Biography
Dr Karina Gin is a Professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore. She received her Bachelor degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Melbourne in 1988 and her M.Eng Degree 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 the area of water quality and ecosystem processes, with particular interest in understanding the fate and transport of emerging microbial and chemical contaminants of concern including antimicrobial resistance in the urban water cycle and harmful algal blooms in tropical waters. 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. Prof Gin received the National Public Administration Medal (Bronze) (COVID-19) (2023), the COVID-19 Resilience Medal (2023) and the Dean’s Chair Award (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 co-recipient of the Technology Enterprise Challenge (TEC) Innovator Award (2005). Prof Gin is an Editor of the Journal of Hazardous Materials and an Associate Editor of Environment Innovation & Technology.
Prof Gin’s research and professional experience include: 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); 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); Member, Steering committee for antibiotic mapping workshop (USGS, US State Dept and SETAC) (2016-2017) and reviewer, WHO Potable Reuse Guidance document (Jun 2015). In Singapore, she also serves as a member of the One Health AMR Research Programme Scientific Panel (OHARP) (2019- present); the Technical Committee on the Coastal and Marine Environment (TCCME), NParks (from Aug 2007 – present and the Technical Working Group on Recreational Water Quality, NEA (2007-2008; 2018-2019).
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
- 2023, The Public Administration Medal (Bronze) (COVID-19), Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore (Dec 2023)
- 2017-2019, Dean’s Chair, Faculty of 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
- Editor, Journal of Hazardous Materials (since 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)
- Co-author of guidance book published by WHO & FAO (Food & Agricultural Organization of the UN) on “Safety and quality of water used with fresh fruit and vegetables” in the Microbiological Risk Assessment series 37 (Dec 2021).
- Co-author of a book chapter on “Anaerobic membrane bioreactors for industrial wastewater treatment” in Chemistry in the Environment Series No. 5, Biological Treatment of Industrial Wastewater, edited by Maulin P. Shah, published by the Royal Society of Chemistry, Nov 2021
- Session Chair, “Wastewater-based epidemiology”, Water Convention, SIWW (Apr 2022).
- Associate Editor, Environmental Technology & Innovation (since 2021)
- 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)
- Associate Editor, Environmental Technology & Innovation (since Dec 2021)
- Editorial Board member for Journal of Hazardous Materials (JHM) Letters (since Apr 2020).
- Guest Editor of Special Issue for the journal, Microorganisms
- Guest Editor of Special Issue for the journal, Water
- Member of Steering Committee, World Aquaculture 2022 (2018 to present)
- Member, Organizing Committee, SETAC World Congress 2023 (2018 to present)
- Invited Panelist at The Economist’ Summit on Antimicrobial Resistance (Dec 2019)
- Invited Expert for joint FAO/WHO Expert meeting on the Safety and Quality of Water Used in Food Production & Processing, Geneva, Switzerland (Sep 2019)
- Invited Expert for WHO meeting on Antibiotic Usage and Wastewater Residues in Hamburg, Germany (May 2019)
- Founder member of Global Panel on Chemical Pollution of the Environment (GPCPE), set up by the Water Academy of France (Sep 2018)
- Invited Expert for WHO meeting on developing priorities for WHO activities on anti-microbial resistance and the environment, Netherlands (Jul 2017)
- Member, Steering Committee for Workshop on Mapping the Lifecycle of Antibiotics in Southeast Asia 2016 (organized by U.S. State Dept, U.S.G.S and SETAC) (2016)
- World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Working Group on Antimicrobial Resistance & Water Safety & Hygiene (2013 to present)
- Chair, National Committee of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Program for Singapore (IGBP) (2000 to present)
- Member, Southeast Asia Regional Committee on START (SARCS) (2000 – 2015)
- Project Advisory Committee for WateReuse Foundation 2015, USA (Jun 2015)
- Reviewer, WHO Potable Reuse Guidance document (Jun 2015)
Institutional & Professional service
- 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
A/Prof Karina Gin’s research interest is in the area of 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 strategy 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 management purposes. Her current research work focuses on:
- Sources and mechanisms of algal blooms and their metabolites in tropical surface waters
- Sources and mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance determinants in environmental waters
- Monitoring, Exposure Assessment and Modelling for Transmission of Antimicrobial Resistance in Aquaculture Farms in Singapore
- Wastewater surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 and other emerging microbiological and chemical contaminants