Research Centres - Nanyang Technological University

Research Centres
Centre for Advanced Media Technology
Director: Assoc. Prof. Wolfgang
Mueller-Wittig
CAMTech (Centre for Advanced Media
Technology) is a joint research and
development centre between the
Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics
(IGD) of Darmstadt, Germany and the
Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
of Singapore that looks into multimedia in
education & commerce, scientific &
medical visualisation, virtual engineering,
virtual & augmented environments for
medical applications, and new media for
cultural heritage.
Centre for Research on Small Enterprise Development
Director: Prof. Cham Tao Soon
The Centre for Research on Small Enterprise Development was set
up to focus on the development of the Small and Medium
Enterprises (SMEs) which form the majority of companies in
Singapore. The centre also looks into training and education
requirements of staff and owner-entrepreneurs, information and
marketing requirements, and the role of incubators. It has links to
the Nanyang Business School, the College of Engineering and the
Technopreneurship Development Centre.
Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies
Director: Mr. Barry Desker
The Institute of Defence and Strategic
Studies (IDSS) was established as an
autonomous research institute within the
Nanyang Technological University. Besides
doing research in subjects pertaining to
security, geo-politics and international
relations, the centre provides general and
graduate education in strategic studies,
international relations and international
political economy, as well as organises
seminars/conferences on topics salient to
the strategic and policy communities of the
Asia-Pacific.
Research Centres 55
Nanyang Technopreneurship Centre
Director: Assoc. Prof. Tan Teng Kee
Nanyang Technopreneurship Center,
together with Innovation and Technology
Transfer Office, offers an integrated
system that promotes an entrepreneurial
culture by planting the seeds for new
ventures, preparing entrepreneurs through
technopreneurship education, and
providing the infrastructure to perpetuate
and support new start-ups and venture.
Network of
Start-Ups.
Centre for Chinese Language & Culture
Director: Assoc. Prof. Lee Guan Kin
The Centre for Chinese Language and Culture (CCLC) was set up
primarily to promote excellence in teaching and research of the
Chinese language and culture. Since September 2003, the Centre
has transferred its teaching responsibility to the Division of
Chinese, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and continued
to strive for excellence in research in Chinese language and
cultural issues of interest to the Chinese communities, mainly in
the areas of Southeast Asian Chinese Language and Dialects,
Southeast Asian Literature in Chinese, Southeast Asian Chinese
History and Folklore, and Literary & Social Traditions in the
Chinese World. Most of the research projects result in
publications/monographs.
The Centre has been producing two major publications, the
Nantah Journal of Chinese Language and Culture (the “Journal”)
and the Nantah Chinese Language and Culture Series (the
“Series”). To date, the Centre has published 6 volumes (11 issues)
of the Journal and 19 academic monographs under the Series
since 1996.
Chinese Heritage Centre
Director: Prof. Ng Chin Keong
The Chinese Heritage Centre was established to advance the
knowledge and understanding of the Chinese communities spread
throughout the world. The communities of Chinese outside China
are linked not only by common ancestry but also by common
traditions, memories, beliefs, customs, manners and even skills.
These elements form an integral part of the 'Heritage' to which the
name of the Centre refers. The centre’s mission is to be a leading
research and resource centre on the Chinese outside China.
Brigadier-General (NS) George Yeo, Minister for Information
and the Arts(right), and Mr Wee Cho Yaw, Founding
Chairman of the Chinese Heritage Centre Board opening the
Centre on 17 May 1995.
56 Research in NTU
Institute of Environmental Science and Engineering
Director & CEO : Prof. Tay Joo Hwa
The Institute of Environmental Science and Engineering (IESE),
under the College of Engineering at Nanyang Technological
University (NTU), has been created as a centre of research
excellence to integrate environmental R&D. IESE is a private
entity wholly owned by NTU and supported by the Singapore
Economic Development Board providing value-added research,
development and deployment of Environmental Technology (ET)
through its four research centres - Water & Membrane, Clean
Energy, Marine & Resource Recovery, and Environmental
Engineering. The aim of IESE is to create, innovate and conduct
basic research to accelerate commercialisation that will establish
Singapore as an ET hub for the advancement of environmental
science and engineering.
