Yen Tan

Academic Appointments

• Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, Newcastle University in Singapore (NUIS) and Newcastle Research & Innovation Institute (NewRIIS), Singapore, 2018-present
• Program Manager, Biomimetic and Biomedical Materials, Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, 2016-2018
• Head, Bioinspired Materials Laboratory, IMRE, A*STAR, Singapore, 2013-2016
• Faculty Member (PhD Supervisor), NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, 2015-2019
• Assistant Professor of Chemistry (Adjunct Appointment), National University of Singapore (NUS), 2011-2019
• Principle Investigator and Group Leader (Joint Appointment), IMRE, A*STAR, Singapore, 2008-present

Academic Qualifications

• 2005-2008: Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering, National University of Singapore (NUS) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Singapore-USA. Awarded Singapore-MIT Alliance Graduate Fellowship
• 2004-2005: Master of Science in Molecular Engineering of Biological and Chemical Systems, NUS and MIT, Singapore-USA. Awarded Singapore-MIT Alliance Scholarship
• 2000-2004: Bachelor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (Hons) with Specialization Certificate in Biopharmaceutical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore. Awarded ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship

Awards and Accolades

• 2020: Emerging Investigator, Molecular Systems Design & Engineering (MSDE) journal jointly published by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) and Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), UK
• 2018: Nano-Micro Science Innovation Award, Korea for innovative research in Nano-Micro Science and excellent presentation on “Multifunctional Bio-Plasmonic and Luminescent Nanomaterials for Smart Biosensors and Theranostic Applications” at the 2nd Nano-Micro Conference, awarded by Springer Nano-Micro Letter (NML) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), UK
• 2018: International Association of Advanced Materials (IAAM) Scientist Medal, Sweden for notable and outstanding contribution in the field of "Advanced Materials and Technology", awarded by the IAAM at the Advanced Materials World Congress.
• 2018: Best Poster Award at 3rd Food Safety Analysis Conference, Singapore for innovative work on “Bioinspired Carbon Dots for Ultrasensitive Bacteria Sensing and Broad Spectrum Antimicrobial Applications in Food Safety”, awarded by Separation Science and Shimadzu
• 2017: Award for Encouragement of Research in Advanced Nanomaterials and Applications, Japan at International Conference of Advanced Materials (ICAM), Kyoto, awarded by International Union of Materials Research Societies (IUMRS).
• 2017: Runner-up of L’Oreal-UNESCO for Women in Science Singapore National Fellowship (Physical and Engineering Sciences), awarded by L’Oreal Singapore.
• 2016: Young Giants of Nanoscience Early Career Award, Hong Kong for high levels of excellence and distinction in the fields of “Nanoscience and Nanotechnology” and presented award lecture at 2nd Young Giants of Nanoscience conference.
• 2016: Best Poster Award at 9th Singapore International Chemistry Conference for presentation on “Protein-Templated Metal Nanoclusters for Photodynamic Cancer Treatment”, Singapore
• 2015: Best Presenter Award at 11th Asian Conference on Chemical Sensors, Malaysia for presentation on “Metallic Nanosensors for Biological Analysis and Cancer Diagnostics”, Penang.
• 2014: APSMR Material Research Contribution Award, China, for outstanding achievement and contribution in materials research, awarded in International Conference for Leading and Young Materials Scientists, Sanya by Asia Pacific Society for Materials Research (APSMR).
• 2014: Winner of INNOVENT Product Pitch on “Bio-Clusterile Suture” voted by SMEs for new product ideas on developing biocompatible, bio-absorbable, sterile and colored surgical suture, awarded by Materials Center of Innovation, SPRING (Standards, Productivity and Innovation Board), Singapore.
• 2014-2016: Finalist of Singapore Young Scientist Award (Biological and Biomedical Science), selected by Singapore National Academy of Science (SNAS), Singapore.
• 2013: A*STAR JCO Career Development Award, $750,000 research grant for leading cutting-edge multidisciplinary research on “New Generation Metal Nanoparticles Assays for Anticancer Drug Screening and New Cancer Therapy Development”, awarded by Joint Council Office (JCO), A*STAR
• 2012- 2013: Top 3 Finalists of L’Oreal-UNESCO for Women in Science Singapore National Fellowship (Material Science), awarded by L’Oreal Singapore.
• 2012: Tan Kah Kee Young Inventors’ Award, Singapore for inventing “Simple, Fast, Safe and Cost-effective DNA Diagnosis with Metallo-Gold Nanoparticles and (Bio)Polymer”, awarded by Tan Kah Kee Foundation
• 2011: Biomedical Engineering Society Best Technical Presentation Award, Singapore on “Rapid Colorimetric Biosensors Based on Non-crosslinking Aggregation of Gold Nanoparticles”, Award by Singapore Biomedical Engineering Society
• 2011: JENESYS Award for Visiting Scientist to Institute of Molecular Science, Japan for collaborative research on “Application of Gold Nanocluster Catalyst to Green Chemistry” awarded by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).
• 2010: AsiaNANO 2010 Young Researcher Award, Japan for excellent research work on “Gold Nanoparticles-based Biosensor: A Generic Platform for Nucleic Acids and Proteins Analysis in Homogenous Solution”, awarded by RIKEN, Japan
• 2010: Best Poster Award at MRS-S Trilateral Conference on Advances in Nanomaterials – Energy, Water and Healthcare, awarded by Material Research Society, Singapore
• 2009: A*STAR Chemistry Symposium Outstanding Poster Award on “Colorimetric Detection of Protein-DNA Interaction using Unmodified Gold Nanoparticles”, A*STAR, Singapore