TECH EXPERTS

Dr Gan Eng Seng is currently a lecturer at Republic Polytechnic and is responsible for driving plant research and growth system optimization, and developing curriculum related to agricultural technology. Prior to this, Eng Seng was with an AgTech company as a senior crop scientist, where he helped setup an R&D facility, and managed the core scientific research of increasing yield, reducing crop cycle and improving the quality of the produce. A plant molecular and developmental biologist by training, Eng Seng earned his PhD from the National University of Singapore (NUS) in 2015 and did his post-doctoral work at the Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (TLL), focusing on the effects of environmental changes on plant growth and the molecular mechanisms underlying such responses. He believes that smart-farming involving automation, IoT and data analytics, is the way to go to feed the world, and hopes to tap on his expertise to contribute to these fields.

Dr Sharon Lim is a Senior Lecturer and Principal Investigator specializing in cancer research to identify non-invasive biomarker with therapeutic and prognostic value, and develop rapid diagnostic platform. She has more than 14 years of research experience in cell culture, drug discovery and cell based assay, animal model work, molecular cloning and stem cells research. She is also experienced in drug discovery and has played an active role in pre-clinical trial testing, including in vitro cell based assay to assess efficacy of potential anti-cancer drug candidate, and setting up in vivo animal model to assess shortlisted drugs. She has active collaborations with Cancer Science Institute (CSI) and NUHS in cancer drug discovery. Her research includes a drug that advanced into first-in-man trials. Sharon holds a PhD in Biochemistry from National University of Singapore. She has authored 8 publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals and holds a patent for drug invention.

Dr May Sim is currently a Senior Lecturer (Industry) at the School of Applied Science in Republic Polytechnic.  She collaborates closely with the industry to conduct applied science based research projects in areas such as aerospace, transport, packaging, non-destructive techniques (NDT), composites and plastics. Upon graduation from Loughborough University with a PhD in Aeronautical Engineering, she joined SIMTech as a Senior Research Engineer to lead in various projects and providing consultancy services to industries related to material failure analysis, diagnostic methods, and X-ray inspection characterisation activities. As an Intellectual Property and Commercialisation Manager at the Industry Liaison Office of NUS,  she managed the university’s intellectual property in the areas of electronics and food technology before joining QSA Global as an International Sales Manager and solely oversaw the regional markets in China and Asia in the areas of gamma radiation sources and various NDT. She is a qualified Advanced Certificate in Training and Assessment (ACTA) trainer and is currently certified by NEA to conduct the Licensing Basic Ionisation Radiation Safety Course. Together with her team, Dr May clinched the MOE Innergy commendation award in 2019 for a project on the ‘Development of E-Scooter Wheelchair’ and filed a Singapore Provisional Patent for her innovative efforts in design novelty and fabrication techniques. She also helmed a leadership role as the Programme Head for the ‘Specialist Diploma in Advanced Composites’ course. In 2020, she was awarded The Crescendas Medal and Prize for Outstanding Engineering Physics Teacher (Polytechnics/ITE) 2019 by the Institute of Physics Singapore.

Dr Goh Chee Keong is a Conexus Senior Manager at Republic Polytechnic’s (RP) Environmental Technology Centre. Dr Goh has more than 14 years of experience in leading research groups with extensive works in materials, energy and environmental applications. He is also author of numerous research publications on catalytic materials and environmental technologies. Dr Goh specialises in research, development, formulation and characterisation of functional materials for waste management solutions, petrochemical processing, renewable energy applications, aquaculture, agriculture and water treatment. He has secured high impact projects funded by various agencies including Ministry of Education (MOE) Translational R&D and Innovation Fund (TIF), National Environment Agency’s (NEA) Environment Technology Research Programme (ETRP) and Closing The Waste Loop (CTWL) initiatives and Tote Board. He also leads academic staff to propose, execute and facilitate the participation in multi-disciplinary technology development projects across the schools within RP.  Dr Goh currently focus on building close collaborative relationships with enterprises, research institutes and institute of higher learning for joint development projects. He is also active in providing technology consultancy services for local companies. He has been awarded the Outstanding Innovator Award at the MOE Innergy Award 2019 and Exemplary Innovator Award at the Public Sector Transformation (PST) Awards 2020.

