OUTSTANDING RESEARCHER AWARD

“ To devote yourself to research, you should develop your own vision and be able to enjoy the challenges that lie ahead. ”

• Biophysics
• Micro/nano structure formation and engineering
• Crystallisation/molecular assembly and hybrid materials

• Scored a world first for discovering direct quantitative experimental evidence of the entire nucleation processes which occur from the microscopic to sub-nano scale
• His breakthroughs in biomineralisation and soft functional materials have led to new engineering methods for high performance materials and new treatments for dental caries, osteoporosis and bone fractures
• His research on micro ice freezing has profound implications on the understanding of atmospheric and climatic effects; as well as freeze and antifreeze phenomena in plants and animals
• Filed five international patents on the architecture of ultra functional materials, including nano caging and super silk engineering

• Ability to unravel certain processes in our daily occurences
• Ability to combine theoretical modeling with experiments, fundamental research with applications

• His work on the crystal/fluid interfacial structure and crystallisation kinetics has received over 250 citations in top journals such as Nature and Physical Review Letters
• His research on micro ice freezing and biomineralisation have been reported in prestigious publications such as Nature Physics Portal, Nature Materials Update and Nature Science Update
• Written six invited book chapters and edited two books on interfacial sciences and bio-nano sciences and technologies
• Published more than 120 peer reviewed papers, including 17 in top journals such as Nature

• Managing Editor, Biophysics Reviews and Letters
• Councillor, International Organization for Crystal Growth
• Co-executive Secretary, Executive Committee of the Asian Society for Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
• Serves as an advisor in the research steering committee of leading Chinese research institutions such as the Key National Lab of Crystalline Materials
• Director of the Shandong University-NUS Joint Centre for Bio Micro/Nano Functional Materials Research

• "The work opens up a whole new methodology for predicting growth morphologies and interfacial parameters so crucial across the whole of materials chemistry" – Nature Vol. 374 (1995)