FACULTY AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Prof Tan Puay Yok appointed Chief Executive Officer of NParks
Professor Tan Yuan Yok has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the National Parks Board (NParks), effective 1 June 2026.
Prof Tan currently serves as NParks’ Chief Science and Technology Officer and Group Director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. He has strengthened the Gardens’ international standing as a leading centre for tropical botany and conservation, and contributed to the development and management of key national spaces, including Fort Canning Park, the Istana grounds, and Singapore’s network of nature parks.
Winner of the Cement and Concrete Le Chatelier Medal
Assistant Professor Geng Guoqing and Research Fellow Dr Zhang Zhe have received the prestigious “Cement and Concrete Le Chatelier Medal” for their paper “Measuring the surface cohesion of calcium silicate hydrate” from the journal Cement and Concrete Research.
The award is conferred annually by the journal, on behalf of its editorial board, to recognise the single most outstanding and influential paper of the year and is regarded as one of the highest honours in the field of cement and concrete materials research. It is based on citation impact and is awarded to papers published two years prior.
The medal is named after pioneering scientist Henri Le Chatelier and recognises exceptional scientific contributions that advance fundamental understanding and innovation in cementitious materials.
Emeritus Prof Yong Kwet Yew appointed to MND Minister Action Team
Emeritus Professor Yong Kwet Yew has been appointed to the “MND Minister Action Team Main Committee to Improve Built Environment Productivity”, studying and developing measures to achieve greater savings in time, cost and manpower across the Built Environment sector and value chain.
It will focus on three key areas – drive enterprise transformation, review regulatory approach to reduce compliance burden and support an ecosystem that reap system-level synergies and address industry-wide challenges.
The Action Team’s Main Committee will be chaired by Mr Chee Hong Tat, Minister for National Development together with Mr Alvin Tan, Minister of State for National Development, and Trade and Industry as the Deputy Chair.
Prof Richard Liew awarded Engineering Structures Best Paper of the Year
An article by Professor Liew Jat Yuen, Richard and NUS alumnus Dr YS Chua titled “Innovative Modular Systems for High-Rise Buildings” (Volume 323A, 15 January 2025, 119270) has been selected as one of the Engineering Structures Best Paper of the Year (Novel Structures & Metamaterials) in the 2025 Awards.
Engineering Structures is a leading international journal in structural engineering, published by Elsevier.
The journal is recognised for disseminating high-impact research on the design, analysis and innovation of structures, and is regarded as a reputable platform within the global engineering research community.
Asst Prof Yuzhu Pearl Li awarded Robert Brown Promising Researcher Award
Congratulations to Assistant Professor Yuzhu Pearl Li, who 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 2025. This prestigious recognition underscores the recipient’s research potential and contributions to advancing academic excellence.
Named in honour 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.
Dr Kong Kian Hau named Fellow of the International Association of Advanced Materials
Dr Kong Kian Hau has been awarded Fellow of the International Association of Advanced Materials (FIAAM) in recognition of his contributions to Smart Construction Materials & Self-Healing Systems.
Fellow of IAAM is a distinction that the International Association of Advanced Materials confers upon researchers and scientists to recognise their important contribution and efforts for the advancement of materials.
Fellow of IAAM is a prestigious title that is only conferred upon researchers who have made significant contribution to the world of Advanced Materials Science, Engineering, and Technology. By honouring the researchers and scientific elites with this title, IAAM recognises their hard work and also hopes to motivate young and upcoming researchers to take up research as a long-term career.
Assoc Prof Sanjib Kumar Panda receives EnterpriseSG-SSC/SAC Commendation Award
Congratulations to Associate Professor Sanjib Kumar Panda on being selected as a recipient of the 2025 EnterpriseSG-SSC/SAC Commendation Award.
The 2025 EnterpriseSG-SSC/SAC Commendation Award recognises individuals for their significant contributions to Singapore's standardisation efforts.
The EnterpriseSG-SSC/SAC Commendation Award is jointly organised by Enterprise Singapore, the Singapore Accreditation Council (SAC), and the Singapore Standards Council (SSC). This award recognises partners who have made substantial contributions to Singapore's standards and accreditation programmes, enhancing the country's profile in these areas both nationally and internationally.
Prof Ang Kah Wee appointed Associate Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Electron Device Letters
Professor Ang Kah Wee has been appointed Associate Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Electron Device Letters (EDL), a leading journal in the field of electron devices and semiconductor technology.
Published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), IEEE Electron Device Letters is recognised for disseminating high-impact, cutting-edge research in areas such as semiconductor devices, nanoelectronics, and emerging electronic technologies. The journal plays a critical role in advancing innovation within the global electronics and semiconductor community.
Asst Prof Jin Yueming receives Robert Brown Promising Researcher Award
Congratulations to Assistant Professor Jin Yueming on receiving the Robert Brown Promising Researcher Award under the MOE AcRF Tier 2 Grant Call.
This award supports promising early-career researchers in advancing their work and building momentum towards larger research grants.
Her research project, “AI-AR-Enabled Navigation Platform for Clinical Treatment,” focuses on leveraging artificial intelligence and augmented reality to enhance precision and effectiveness in clinical procedures, with potential to advance next-generation healthcare technologies.
Asst Prof Peiqin Liu receives URSI Young Scientist Award
Research Assistant Professor Peiqin Liu has been awarded the URSI Young Scientist Award, a prestigious recognition presented by the International Union of Radio Science (URSI).
The URSI Young Scientist Award honours early-career researchers who have demonstrated outstanding contributions to the field of radio science. This recognition highlights Asst Prof Liu’s impactful research at the intersection of AI, metamaterials, and advanced antenna design for next-generation wireless systems.
Asst Prof Liu’s work focuses on advancing the applied electromagnetic (EM) research and antenna technology for the next generation of wireless systems through the tight integration of AI with EM devices, radio frequency packaging, and IC design.
Commenting on the award, Asst Prof Liu said: “I am deeply honoured to receive the URSI Young Scientist Award. I am grateful for the support and guidance from my mentors, colleagues, and collaborators at NUS. This recognition motivates me to continue advancing research at the intersection of AI, EM devices, and IC design for next-generation wireless systems.”
The award will be formally presented at the XXXVIth URSI General Assembly and Scientific Symposium, to be held from 15 to 22 August 2026 in Kraków, Poland.