òòò½Íø

Q: What are some of your most memorable moments?

One of my most memorable moments at IHPC was to chair the 10th International Conference on Computational Methods (ICCM) 2019 in Singapore. The conference was a very successful one and many colleagues were part of the Local Organising Committee as well, making the experience a particularly memorable one.

Another remarkable moment was receiving the IES Prestigious Engineering Achievement Awards 2021, highlighting our collaboration with the NUS team which contributed to the development of next generation of stent-graft.

 Photo credit: The Institution of Engineers, Singapore

Q: What keeps you motivated?

My motivation to stay with IHPC for this duration stems from the good research environment here. The opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research in acoustics, noise control, and biomechanics, coupled with a collaborative and intellectually stimulating environment, has been pivotal.  Additionally, the support for professional growth and the culture of innovation at IHPC have consistently inspired me to stay and contribute to our shared goals.

Q: What were some of the challenges you faced during your research journey?

During my research journey at IHPC, I faced several challenges, one of them was having to adapt to new research directions which involved developing vascular stents. To overcome this, I had to familiarise with design optimisation, stent performance evaluation, and in vitro/vivo testing etc. Forging collaborations with vascular surgeons and professors from the Biomedical Engineering field was crucial. In addition, the support received from local and international Medtech companies was also helpful.
Another significant challenge was studying ultrasound technology for Non-destructive Testing (NDT) and Structural Health Monitoring (SHM), which I tackled together with colleagues from other RIs and international collaborators. These experiences have not only strengthened my problem-solving skills but also highlighted the importance of resilience and teamwork.

Q: What are some of your proudest achievements during your time here?

One of my proudest achievements at IHPC is my research on the development of vascular stents, where I worked on a project involving covered carotid stent as a PI in 2010, and more recently, completed projects on thoracic stent-graft.  I have dedicated over 10 years to exploring this interesting field and received recognition for my contributions. 

Q: How do you balance your work and personal life?

Balancing work and personal life is crucial for sustained productivity and well-being. I achieve this by working closely with the team and planning new research directions or projects in advance. IHPC has been very supportive in this regard by offering flexible work arrangements, fostering collaboration with other departments, and providing support right from the start. This support has been invaluable in helping me maintain a healthy balance and stay motivated at work.

Q: What advice would you have for young aspiring scientists?

Stay curious about science while adopting a practical approach to engineering, embrace perseverance & collaboration.