GROUP MEMBERS
CAROLINE LEI WEE
Principal Scientist II (Principal Investigator)
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore (NUS)
Ph.D. in Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (2016)
B.A. Cornell University, College of Arts and Sciences, Ithaca, NY (2009)
Double Major in Biological Sciences (Neurobiology and Behavior) & Psychology
Distinction in all subjects
Summa cum laude
A*STAR NSS (BS-PhD) Scholarship (2006, 2010)
Caroline's research interest is in understanding the fundamental mechanisms governing motivated behaviors such as feeding and stress, with the goal of improving human health and well-being. Towards this goal, she has won several significant fellowships and grants, including the A*STAR National Science Scholarship (NSS BS-PhD, 2006, 2010), National Medical Research Council Young Individual Research Grant (2020) and National Research Foundation Fellowship (Class of 2021). She is also a lead Principal Investigator in A*STAR's Brain-Body Initiative.
RUEY-KUANG CHENG
Senior Scientist
Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina (2010)
M.S. National Cheng-Chi University, Taipei, Taiwan (2002)
B.S. National Cheng-Chi University, Taipei, Taiwan (1999)
Ruey has more than 10 years of experience in both zebrafish and rodent behavioral neuroscience research, and trained in the lab of Dr. Suresh Jesuthasan (NTU-LKC, Singapore). His expertise includes behavioral and in vivo calcium imaging, electrophysiology, and hardware/software development for animal behavior analysis. His research interests include timing and time perception, learning and memory, decision making, and emotional control of behavior.
VINDHYA CHAGANTY
Scientist
Ph.D. in Developmental biology, National University of Singapore (2021)
M.Sc. Biotechnology V.I.T University, India (2016)
B.Sc. Biotechnology V.I.T University, India (2014)
During her Ph.D., Vindhya used zebrafish as a model organism to study neurodegenerative diseases. Her current research interest is in understanding the neural circuitry and genetics of appetite control. Her expertise includes microscopy, behavioral analysis, and transcriptomics.
WEN LIE
PhD Student (joint with Prof. Eric Chan)
A*STAR Graduate Scholarship (Singapore) (2021)
Pharmacist, Singapore Pharmacy Council (2021)
B.Sc. (Pharmacy) with Honours (Highest Distinction), National University of Singapore (2020)
Research Experience:
Developed a mammalian expression system expressing SARS-CoV-2 proteins for production of virus-like particles
Investigated the metabolizing enzymes and disposition kinetics of two synthetic cannabinoids and their metabolites
Research Interests:
Gut microbiome
Drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics
TERUMI NAKASHIMA
PhD Student (Joint with Ajay Mathuru Lab)
Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA) Scholarship (2023)
M.S. in Microbiology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal Fluminense (2021)
B.S. in Biomedical Sciences, Universidade Federal Fluminense (2018)
My previous research experience was to perform diagnosis of parasitic diseases in children in Brazil, focusing on gastrointestinal parasites. During my Master's Degree, I conducted a systematic review and meta analysis on the prevalence of Cryptosporidium species in animals in Latin America.
My current research interest is to understand neuroimmune interactions.
GAYNAH DOBLADO
Research Officer
B.S. in Aquaculture Science and Technology, James Cook University Singapore (2024)
Diploma in Marine Science and Aquaculture, Republic Polytechnic (2021)
Research Experience:
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Intern at the Environmental Engineering cluster in Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), under the integrated theme of Marine Biofilms & Microbiomes.
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Research study under Dr Grace Loo to investigate presence of genetic markers in shrimps.
