Biography
Dr Karina Gin is a Provost’s Chair Professor and Acting Head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the National University of Singapore. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Melbourne in 1988 and her Master’s Degree in Engineering from the National University of Singapore in 1991. She obtained her Doctor of Science (ScD) Degree jointly from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in 1996. Her research specialisation is in water quality and ecosystem processes, with a focus on understanding the fate and transport of emerging microbial and chemical contaminants of concern, including pathogens and antimicrobial resistance, harmful algal blooms, and PFAS and polymer additives in the urban water cycle. Her research focuses on developing sensitive detection methods to study the prevalence of target contaminants; elucidating their mechanisms of action and interactions with other chemical/biological species in natural water bodies through field and laboratory experimentation; and developing environmental models for prediction and risk assessment. Prof Gin received the Provost’s Chair (NUS) (2025), National Public Administration Medal (Bronze) (COVID-19) (2023), the COVID Resilience Medal (2023), and Dean’s Chair (NUS) (2017-2019). She is co-author of a book on ‘The Environment in Asia Pacific Harbours’, which received a UN Atlas of the Ocean award (2006), and is a co-recipient of the Technology Enterprise Challenge (TEC) Innovator Award (2005). She is Editor of the Journal of Hazardous Materials, Associate Editor of Environment Innovation & Technology (2021 to 2024), and Editorial board member of Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters.
Prof Gin’s research and professional experience include: Co-author of guidance book published by WHO & FAO on “Safety and quality of water used with fresh fruit and vegetables” in the Microbiological Risk Assessment series 37 (Dec 2021); Co-author of Technical brief on water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) and wastewater management to prevent infections and reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), published by WHO, FAO and WOAH (2020); WHO-FAO Expert Meeting on the safety and quality of water used in food production and processing, Geneva (Sep 2019); WHO Expert Meeting on antibiotic use and wastewater residue, Germany (May, 2019); Member of the One Health AMR Research Programme Scientific Panel (OHARP), Singapore (2019–2025); Invited lecturer in workshop/course on Antimicrobial Resistance under the US-Singapore Third Country Training Program (Dec 2018); WHO Expert Meeting on developing priorities for WHO activities on antimicrobial resistance and the environment, Netherlands (Jun 2017); Member, Expert panel on antimicrobial resistance for WaSH (WHO) (2013), Chairman, National Committee of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) (2000-2015); Steering committee member for antibiotic mapping workshop (USGS, US State Dept and SETAC) (2016-2017); Reviewer, WHO Potable Reuse Guidance document (Jun 2015).
Employment history
- 2023 – Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, NUS
- 2010 – Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, NUS
- 2003 – Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, NTU
- 2001 – Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, NTU
- 1998 – Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, NUS
- 1996 – Lecturer, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, NUS
- 1988 – Senior Tutor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, NUS
Consultancy Projects
- Microbial Source Tracking, NEA (2022, 2023)
- Analysis of PFAS, Gradient Int. Hld. (2023)
- Biosensing technologies, Sembcorp Industries Ltd (2017)
- Reviewer, EIA study of islands reclamation, Surbana Consultants Pte Ltd (2005)
- Consultant, water quality modelling for CPG Consultants Pte Ltd (2002)
- Technical Assessor, SAC-SINGLAS (Singapore Accreditation Council – Singapore Laboratory Accreditation Scheme) (2000-2010)
- Consultant, water quality modelling for the Changi Naval Base, LEO (1999-2000)
- Consultant, water quality for the Water Reclamation Project, Singapore (CH2MHill Pte Ltd) (1999)
- Consultant, water quality monitoring and modelling for the ocean outfalls, Deep Tunnel Sewerage System, Singapore (CH2MHill Pte Ltd) (1997-1998)
- Consultant, water quality for Setsco Pte Ltd (1998-1999)
Educational qualifications
- ScD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology & Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 1996
- MEng (Civil), National University of Singapore, 1991
- BEng (Civil, 1st class), University of Melbourne, 1988
Honours & Awards
- 2025-2027, Provost’s Chair, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore
- 2023, The Public Administration Medal (Bronze) (COVID-19), Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore (Dec 2023)
- 2017-2019, Dean’s Chair, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore
- 2017, Falling Walls Lab Singapore (1st Place) (Team award)
- 2016, Best Poster Award (PhD student) at SIWW 2016
- 2015, 1st place Student Poster Award (PhD student) at FLUOROS 2015
- 2015, Best Group Presentation Award (PhD students) at IWA Micropollutants Conference (YPW)
- 2006, UN Atlas Award for Excellence for book on “The Environment in Asia Pacific Harbours” (Kluwer) (co-author of 2 chapters in book)
- 2005, The Enterprise Challenge Innovator Award for Enhanced Engineered Wetland Technology for the Removal of Nutrients from Stormwater at Kranji Reservoir (Team award)
- 1990-1995, NUS-Overseas Graduate Scholarship
- 1987, Hydraulics Prize, University of Melbourne
- 1986, Kinhill Stearns Award, University of Melbourne
- 1984-1986, St Mary’s College Scholarship, University of Melbourne
