FACULTY AND STAFF UPDATES
New Faculty and Staff
Professor Jorabi Rezai Hossein
Department of Architecture
Professor Jorabi Rezai Hossein joined the Department of Architecture as Professor (Practice) in August 2025 and is concurrently the Global Design Director at Ramboll. Prof Rezai is an engineer, a design visionary, and an educator. He is a proponent of systems thinking and regenerative design. One of the initiators of the concept of “fusion engineering,” Prof Rezai is the first and only engineer to receive the coveted title of “Designer of the Year” from the President of Singapore. He is very passionate about the process of advanced computational design, and a holistic approach to architecture + structure + environment.
Professor Yang Huiying
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Professor Yang Hui Ying's research focuses on the intersection of materials science, energy storage, and water treatment technologies. She is particularly interested in developing innovative nanomaterials that can enhance the efficiency and sustainability of desalination processes and energy storage systems. By employing cross-disciplinary strategies, her work has helped revolutionise both energy and environmental research. She aims to address critical global challenges like water scarcity and energy demand to build a more sustainable future. She has received numerous accolades, including the NRF Investigatorship (2025), the ACS Nano Impact Award (2024), the SNIC-AsCA2019 Distinguished Women Chemist Award (2023), the IPS Nanotechnology Medal for Outstanding Nanotechnology Physics Research (2018), the Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award (2014), the L’Oréal Singapore for Women in Science National Fellowship (2010), the Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) Fellowship (2008) and Singapore Millennium Foundation (SMF) Fellowship (2006), among others. She earned her PhD from Nanyang Technological University in 2007 and her BSc from Nankai University in 2002.
Ms Suphasidh Peeraya
Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture
Ms Peeraya Suphasidh is a licensed member of the Architect Council of Thailand, and her projects span across scales with the focus on integrating speculative positivity. The term ‘spatial optimism’ best describes her method of working, trusting that each project has the innate potential to positively shape the environment and the shared lived experiences. She believes that the work of architecture is the medium through which life is experienced. This tender work is achieved through the mastery of material expression, building performance, and a deep understanding of the human conditions.
Peeraya received her Bachelor of Architecture along with her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Rhode Island School of Design where she was awarded the Architecture Thesis Prize, and a Master of Architecture II from Harvard University where her project 'The Block' received second place for the Plimpton-Poorvu Design Award.
Dr Soh Wan Yuan, Beatrice
Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Dr Beatrice Soh joined the Department as an Assistant Professor under the NUS Presidential Young Professorship and is concurrently appointed as Research Scientist at the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE). She received her B.S.E. in Chemical and Biological Engineering from Princeton University in 2014 and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2020. At MIT, Beatrice worked with Prof Patrick Doyle to investigate the polymer physics of topologically complex DNA at the single-molecule level. She has received several awards for her graduate work, including the Ruth Lynden-Bell PhD Prize on Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics. Currently, her research interests lie in integrating experiments, simulations and data-driven approaches for applications in microfluidics and soft matter.
Dr Pan Weiyi
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Prior to joining NUS, Dr Pan Weiyi was a postdoctoral researcher at Rice University (January–June 2025) and Yale University (August 2022–December 2024), working with Professor Menachem Elimelech. He earned his Ph.D. in Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis in 2022, advised by Professor Daniel Giammar, and was a McDonnell International Scholars Academy Fellow (2017–2022). He also holds an M.S. in Environmental Engineering from Peking University and a B.E. from the China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing). Dr Pan’s research focuses on Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Mitigation, with expertise in Environmental Chemistry, Electrochemistry, Membrane Technology and Process Engineering. His work has been published in leading journals such as Nature Water and Environmental Science & Technology.
Dr Meng Xin
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Dr Meng Xin joined the Department as an Assistant Professor under the NUS Presidential Young Professorship. He received his BEng from Tsinghua University in 2015 and MSc and PhD from Imperial College London in 2016 and 2020 respectively. Prior to joining NUS, he worked as a Research Associate and then a Research Fellow at Imperial College London from 2020 to 2025, engaged in research as well as teaching at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Dr Meng’s research interests lie in the areas of steel structures, metal additive manufacturing (3D printing) and sustainable and automated construction, with expertise in advanced structural testing, finite element modelling, structural optimisation and structural design. The mission of his research at NUS is to advance the understanding and application of metal additive manufacturing in construction, develop innovative solutions to tackle grant challenges facing Singapore’s infrastructure, and contribute to the implementation of new Eurocodes in Singapore.
