence.
Established to support junior faculty in strengthening their research capabilities, the Robert Brown Promising Researcher Award provides critical funding to enhance their competitiveness for larger research grants. Named in honor of Dr Robert Brown, the founding Chairman of MOE’s Academic Research Council (ARC), the award reflects the council’s ongoing efforts since 2006 to guide Singapore’s research strategy and develop its Autonomous Universities (AUs) into world-class research institutions.
As part of this award, the recipient will receive a S$100,000 top-up grant to supplement their AcRF Tier 2 project, with funding allocated to support research both within and beyond the original project scope. This additional investment will enable the researcher to expand their investigations, drive innovation, and further contribute to the academic research ecosystem.