Professional Activities
- Top 2% Scientists (2021-2025)
- Invited speaker, One Health AMR Research Symposium, 26 Oct 2026, Singapore
- Plenary speaker, SETAC Asia-Pacific (20-23 Sep 2026), Tsukuba, Japan
- Keynote speaker, 11th International Conference on Marine Pollution and Ecotoxicology (ICMPE), 19-22 Aug 2026, Jeju, Korea
- Facilitator, workshop on Rethinking water and health: Integrating One Water and One Health, SIWW (15-20 Jun 2026), Singapore
- Invited speaker, University of Indonesia, Indonesia (Jun 2026)
- Programme Committee member, SIWW 2026, Singapore
- Plenary panelist speaker, IWA ASPIRE (29 Sep – 3 Oct, 2025), Christchurch, New Zealand
- Invited speaker, Durham University, UK (Jul 2025)
- Invited speaker, Newcastle University, UK (Jul 2025)
- Session Chair, IWA WaterMicro 2025, Amersfoort, Netherlands, Jun 2025
- Invited lecture, Lodz University & the Polish Academy of Sciences, May 2025
- Invited Dean’s Distinguished Speaker, School of Energy & the Environment, City U of Hong Kong, Mar 2025
- Invited speaker, Int. Forum on Climate Change and Coastal Resilience, Macao University of Science & Tech, Mar 2025
- Keynote speaker, 44th International Symposium on Halogenated Persistent Organic Pollutants, Singapore (Oct 2024)
- Invited speaker, OECD workshop on Water Reuse & AMR, Dijon, France (Oct, 2024)
- Keynote speaker, SETAC Asia Pacific, Tianjin, China (Sep 2024)
- Invited speaker, SFA Science Series 2024 Webinar (Jul 2024)
- Programme Committee, 10th IWA ASPIRE Water New Zealand Conference & Expo, Christchurch, New Zealand (Sep 2023 – Dec 2025)
- Scientific Committee, IWA Water Microbiology (WaterMicro) Conference 2025, Amersfoort, Netherlands (Jul 2024-2025)
- Invited participant, Global Wastewater Coalition (GLOWACON) Regional Conference & PREPARE-TF READI Meeting, Singapore (June 2024)
- Invited expert, WHO meeting on Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality (GDWQ): Microbial Aspects, Singapore (Jun 2024)
- Session Chair & Poster Judge, Water Convention, SIWW (Jun 2024)
- Scientific Committee, 44th International Symposium on Halogenated Persistent Organic Pollutants, Singapore (Mar 2024)
- Keynote speaker, 29th Asia Pacific Metrology Programme (APMP) Clean Water Focus Group Workshop, Shenzhen, China (Nov 2023)
- Keynote speaker, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering Seminars, SJTU, Shanghai, Nov 2023
- Invited participant, Global Technical Convening to Scale Wastewater Surveillance, Hong Kong, China, Oct 2023
- Invited speaker, Alliance of International Science Organizations (ANSO) forum: Environmental dimension of antimicrobial resistance, Ningbo, China, Sep 2023
- Keynote speaker, IPCB (International Postgraduate Conference on Biotechnology) 2023, Singapore (Aug 2023)
- Invited Expert to the ‘One Health Zoonotic Disease Prioritization Workshop for Singapore’ (Apr 2023)
- Keynote speaker, SETAC Asia Pacific (2022) virtual conference (5-8 Sep 2022)
- Member of the Steering Committee, World Aquaculture 2022 (2018 to 2021)
- Member, Organizing Committee, SETAC World Congress 2023 (2018 to 2021
- Invited Panelist at The Economist’s Summit on Antimicrobial Resistance (Dec 2019)
- Founder member of the Global Panel on Chemical Pollution of the Environment (GPCPE), set up by the Water Academy of France (Sep 2018)
Institutional & Professional service
- Strategic Committee member, TREASURES (Towards Resource Efficiency And Sustainability for Urban Environments) (NEA) (Feb 2026 -2030)
- Board member, VICOM Ltd (Nov 2024 – present)
- Board member, Magnuson Trust – review and deliberate on funding for social projects in the area of poverty alleviation, social injustice, and environmental sustainability (2020 – present)
- Member, Advisory Committee of School of Applied Science, Republic Polytechnic (Feb 2024 – Feb 2026)
- One Health AMR Research Programme Scientific Panel (OHARP) (2019-present)
- Technical Committee on Coastal and Marine Environment (TCCME), NParks (from Aug 2007 to present)
- Technical Committee on Water Quality Guidelines for Aquatic Facilities, National Environment Agency (Jul 2008)
- Technical Working Group (TWG) on Recreational Water Quality, National Environment Agency (NEA) (2007-2008; 2018-2019)
Teaching Areas
- Water quality modeling and management
- Environmental impact assessment
- Environmental Chemistry
- Fundamentals of environmental science and engineering
Research Interests
Prof Karina Gin’s research interest is in water quality, specifically on emerging microbial and chemical contaminants, understanding their occurrence and transformations in surface waters, and ultimately, their impacts and risks to human and ecosystem health. Her research includes developing sensitive detection methods to study the prevalence of target contaminants; elucidating their mechanisms of action and interactions with other chemical/biological species in environmental waters through field and laboratory experimentation; and subsequently, using this fundamental knowledge to develop environmental models for prediction and risk assessment. Her current research work focuses on:
- Zoonotic pathogen risks from urban birds in Singapore
- An integrated catchment-coastal water quality modelling system for combating climate change
- Surveillance of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polymer additives, and UV filters in the urban water cycle
- Modelling of hybrid nature-based and grey infrastructure solutions for coastal protection
- Sources and mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance determinants in environmental waters
- Wastewater surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 and other emerging microbiological and chemical contaminants
- Sources and mechanisms of algal blooms and their metabolites in tropical surface waters