Professor Anne-Marie Lacaton
Visiting Professor, Department of Architecture
Professor Anne Lacaton graduated from the National School of Architecture in Bordeaux. The projects that she undertook seek social and environmental goals through attention to climate, transformation of the existing, economy and the user, are based on a principle of generosity, serving life, the uses and the appropriation, with a strong commitment for sustainability and social impact. For over three decades, she has designed social housing, cultural and academic institutions, public space, and urban strategies. Projects include the regeneration of the Palais de Tokyo in Paris (2002&2012), the Nantes School of Architecture (2009) multiple social housing projects and the transformation of modernist housing blocks, such as 530 apartments in Bordeaux, Cité du Grand Parc, which received the EU Mies Van der Rohe Award,2019.
Prof Anne Lacaton was awarded the Pritzker Prize 2021 and is recipient of a number of awards including Fundació Mies van der Rohe, European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture (2019), the Global Award for Sustainable Architecture (2018), the Daylight & Building Components Award, Velux Foundation (2011) and the Grand Prix National d’Architecture, France, (2008).
Prof Anne-Marie Lacaton was a Professor at ETH Zurich and a Visiting Professor at numerous schools, including Harvard GSD and EPF Lausanne. Prof Anne-Marie Lacaton and Prof Jean Philippe Vassal were appointed co-chairs of the inaugural, three-year Rothwell Chair in 2020.
Professor Jean Philippe Rene Vassal
Visiting Professor, Department of Architecture
Professor Jean Philippe Vassal graduated from the National School of Architecture in Bordeaux. The projects that he undertook seek social and environmental goals through attention to climate, transformation of the existing, economy and the user, are based on a principle of generosity, serving life, the uses and the appropriation, with a strong commitment for sustainability and social impact. For over three decades, he has designed social housing, cultural and academic institutions, public space, and urban strategies. Projects include the regeneration of the Palais de Tokyo in Paris (2002&2012), the Nantes School of Architecture (2009) multiple social housing projects and the transformation of modernist housing blocks, such as 530 apartments in Bordeaux, Cité du Grand Parc, which received the EU Mies Van der Rohe Award,2019.
Prof Jean Philippe Vassal was awarded the Pritzker Prize 2021 and is recipient of a number of awards, among them the Fundació Mies van der Rohe, European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture (2019), the Global Award for Sustainable Architecture (2018), the Daylight & Building Components Award, Velux Foundation (2011) and the Grand Prix National d’Architecture, France, (2008)
Prof Jean-Philippe Vassal was a professor at the UDK Berlin and a visiting professor at other schools, including the EPF Lausanne. Prof Anne-Marie Lacaton and Prof Jean Philippe Vassal were appointed co-chairs of the inaugural, three-year Rothwell Chair in 2020.
Associate Professor Jayde Lin Roberts
Visiting Associate Professor, Department of Architecture
Associate Professor Jayde Lin Roberts, an interdisciplinary scholar, combines spatial and historical analysis with ethnographic research to examine heritage-making, urban informality, and the effects of transnational networks. She was a Fulbright US Scholar in Yangon, Myanmar (2016-2018) and has published in globally leading journals such as the International Journal of Heritage Studies and Critical Asian Studies. Her monograph Mapping Chinese Rangoon: Place and Nation among the Sino-Burmese is the first English-language book about Yangon’s Chinatown and its resident Sino-Burmese. Before joining NUS, she taught Architecture and Urbanism in Asia, Architecture and Politics, and a master-level studio focusing on Indigenous knowledge at UNSW Sydney. In her teaching and research, Prof. Roberts is particularly interested in participatory and decolonising methods.
