TECH EXPERTS

Dr Sun Guang Wen is Lecturer at School of Applied Science, Republic Polytechnic with 15 years of experience in biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, immunology and microbiology. His current research interests include regulation of antibody response, production of recombinant antibodies, and development of quality assurance assays. In addition to education, Dr Sun is also an industrial consultant and provide advice in product development and quality assurance.  Prior to joining Republic Polytechnic, Dr Sun was Research Fellow at National University of Singapore and was involved in cutting edge research in emerging infectious diseases. His PhD and postdoctoral research were on the molecular and genetic basis of bacterial pathogenesis. His research experience also includes antibody engineering; gene knockout using CRISPR-Cas9; product quality analysis based on biochemical and molecular assays; and development of real-time PCR based human DNA detection method.  Dr Sun obtained his PhD in Microbiology and Immunology and BSc in Biochemistry from National University of Singapore.  

Dr Gabriel Lee is currently Senior Lecturer in the School of Applied Science at Republic Polytechnic (RP). He is actively involved in the New Materials Technology Centre (NMTC), where extensive research work is carried out on various aspects of materials and coatings innovation. He leads industrial research projects on the development of tunable surface solutions as well as smart materials to increase sustainability and functionality for the built environment.  He has more than 20 years of experience leading research and development efforts as well as product and technology development. His areas of research interest include nanostructured materials, carbonaceous materials, advanced composites, 2D materials, smart coatings, chemometrics, sustainability in the built environment and environmental degradation studies.  

Yashna M. Harjani is currently the Founder and Director of  VeVeva Nutrition Pte Ltd, a nutrition consultancy in Singapore. She works closely with the food and beverage industry in the Asia Middle East and North Africa region, to guide nutrition innovations from ideation to launch phase and beyond. She supports concept development; guides product design, claims and communication; chalks out research and communication road maps; and defines influencer and advocacy strategy. She is also collaborating with other food industry experts to roll out training programs, to support capability building in the nutrition food and beverage space.  With more than 25 years of experience with NGOs, the food industry and the consultancy world, Yashna brings to the table considerable experience. Prior to setting up her consultancy in Singapore, Yashna worked with PepsiCo for 14 years in Bangkok, Shanghai and Dubai. She led internal nutrition innovation, product design, product renovation strategy; defined claims & communication road maps; and drove research and external influencer strategy for Pepsico in Asia, Middle East and North Africa markets. Having lived and worked in different countries, Yashna thinks multi-country opportunities. Yashna has worked with multiple big brands e.g. Pepsi, Lays, Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade, Sunbites, Aquafina, Sting and Herbalife, supporting a wide portfolio of food and beverage products - carbonated beverages, snacks, grain-based foods especially oats, sports drinks, juices, dairy, soy milk and other soy products, energy drinks, weight loss supplements, tea, tuna, vitamin and herbal waters. She is especially passionate about plant-based nutrition and the power of beans. 

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.