Research Interests:
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Genetics and Marine Biology
CHUA KAI XIN
Research Officer
B.S. in Business and Environmental Sciences, Majoring in Aquaculture, James Cook University Singapore (2020)
Research Experience:
Research on ciliopathies using zebrafish and mice as animal models
Population Dynamics and Phylogenetic Analysis of Canine Parvovirus
Research interests:
Physiology of eating disorders and mental health
DINAH YUSOFF
Research Officer
Previously Research Assistant (SGUnited Traineeship)
B.Sc. in Pharmacology, Monash University, Australia (2020)
Research Experience:
Tableting trials to determine appropriate quality parameters for Diana Food (nutraceutical)
Handling of mice in effects of centrally acting drugs on mice behaviour, and neurological and autonomic functions under the Department of Pharmacology, Monash University
Research interests:
Drug interactions and Neuropharmacology
VALARIE THAM
Research Officer
B.Sc. in Molecular Biology, La Trobe University (2018)
Research Experience:
Final Year Project in collaboration with National University of Singapore on the Optimization of a Diagnostic Platform for Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika
Research in Genome Institute of Singapore that targets Metabolic Vulnerabilities in Liver Cancer
Research Interests:
Genetics and Neuromuscular Diseases
AFSHA NESHA
Research Officer
B.Sc. (Hons) in Biomedical Science, Specialised in Medical Biochemistry, University of Bradford (UK) affiliated with MDIS Singapore (2015)
Nesha became interested in research when she was in A*STAR's Biological Resource Centre, handling and working on lab animals. She has also gained lab experience and skills from working in medical laboratories. Her previous research experience in Dr Adrian Teo’s lab focused on increasing the proliferation rate of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells isolated from rodents and humans.
Her current research interests are in Genetics and Toxicology.
MASTER'S STUDENTS
SEE ALUMNI SECTION
INTERNS
ELYSE KHOO (SINGAPORE POLYTECHNIC)
QING YA CELEST FANG (NGEE ANN POLYTECHNIC, A*STAR SCIENCE AWARDEE)
ALUMNI
SASMITHA SINGH
Graduating with MSc. in Biotechnology, NUS
SEAN PHANG
Student Intern (NTU, A*STAR Research Internship Awardee & Final Year Project Student)
GUAN ZHEN
Senior Research Officer
Currently Data Scientist at Risk Lighthouse
ASHLEY ANAND
Student Intern (University of Bristol)
SANDRA TAN
Research Officer
A*STAR NSS (BS) scholar
Currently pursuing a PhD on A*STAR NSS (PhD) scholarship
DEVIN TANG
Singapore Institute of Technology (Integrated Work Study Programme)
JOVIAN LIN
Laboratory Officer
Admitted to Nanyang Technological University
HUI LI YEO
Senior Research Officer
Currently Project Manager in ESCAR Lab
DARREN LAM
Student Intern (NUS, A*STAR Research Internship Award & Final Year Student )
IGNATIUS HWANG-SHIN
Student Intern (NUS, A*STAR Research Internship Award)
JOLIN TAN
Laboratory Officer (Aquaculture)
Admitted to the University of Queensland
PHOEBE TAN
Research Officer
Currently in Leslie Beh Lab (IMCB)
JENNY ZHANG & YU XIN TAN
Final Year Project Students (NUS Pharmacy)
BECKHAM KANG KUAN YUAN
Student Intern (Singapore Polytechnic)
KENNETH SUHARDJO
Student Intern (Anglo-Chinese Junior College, SSEF Bronze Medalist)
KAI LIN CHUA
Student Intern (National University of Singapore)
FENGLIN LI
Graduated with Msc in Food Science and Human Nutrition, NUS
DINGMING CHEN
Graduated with Msc in Food Science and Human Nutrition, NUS
KELLIE WONG
Student Intern (NUS, A*STAR Research Internship Award)
WEE LENG TAN
Student Intern (NUS, A*STAR Research Internship Awardee & Final Year Project Student)
CHLOE LIN
Student Intern (Singapore Polytechnic, A*STAR Science Awardee)
Currently in NUS (School of Medicine)
RYAN ANG
Student Intern (Singapore Polytechnic, A*STAR Science Awardee)
JAZLYNN TAN
Research Officer
A*STAR NSS (BS) scholar
Currently pursuing a PhD on A*STAR NSS (PhD) scholarship
XIPING LE
H3 Programme Student (Hwa Chong Institution) and SSEF Gold Medalist
YUCHENG JIN
H3 Programme Student (Victoria Junior College) and SSEF Silver Medalist
CHERYL TAN
Research Officer (previously on SGUnited Traineeship)
Currently pursuing a Masters at the National University of Singapore
DANIAL ASRI
Research Assistant (SGUnited Traineeship)
JERRICK KWAN
Student Intern (Republic Polytechnic, A*STAR Science Awardee)
JERRYL TAN
Student Intern (Republic Polytechnic, A*STAR Science Awardee)