Dr Teng Yin Ting is a Lecturer in Republic Polytechnic since 2016. She has more than 10 years of research experience in chemical additives, nanomaterials, battery materials and energy harvesting materials. As a principal investigator and co-principal investigator, she has supported companies in carrying out multiple R&D and industry projects and is actively involved in prototype development. When co-creating solutions with the industry, she has been focusing on projects relating to materials development, particularly in the area of sustainability. Prior to joining Republic Polytechnic, she held various research positions at Nanyang Technological University, TUM Create and A*STAR SIMTech, working on energy research, fluorine chemistry, and surface technology. Dr Teng Yin Ting obtained her PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

Dr Chiradip Chatterjee is currently Senior Lecturer at Republic Polytechnic. He has more than 15 years of experience in analytical chemistry, spectroscopy, biopolymers, formulation science. His formulation related research covers new chemical synthesis, chemical formulation, feed formulation (animal, fish, invertebrate) using alternative protein source or agro by-product source, formulation of natural cosmetics and aromatherapy related products, as well as dietary supplements formulation to boost health and immunity. He has been collaborating with local and international companies in the research and development of formulation products in related fields. He is also winner of MOE Innergy award (Gold and Bronze) for his research work at Republic Polytechnic. Prior to this, Chiradip worked in University of California, Santa Barbara, USA for his postdoctoral research work, followed by National University of Singapore for his second postdoctoral research work. He holds a PhD in Chemistry.

Dr Harmeet Singh is currently Senior Lecturer at Republic Polytechnic. He has accumulated approximately 17 years of research experience in both academia and industry, working at established institutions such as NUS, A*STAR, the L’Oreal Advanced Research lab (Singapore). He also worked at the National Research Foundation as a Deputy Director (CREATE) and programme manager, managing the running of the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) programme. A multi-disciplinary scientist with a diverse research background, Harmeet was trained as a mechanical engineer, and then went on to specialise in Tissue Engineering and Bioengineering. He was involved in the design and development of bioreactor systems for tissue engineering applications and skin cell biology studies. With 15 years of experience in culturing an array of cell types, ranging from stem cells (embryonic, mesenchymal, IPSc), osteoblasts, primary dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes and various other cell lines, including suspension-based cell-lines, his current portfolio involves the early stages of developing methods of culturing and scaling up myoblasts for clean meat applications. 

Dr Tan Shi-Xiong is currently Senior Lecturer in Republic Polytechnic, School of Applied Science. He has more than 15 years of hands-on experience in biochemistry, cell culture and molecular biology techniques, including gene cloning, site-directed mutagenesis, gene expression detection and analysis, immuno-detection of proteins, protein expression and purification. His research interest revolves around factors that can affect the development of muscle and fat cells, as well as how these factors affect the insulin-signaling pathway for cellular glucose uptake. Dr Tan is also involved in consultancy projects that assist the industry in the detection of DNA contamination, presence of DNase/RNase, as well as detection of polymerase chain reaction inhibitors. He has also developed media formulations that assist in the cryopreservation of mammalian cells. Dr Tan performed his first postdoctoral research at the Diabetes and Obesity Research Program, The Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, Australia, where he worked on factors that affects the insulin-signaling pathway and glucose transport. He then continued his work on diabetes and metabolism at the Institute of Molecular Cell Biology (IMCB), A*STAR prior to joining Republic Polytechnic.

Dr Ian Harris Sujae is a human movement science specialist by training. With more than 10 years of experience in Biomechanics, Physiology and Motor Control Learning, Ian synergizes movement science to understand human movement in an array of applications ranging from sports performance to ergonomic and ergogenic human factor research, health rehabilitation and injury prevention as well as gait patterns. Ian has worked with various industries in providing consultation services on commissioned research projects leveraging on complex evidence-based and ecological validity approach as well as technology. Currently, Ian is senior manager at ERGO Technology Centre, School of Sports Health and Leisure, Republic Polytechnic. In addition to academic responsibilities as a senior lecturer and mentor for student-led activities, Ian oversees human factor research projects with the industry and has worked on several commissioned projects and grants.  Ian sits in the Football Association of Singapore, Medical Committee, and continues to present his research work at the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports (ISBS) conference, which is the highest arena for sports biomechanist to present applied research in sports. He has also published in several peer-reviewed journals including the Sports Biomechanics Journal, International Journal of Sports Science and Performance Analysis as well as the Journal of Sports and Exercise Sciences. Ian is also a current member of ISB, ISBS as well as a life member with the Singapore Physical Education Association (SPEA).