Environmental Engineering Research Centre
Director: Assoc. Prof. Stephen Tay
The Environmental Engineering Research Centre (EERC) is a multi-disciplinary
research and development centre jointly established in 1999 by the Nanyang
Technological University (NTU) and the then Ministry of the Environment (ENV)
(now Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources [MEWR]). EERC's active
research and training activities in environmental engineering contribute significantly
towards establishing an 'Environmental Business and Technology Hub' in Singapore.
Grease-guzzling Bacillus naphthovorans.
(scale bar represents 2 microns)
Biogranulation for wastewater treatment
One of NTU’s strengths is in the use of
biotechnology to solve environmental
engineering problems such as in the
biological wastewater treatment area.
Under the leadership of Professor Tay Joo
Hwa, director of IESE (Institute of
Environmental Science and Engineering), a
new technology using microbial granules
for high-performance biological
wastewater treatment has been developed. These granules are
dense and compact aggregates of many different bacteria. They
are cultivated in column-type bioreactors fed with different types
of wastewaters. The granules offer many advantages such as:
rapid start-up retention of high amounts of biomass in the
bioreactor high tolerance to chemical toxicity ability to handle high
wastewater loads and small reactor footprint. Some advanced
biotechnological methods also have been used for in-depth
studies of the granules such as DNA sequencing, DNA
fingerprinting, confocal laser scanning microscopy with fluorescent
in-situ (FISH) techniques.
Research Centres 57
Rapid detection of microorganisms in
water
One of the R&D projects at IESE (Institute of Environmental Science and Engineering) is
to develop techniques for rapid detection of microorganisms (bacteria and viruses) in
water. IESE uses flow cytometry technology in combination with flourescent probes to
detect and count single bacterial cells. The left photo shows a bench-top flow
cytometer. The middle picture shows a scatter plot of a flow cytometry experiment with
Escherichia coli in seawater. Each red dot represents a dead cell while each green dot
represents a viable cell. The right picture shows a scatter plot of a flow cytometry
experiment using a DNA probe specific for E coli. In this way, we can use specific
DNA probes to pick out specific pathogenic bacterial strains from a water sample that
contains a mixed population of bacteria. This is important in ensuring the safety of
public water supplies.
Flow cytometer dot plot. Viability
assessment of a population of
Escherichia coli in seawater. Dead
population is in red and live population
in green.
Flow cytometer contour plot. Specific
detection of a population of Escherichia
coil by fluorescence in situ hibridation.
Flow cytometer.
Membrane technology for sustainable water
In the area of clean water reclamation, IESE (Institute of
Environmental Science and Engineering) in conjunction with the
Temasek Professor Program, are working together in the area of
Membrane Technology for Sustainable Water. The research
projects under this program deal with the use of membranes for
clean water production, the development of membrane bioreactors
and the treatment of liquid wastes. The use of submerged hollow
fiber membrane for low pressure microfiltration and ultrafiltration
has gained popularity due to the elimination of the pressure vessel
and the high
specific membrane
area possible. The
performance of a
hollow fiber
system can be
enhanced by gas sparging with fouling much reduced by the hydrodynamic interactions
between the air bubbles and the loose hollow fiber bundle.
58 Research in NTU
Temasek
Laboratories @NTU
Director: Prof. Shang Huai Min
Temasek Laboratories at NTU (TL@NTU)
is a partnership between Nanyang
Technological University (NTU) and
Defence Science & Technology Agency
(DSTA). This partnership aims to explore
the frontiers in science and develop
strategic technology that will deliver
effective solutions to enhance the defence
and security of Singapore.
Bioremediation of petroleum-contaminated
environments
The R&D activities in IESE (Institute of Environmental Science and Engineering) and EERC
(Environmental Engineering Research Centre) cover Singapore’s coastal environment, which faces the
risk of petroleum contamination because Singapore has one of the busiest ports in the world and has
the world’s third largest oil-refining centre. The possible oil spill accidents motivated us to investigate
if bacteria can be effectively used to clean up oil spills in Singapore’s coastal waters. Using
biotechnology methods, we
successfully isolated different
strains of naphthalenedegrading bacteria.
Naphthalene is a common
component found in petroleum
and some of our bacteria are
able to degrade naphthalene
very rapidly.
Cleaning the marine oil.