Associate Professor Lu Xiaoxuan
Visiting Associate Professor, Department of Architecture
Associate Professor Lu Xiaoxuan is a landscape scholar and designer. Specialising in territorial-scale landscape analysis and planning, Assoc Prof Lu employs critical cartography, photography, and videography in her design research to develop new theoretical framings for socio-spatial phenomena, alternative toolkits for spatial intervention, and practical advisory frameworks for policymakers. Assoc Prof Lu has received numerous international awards for her research and design work, notably an Award of Excellence in the Analysis and Planning Category from the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), and a commendation in the Cities & Community Category under the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) President’s Awards for Research.
Assoc Prof Lu serves the landscape community through multiple academic and professional organisations, including chairing the Research + Methods Track for the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA). Prior to her appointment at NUS, she taught at several prestigious universities in Asia, including the University of Hong Kong (HKU), where she served as Director of the Bachelor of Arts in Landscape Studies program. Assoc Prof Lu holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture, a Master of Landscape Architecture from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, and a PhD in Human Geography from Peking University.
Miss Rebecca Katherine Thaver
Associate Director, Administration, Dean's Office
Miss Rebecca Katherine Thaver joins the Dean's Office with a strong background in executive support, secretariat work, and data analytics. Though new to the higher education sector, Rebecca is a trained adult educator who brings solid expertise in predictive modelling and large dataset analysis. Leveraging her experience, she will support the Dean in advancing strategic initiatives, with a focus on data-driven decision-making, stakeholder engagement, and operational effectiveness.
Miss Seow Pei Huan
Manager, Division of Industrial Design
Miss Seow Pei Huan has joined the Division of Industrial Design (DID) as a new Postgraduate Research Coordinator and Research Administrator. Pei Huan brings over 15 years of experience in higher education programme management, spanning both public and private universities. In her new role, she will work closely with postgraduate research students and faculty members to support the administration of DID’s research programs. Her expertise and dedication will play a key role in the continued growth of DID’s research community.
Miss Ho Pei Qi Wendy
Assistant Senior Manager, Administration, Dean's Office
Miss Ho Pei Qi Wendy joins the Dean’s Office following a 2.5-year tenure at the Agility Office under the NUS Talent Development track, where she led several strategic change management initiatives. Prior to that, Wendy was with the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, overseeing international partnerships.
Drawing on her extensive experience in strategic engagement, global collaborations, and project management, Wendy will focus on streamlining the coordination of student and corporate events at CDE. She will also be working on improving internal communications across the college.
Outside of work, Wendy enjoys meeting new people, having meaningful conversations, and trying out different fitness classes to stay active.
Mr Siak Kok Leong, Jerry
Assistant Manager, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Before Mr Siak Kok Leong Jerry joined the Department of Mechanical Engineering’s undergraduate team, Jerry had experience working with students and on curriculum matters. He had worked at other Institutes of Higher Learning (IHL), such as NTU and the National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC). He is interested in exploring how AI can help to improve work processes in the office. Outside work, Jerry enjoys cycling, catching football matches on the weekends, and spending quality time with his two children.
Miss Erna Tan
Laboratory Executive, Department of the Built Environment
Ms Erna Tan worked as a Research Associate in the area of thermal comfort in naturally ventilated space, the sensing of urban microclimate for Cool NUS-BEAM Initiative, as well as safety lead for the Principal Investigator in the Department of the Built Environment before joining the same department as Laboratory Executive.
In her current role, she will support the work on the Total Workplace Safety and Health policy and programme, laboratory upgrades and infrastructure renovations, laboratory safety compliance, as well as laboratory planning, coordination and operation to support research and teaching environment.
Miss Chua Sweet Min Mindy
Management Assistant Officer, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Miss Chua Sweet Min Mindy plays a pivotal role in supporting the department through various essential administrative functions. These include coordinating research seminars, managing short-term academic visitors, and overseeing the procurement of office supplies. Prior to joining the department, Mindy served as an Executive at SingHealth and Singapore General Hospital.
Management Updates
| Name | Update |
| Associate Professor Xue Jun Min | Appointed as Head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering effective 1 September 2025. |
Promotions
| Name of Staff | Department/Division | Promotion |
| Loh Tzu Yang | Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering | Promotion to Associate Professor (Practice) with effect from 1 August 2025. |