Two CDE alumni have been honoured at the NUS Alumni Awards, a biennial ceremony for the University to recognise alumni who have distinguished themselves through significant and impactful contributions to their alma mater, society and the world.
Mr Brian Tan Kai Piang, Regional President of Applied Materials Southeast Asia (Bachelor of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2000) received the Distinguished Alumni Service Award, whilst Dr Aishwarya Bandla, Regional R&D Manager at Paxman Coolers (Doctor of Philosophy, Biomedical Engineering, Class of 2017) received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award.
They were among 21 individual alumni and three alumni teams, comprising another 14 individuals, honoured at the awards ceremony held on 2 November.
Other recipients included Mdm Halimah Yacob, former President of the Republic of Singapore, who was presented with the University’s Eminent Alumni Award for her achievements in public service, as well as her exemplary service to the University as its former Chancellor.
Speaking at the event, NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye noted that the award recipients have, “not only found success in their respective fields, but elevated what it means to be an alumnus or alumna of our institution: their achievements have enriched our culture, advanced our science, deepened our humanity, and bettered our society”.
More about the CDE awardees
Mr Brian Tan has made significant contributions to the semiconductor industry. As the Regional President for Southeast Asia at Applied Materials, a leading semiconductor equipment and services supplier, he has played a pivotal role in establishing Singapore as a key R&D and manufacturing hub as well fostering strong partnerships between the private and public sectors to drive innovation.
Mr Tan was instrumental in establishing the Applied Materials-NUS Advanced Materials Corporate Lab, a $70 million collaboration to develop next-generation semiconductor materials. This initiative has resulted in over 40 patents and has provided valuable training for more than 60 researchers and engineers.
Mr Tan's commitment to innovation and education extends to his involvement with NUS. He played a key role in shaping the NUS College of Design and Engineering and, as a member of the NUS School of Continuing and Lifelong Education Industry Advisory Board, he has offered valuable insights to help lifelong learners stay competitive and relevant.
Dr Aishwarya Bandla is a leading biomedical scientist specialising in digital health and supportive oncology. With a background in electrical and biomedical engineering, her passion lies at the intersection of technology and medicine, where patient-centric technological solutions are crafted.
Dr Bandla is actively involved in research, product development, and commercial translation at Paxman Coolers Ltd. She also holds adjunct positions at prestigious institutions like NUS N.1 Institute for Health, Institute for Digital Medicine (WisDM), and the National University Cancer Institute, Singapore.
As a Co-Principal Investigator for numerous national grants, her expertise fosters collaboration between clinicians and technologists, bridging the gap from laboratory solutions to clinical applications and market innovations.
One of her key projects involves pioneering a wearable device to alleviate a debilitating side effect of chemotherapy, which can cause pain and sensitivity in patients' hands and feet.
Dr. Bandla's commitment goes beyond her professional work. She actively engages in leadership and mentorship at NUS and volunteers with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). She has mentored several students from local institutions, with many of them earning student research awards and pursuing advanced degrees in medicine and engineering.