Diversity of naphthalenedegrading isolates. (Phase
contrast, bar = 5 mm)
Biomedical Engineering Research Centre
Director: Assoc. Prof. Lim Chu Sing
The Biomedical Engineering Research Centre (BMERC) facilitates
multi-disciplinary research at NTU to meet the biomedical
challenges of the future. BMERC works closely with hospitals and
the biomedical-related industry to create new technologies for
enhancing disease control, patient diagnostics and therapy.
Neuron cell.
Research Centres 59
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Corridor
Director: Assoc. Prof. Bryan, Ngoi Kok Ann
The NanoScience & Nanotechnology Corridor (NNC) is a
university-based facility for promoting inter- and multidisciplinary nanotechnology research. It aims to draw
together nano research groups within Singapore and the
world by turning scientific know-how into viable
nanotechnology-enabled products and manufacturing
processes. The common laboratory is available for use by
university and industrial personnel from across the nation.
Building of Technoplaza.
Reliability & interfacial characterization of breakdown in
nano-gate stack structures
The research group, led by Assoc. Prof. Pey
Kin Leong at Nanoscience and
Nanotechnology Corridor, looks into the
fundamental/intrinsic electronic structures
and chemistry at atomic resolution of the
interfaces of start-of-the-art Metal-Oxide
(high-k & SiON)-Semiconductor (MOS)
structures, the basic breakdown
mechanisms and reliability physics in
ultrathin gate dielectrics at atomic
resolution, and the breakdown
characteristics in ultra-thin dielectrics at
nano-scale resolution.
New failure defects in ultrathin gate oxide (1.6-3.3nm) breakdown.
Development of carbon nanotubes
A research team, led by Assoc. Profs Tay Beng
Kang and Lau Shu Ping at Nanoscience and
Nanotechnology Cluster, has successfully developed
carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for applications in
molecular electronics. Depending on diameter and
helicity, CNTs may represent the ideal material for
molecular and nanoelectronic devices by virtue of
their excellent electrical current handling capability,
high thermal conductivity and high mechanical
toughness.
Arrays of vertically aligned
Carbon nanotubes.
60 Research in NTU
Diamond-like carbon for micro and
nano systems
A variant of Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films called tetrahedral amorphous carbon
(ta-C) is interesting since they fulfill some special requirements due to their unique
materials properties, such as chemically inert, corrosion resistant, ultra-hard, wear
resistant and low coefficient of friction as well as excellent adhesion at the film/
substrate interface. Investigator (Assoc. Prof. Tay Beng Kang at Nanoscience and
Nanotechnology Cluster) has developed the thinnest 2-D free-standing devices made
from such ta-C films.
Arrays of 25nm thick free-standing microbridge,
dimensions of bridge range from 20 to 240µm (L) and
20µm (W) (Ratio 12:1 to 1:1). The thickness of these
microbridges are approximately 20nm or 0.02mm.
Integration of micro-optical
elements with single-mode
fibers via Focused Ion Beam
technology
The research group, led by Assoc. Prof. Bryan, Ngoi Kok Ann at
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Corridor, developed a novel
one-step method of integration between micro-optical elements
and single mode fibers by aid of Focused Ion Beam Milling
(FIBM). The micro-optical elements can be directly fabricated on
top-end of the cleaved optical fibers using our FIBM. This
technique will be helpful to realize miniaturization of optical
systems for the usage of optical communication, biochemistry
analysis, sensing/detecting, etc.
Maritime Research Centre
Director: Assoc. Prof. Tan Soon Keat
The Maritime Research Centre is a multi-disciplinary research and
development centre established jointly by the Nanyang
Technological University (NTU) and the Maritime and Port
Authority of Singapore (MPA). The Centre initiates and undertakes
research to develop technologies and IT applications in the port
and maritime field. It serves to coordinate research and
development efforts among various local and international
organisations. The centre research thrust focuses on sediment
transport in the coastal and sea environment, hydrodynamics of
single and multiple objects, and numerical simulations such as 2-D
tidal simulation and 3-D simulation of large body of waters such
as the South China Sea.
SEM micrograph of the fabricated micro-blazed grating on
top-end of the single-mode optical fiber with core diameter of
8.2 mm. The outside wrapped is copper tape to avoid
charging during the milling due to the insulate material of
quartz. Period of the blaze grating is 3.1 mm.
