FACULTY AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Faculty honoured at CDE Awards and Recognition ceremony
"The CDE Awards celebrate the talent, dedication, and drive that define our community."
On 21 April 2025, CDE recognised our outstanding faculty for their achievements, excellence and dedication in research and teaching at the annual CDE Awards and Recognition ceremony. The awards were presented by Professor Kie Leong Teo, Dean of CDE.
Commenting on this year’s awardees, Prof Teo said, "I am proud to honour this year’s recipients, whose achievements set new benchmarks and remind us of the impact we can make when we pursue excellence with purpose and passion."
Awards were presented in the following categories:
- Provost’s Chair
- Dean’s Chair
- CDE Young Researcher Award 2025
- CDE Researcher Award 2025
- Clarivate 2024 Highly Cited Researchers
- Outstanding Early Career Award 2025
- CDE Design and Technology Innovation Award 2025
- College Educator Award AY 2023/24
- College Teaching Excellence Award AY 2023/24
Congratulations to all awardees!
Read more and view the photo gallery here.
Professor Lim Chwee Teck featured in Advanced Materials Hall of Fame
Congratulations to Professor Lim Chwee Teck, Department of Biomedical Engineering, on being featured in the prestigious Advanced Materials Hall of Fame!
A prolific inventor and technopreneur, Prof Lim’s contributions to mechanobiology and biomedical engineering are world-renowned. One recent research breakthrough he led involved the development of an innovative “gut-on-a-chip” technology, enabling scientists to closely examine how gut microbes interact with each other and impact gut health.
He has co-founded six deep tech companies, including one IPO in 2018, and his work has led to significant advancements with profound implications for healthcare and medical technology. Recently Prof Lim was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Nature Awards for Mentoring in Science.
Professor Liu Bin inducted into the Singapore Women's Hall of Fame
Congratulations to Professor Liu Bin on being inducted into the Singapore Women's Hall of Fame!
Professor Liu Bin was Head of Department at the NUS Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering from 2017 to 2022. She currently holds the appointment of Tan Chin Tuan Centennial Professor.
“I am deeply honoured and grateful to be inducted into the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame alongside other outstanding women who have made profound impact on Singapore. This recognition affirms my commitment to scientific excellence, innovation, and my role as an academic leader and mentor. I hope it serves as an inspiration for more young women to pursue their passions and make their own meaningful contributions that help shape a better, more inclusive world for all,” said Prof Liu.
Read more here.
Professor Rajasekhar Balasubramanian elected as a Fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Congratulations to Professor Rajasekhar Balasubramanian (Bala), Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, on his election as a Fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)! AAAS is the world's largest general scientific society and publisher of the Science family of journals.
A Provost Chair's Professor and Keppel Professor in Sustainability Solutions, Prof Bala's research interests cut across environmental sustainability, climate change and urban air quality. He is honoured for his "distinguished contributions to the field of air quality and international leadership in atmospheric research, particularly in establishing our understanding of tropical biomass burning and its environmental and health impacts."
“Clean air is essential for everyone to live", said Prof Bala. “I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to work at NUS addressing this grand challenge and am deeply grateful to the mentors, students and colleagues for their continued support.”
Prof Bala’s research in the sustainability field provides a comprehensive understanding of the complex relationship between urbanisation, the environment, and society. He is a member of the Science Panel of the APCAP (Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership), launched by UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) that influences policy makers to accelerate progress towards deployment of air pollution control strategies.
“This year’s class of Fellows are the embodiment of scientific excellence and service to our communities,” said Dr Sudip Parikh, Chief Executive Officer of AAAS and executive publisher of the Science family of journals. “At a time when the future of the scientific enterprise in the US and around the world is uncertain, their work demonstrates the value of sustained investment in science and engineering."
Adjunct Professor Choo Yoo Sang recognised as Honorary Fellow of The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST)
Civil and Environmental Engineering Adjunct Professor Choo Yoo Sang received the Honorary Fellow certificate from Professor Stephen de Mora, the 122nd President of The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST), March 2025 at Plaisterers' Hall in London. He joins a prestigious group of about 20 living Honorary Fellows of the Institute.
Professor Choo served as the 106th President of IMarEST in 2008, and was the Institute’s first President from Asia. As stated in the Honorary Fellow certificate, he has rendered outstanding service to the Institute over many years. He also led expert panels to accredit marine engineering-related degree programmes at universities in China, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Assistant Professor Yuzhu Pearl Li wins the Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA) Career Award 2024
Congratulations to Assistant Professor Yuzhu Pearl Li from the Civil and Environmental Engineering department for winning the Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA) Career Award 2024!
The award recognises a member's career achievements, highlighting scientific excellence, outstanding research, and significant contributions to the community. It was presented at the MCAA Annual Conference and General Assembly held on 21-22 March 2025 in Krakow, Poland.
Asst Prof Li’s work in coastal engineering and climate resilience has made profound impact on the community. She added, "I’m deeply honoured to receive the MCAA Career Award—this recognition is not only a personal milestone but also a reflection of the incredible support and collaboration I’ve received over the years from my mentors, colleagues, students, and research partners, as well as from my department at NUS. "
Looking ahead, she is committed to advancing sustainable coastal protection solutions in response to sea-level rise and mentoring the next generation of engineers and researchers focused on building climate-resilient communities.
Associate Professor Low Ying Min receives the Best Paper of the Year 2024 award from Engineering Structures
Associate Professor Low Ying Min, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, received the Best Paper of the Year 2024 award from Engineering Structures, a top journal in civil engineering, for the paper “Data-driven fast reliability assessment of offshore structures based on real-time sensor data”.
The other authors were Dr Ankang Cheng (research fellow) and Miao Qingqing (PhD student).
Professor Chen Zhi Ning awarded the EurAAP Antenna Award
Congratulations to Professor Chen Zhi Ning from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering on being awarded the prestigious European Association on Antennas and Propagation (EurAAP) Antenna Award for his significant contributions to advancing antenna technologies, including small, broadband antennas, and metantennas! This award recognises individuals or teams who have made outstanding achievements in the development, theory, design, or application of antennas.
The EurAAP Antenna Award was presented at EuCAP 2025 - the 19th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, held from 30 March to 4 April 2025.
Professor Chen is also the Director of the Advanced Research and Technology Innovation Centre (ARTIC), which is based in CDE. Its research areas range from Adaptive and Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces to Next-generation Imaging and Optoelectronics Technology, Wearable Healthcare Devices, and Smart Home Sensing Technology.
Assistant Professor Iris Yu wins Rising Star in Green Chemistry Education Award
CEE Assistant Professor Iris Yu is a winner of the Rising Star in Green Chemistry Education Award. Dr Yu’s work in microwave thermoprocessing and green catalysis is paving the way for a more sustainable future.
More details can be found here.
Emeritus Professor Yong Kwet Yew re-appointed Board Member of PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency
Emeritus Professor Yong Kwet Yew was re-appointed a Board Member of PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency for another two-year term from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2027.
Professor Cecilia Laschi spotlighted in the SHEInnovates campaign by the European Engineering Learning Innovation and Science Alliance (EELISA)
Professor Cecilia Laschi, from Mechanical Engineering and Director of NUS Advanced Robotics Centre (ARC), was spotlighted by the European Engineering Learning Innovation and Science Alliance (EELISA) as part of their SHEInnovates campaign! Three cheers!
Prof Laschi is Provost’s Chair Professor of Robotics, leads the Soft Robotics Lab and Co-Director of CARTIN – the Centre for Advanced Robotics Technology and Innovation.
Check out a feature on her work in our Jan 2025 research newsletter - Forging New Frontiers!