FACULTY AND STAFF UPDATES
New Faculty and Staff
Dr James Utama Surjadi
Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Dr James Utama Surjadi joined the department as an Assistant Professor under the NUS Presidential Young Professorship. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the City University of Hong Kong in Year 2022, where he was a recipient of the University’s Outstanding Doctoral Research Award. He continued his research as a Postdoctoral Associate in Professor Carlos M Portela’s group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His research bridges mechanics, materials science, and advanced manufacturing, focusing on the design, modeling, fabrication, and characterisation of multiscale (nano-to-macro) metamaterials that unite exceptional mechanical robustness with multifunctional performance. His research contributions have recently been recognised through the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list (2025, Healthcare & Science).
Dr Manohar Salla
Senior Laboratory Executive, Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Dr Manohar Salla has been appointed as Senior Laboratory Executive in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering with effect from 1 May 2026. In this role, he will oversee the Lab Office and provide support for the department’s education and research activities. Prior to this appointment, he served as a Research Fellow in the department since 2018.
Promotions
| Name of Staff | Department/Division | Promotion |
| Geng Guoqing | Civil and Environmental Engineering | Associate Professor with tenure with retrospective effect from 1 Jan 2026 |
| He Qian | Materials Science and Engineering | Associate Professor with tenure with effect from 1 Jul 2026 |