Annual Mean
Salinity (psu)
and Current
Pattern of
South China
Sea.
Research Centres 61
Nanyang Centre for Supercomputing and Visualisation
Director: Prof. Liew Kim Meow
Nanyang Centre for Supercomputing and Visualisation
(NCSV) is a cutting-edge R&D centre, hosted in the
School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering. The main
task of the centre is to promote and develop infrastructure
and competencies in the areas of supercomputing and
visualisation. NCSV provides a research milieu to promote
information exchange and networking amongst life
sciences and engineering communities in NTU.
Nanyang Centre for Supercomputing and Visualisation.
NTU-MINDEF Protective
Technology Research Centre
Director: Prof. Pan Tso-Chien
The Protective Technology Research Centre (PTRC) is an interdisciplinary research centre jointly funded by NTU and the Ministry of
Defence (MINDEF). Hosted in the School of Civil and Environmental
Engineering, the Centre provides the necessary focus for joint R&D
efforts in dynamics and protective engineering to meet the national
needs in weapons and defense system.
Concrete under blast
loading and break-up.
Network Technology Research Centre
Director: Assoc. Prof. Shum Ping
The Network Technology Research Centre
(NTRC) is a partnership with Digital
Equipment Singapore Pte Ltd. The
establishment of NTRC within NTU
provides a focal point for coordinating and
deploying NTU's academic and research
staff with similar interest and expertise in
communications and computer
networking. The Centre spearheads R&D
activities in Networking Technology for
short-term and long- term benefits to
industry.
Staff and students of NTRC
62 Research in NTU
Robotics Research Centre
Director: Assoc. Prof. Seet Gim Lee, Gerald
The Robotics Research Centre (RRC) is jointly managed
and funded by the School of Computer Engineering
(SCE), the School of Mechanical & Aerospace
Engineering (MAE), and School of Electrical and
Electronic Engineering (EEE). The RRC is located in
MPE wing, with a total floor space of over 1000 square
metres. This includes the main laboratory and two
specialised laboratories focusing on intelligent vehicle
technology and medical robotics.
Underwater robotic vehicle developed by RRC.
Centre for Signal
Processing
Director: Assoc. Prof. Ser Wee
The Centre for Signal Processing (CSP) has about 150
research staffs and students including more than 60
professors and researchers to spearhead the research and
development of digital signal processing technologies for
the future.
Centre for Research in Pedagogy and Practice
Dean: Prof. Allan Luke
The Centre for Research in Pedagogy and Practice (CRPP) is the
largest funded educational research centre in the Asia Pacific. It
was established in 2002 by the National Institute of Education
(NIE), Singapore’s sole teacher-training institution, and funded by
the Singapore Ministry of Education (MOE).
The Centre brings together researchers, teachers and
administrators to explore and develop new and innovative ways of
teaching and learning, to help Singapore’s schools and students
address the complex challenges of new economies, cultures and
technologies.
CRPP staff members with Mrs Tan Ching Yee (Second Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education) and Professor Leo Tan (Director,
NIE).
Research Centres 63
Advanced Materials Research Centre
Director: Assoc. Prof. Subodh
Mhailsakar
The Advanced Materials Research Centre
(AMRC) is a joint effort of the Schools of
Materials Science & Engineering (MSE)
and Mechanical & Aerospace
Engineering (MAE). It has the purpose of
facilitating, developing and coordinating
the research activities of the two schools
in the areas of advanced materials
Multi-color OLEDs for flat
synthesis, processing, characterization
panel displays.
and innovation. The Centre channels the
combined expertise, capability and
resources for research activities that extend beyond both schools
and has an extensive range of equipment to support materials
research.
Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology Centre
Director: Assoc. Prof. Bryan Ngoi
Kok Ann
Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology
(PEN) Centre, which is established by
School of Mechanical & Aerospace
Engineering, is one of the leading and
best-equipped research centres in the
region with state-of-the-art equipment
housed in a 10,000 square foot laboratory
with clean room facility. PEN Centre covers
the wide spectrum of research activities
that are backed by a formidable team of
over 50 highly qualified engineers from
high-tech industries and researchers from
top universities in the world. PEN Centre
has the vision to create new knowledge in the strategic areas of next-generation microfabrication technology and nano-metrology and
subsequently imparting knowledge to industries through research collaborations and manpower training.
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