"The most rewarding aspect of being a chemist is the ability to find new knowledge and new discoveries that can improve and transform the quality of life."

Dr LIU Xiaogang

PhD (Northwestern University); MSc (East Carolina University); BEng (Beijing Technology and Business University)
Department of Chemistry

RESEARCH INTERESTS

• Supramolecular chemistry and catalysis
• Nanostructured materials synthesis and patterning
• Luminescent materials and bioimaging

RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS

• Succeeded in creating complex and customisable nanocrystals capable of diverse functions, from enhancing studies of biological systems to treating cancer, a breakthrough that appeared in Nature and other leading international journals, received extensive press coverage globally as well as attracted significant interest from industry and governments
• Contributed to the development of a novel super-absorbing and paper-like material that promises to minimise the devastating effects of oil leaks and toxic spills
• Devised an innovative nanoparticle-based biomarker that has shown great potential for diagnostic and therapeutic applications
• Discovered novel synthetic pathways for the synthesis of biologically important aryl sulfides and their derivatives

RESEARCH STRENGTHS

• Strong ability to identify key problem areas of developing fields and to stimulate collaborative research

PUBLICATION CREDITS

• More than 30 papers published in international peer-reviewed journals, including Nature and Science, and over 1,200 citations received

INTERNATIONAL STANDING

• Reviewer for more than 35 top tier international journals such as Nature Nanotechnology and Nature Communications
• Reviewer, National Science Foundation, USA (since 2008)
• Reviewer, American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund (since 2009)
• Reviewer, Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (since 2010)
• Reviewer, National Institute of Scientific Research, Canada (Since 2010)

AWARDS AND ACCOLADES

• BASF-Singapore National Institute of Chemistry Award in Materials Chemistry (2011)
• Young Chemist Award, Department of Chemistry (2009)
• Finalist, Young Scientist Award, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (2009)
• Nominee, TR35, Technology Review, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2008)
• Young Scientist Award, Faculty of Science (2008)
• Young Investigator Award, NUS (2006)

RESEARCH ASPIRATION
"To further expand the work on nanostructured materials with emphasis on environmental and biological applications."