Report Title : Research Title Listing Rpt

Excitons in 2d materials, especially twisted system serves as a sensitive probe for various condensed matter physics such as magnetism and correlated states.
1 EEE CoE Gao Weibo 2D material optics experiment* [email protected]
Here you can join the 2D optics team to learn quantum photonics techniques and prepare for the next PhD stages.
2D materials are most fascinating material platforms in recent years. Especially, recently fractional quantum anomalous hall effect, magnetism and superconducting are all observed in the
twisted material system.
2 EEE CoE Gao Weibo 2D material transport experiment* [email protected]
Here you can join the 2D material transport team to learn and conduct state-of-the-art experiments, to prepare for the PhD stages.
The advancement of generative AI technologies has opened new frontiers in medical imaging, promising unprecedented capabilities in data synthesis and interpretation. The project aims to
3D Medical Image Analysis with Multi-modal enhance the analysis of 3D medical images, such as Computerized Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), using Multi-modal Large Language Models (MLLMs), addressing the
3 LKCMedicine LKCMedicine Yeo Si Yong [email protected] gap left by previous research that predominantly focused on 2D images. Multimodal AI, incorporating capabilities such as computer vision and Natural Language Processing (NLP), is proving to be https://medvisailab.github.io/research/
Large Language Models
a crucial tool in medical diagnostics and treatment. This research seeks to leverage these advances to improve the robustness and accuracy of 3D image analysis in the clinical setting.

In this project, we explore the use of computer vision to determine 3D human pose data. Our work focuses on the application of this tool to unpack student learning trajectories in open-ended
learning environments (i.e., with minimal teacher supervision). If you have a background in programming (preferred but not necessary), a keen interest in human motion analysis, and a drive to
4 NSSE NSSE Edwin Chng 3D Pose Reconstruction for Education Research [email protected] https://dr.ntu.edu.sg/cris/rp/rp02467
explore new technologies, we encourage you to apply. For more information and to apply, please send your resume and a brief statement of interest (no more than a few sentences) to
[email protected].
Object detection is a fundamental task in computer vision, critical for applications such as autonomous driving, surveillance, and image retrieval. Deep learning has revolutionized object
A Comparative Study of Different Deep detection, offering various approaches that significantly outperform traditional methods. This project aims to conduct a comprehensive comparative study of different deep learning techniques
5 EEE CoE Wang Lipo Learning [email protected] for object detection, evaluating their performance, efficiency, and suitability for various applications. The student should (1) carry out a literature survey on the topic, (2) gain hands-on https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/elpwang/
Approaches to Object Detection experiences using either an existing program downloaded from the Internet or a new program coded by the student for an existing approach, and (3) then summerize and compare the
advantages and disadvantages of different deep learning approaches to object detection.

The formation of continental crust is crucial for stabilizing the climate and creating unique environments for the development of life. Despite its importance, the evolutionary path of continental
crust remains highly debated, especially regarding the onset of crustal extraction and the composition of early continental crust. My group will develop new statistical methods to estimate the
A New Log-Log Linear Regression Model for the compositions of continental crust, providing a foundation for mass balance calculations in crust-mantle differentiation. Internal consistency in geochemical box modeling depends critically on
6 ASE CoS Guo Meng [email protected]
Composition of the Lower Continental Crust* global mass balance, emphasizing the need to understand uncertainties associated with reservoir chemical compositions.
This project is great for students with a math and coding background and want to go to grad school in the near future.

In this 3-month project, we focus on the AI & Science paradigm, integrating advanced artificial intelligence technology with scientific research to generate innovative insights. In Science4AI, we
draw upon classic neuroscience and psychology theories, offering new approaches to designing and evaluating AI algorithms from the perspective of human-like modeling. In AI4Science, we
AI & Science: Exploring Cutting-Edge Research leverage the latest AI technologies, including large language models (LLMs) and multimodal LLMs, to support research in education, social sciences, medicine, and cognitive science. We offer a
7 SPMS CoS Cheong Kang Hao [email protected]
with LLMs and Human-Like Modeling* wide range of research directions, including visual object tracking, visual language tracking, AI agent design, medical image processing, and misinformation detection in LLMs. We aim to help you
develop systematic scientific research thinking and comprehensively improve your research capabilities.

8 MSE CoE Kedar Hippalgaonkar AI for Heterogeneous Catalyst Development [email protected] This project is in collaboration with UC Berkeley (Prof. Joel Ager for electrocatalysis and Prof. Gerd Ceder for thermocatalysis) with automated labs. The work will be based on NTU, focused on https://kedarh.wixsite.com/nanotransport
highthroughput synthesis techniques with machine-learning guidance.
In this project, we explore the application of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to enhance special needs education. Our work focuses on developing AI-driven tools and interventions that
cater to the unique learning requirements of students with intellectual and physical disabilities, aiming to create inclusive, personalized educational experiences. We are seeking motivated and
9 NSSE NSSE Edwin Chng AI for SPED [email protected] curious undergraduates with a strong work ethic. If you are eager to tackle this challenge and make a tangible difference, we encourage you to apply. For more information and to apply, please https://dr.ntu.edu.sg/cris/rp/rp02467
send your resume and a brief statement of interest (no more than a few sentences) to [email protected].

The lack of artificial intelligence (AI) skills or talent has been cited as the number one challenge to using AI in scientific research and medicine. Large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT have
shown remarkable performance for tasks based on human language and are a promising approach to address this challenge. They could offer an intuitive interface for users to tap into
Accessible Deep Learning for Science through sophisticated deep learning technologies. This project will focus on evaluating the current state of LLMs in scientific research and developing technologies to enhance their capabilities through
10 CCDS CCDS Chan Guo Wei Alvin [email protected] https://www.alvinchan.io/
Large Language Models science-related deep learning models. The work here will contribute towards making deep learning more accessible to scientific research and medicine, accelerating progress in these critical
fields.

This project delves into the application of meta-learning techniques in the domain of financial forecasting, aiming to enhance the adaptability and accuracy of predictive models in dynamic
market environments. Traditional financial forecasting models often struggle to generalize well across diverse market conditions, requiring frequent retraining and manual adjustments. Meta-
learning offers a promising avenue to address these challenges by enabling models to learn from past experiences and adapt quickly to changing market dynamics. In this project, we will
Adaptive Financial Forecasting with Meta- investigate one or two metalearning approaches tailored to financial forecasting tasks, such as stock price prediction, market trend analysis, and risk assessment. Through empirical
11 EEE CoE Wang Lipo [email protected] https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/elpwang/
Learning experimentation using historical financial data, we will explore how meta-learning algorithms can improve the robustness and efficiency of forecasting models, especially in scenarios with limited
training data or evolving market conditions.

This research focuses on the additive manufacturing of high-performance electrodes for rechargeable Li-CO2 batteries. The study aims to develop advanced electrode materials using innovative
Additive Manufacturing of High-Performance 3D printing techniques, enabling precise control over the electrode's microstructure and composition. By optimizing these parameters, the research seeks to enhance the electrochemical
12 NSSE NSSE Edison Ang Huixiang [email protected] https://www.edisonangsg.com/
Electrodes for Rechargeable Li-CO2 batteries performance, energy efficiency, and cycle stability of Li-CO2 batteries. This approach could lead to more sustainable and efficient energy storage solutions, addressing the challenges of current
battery technologies and contributing to the development of next-generation rechargeable batteries.
Multilevel converters are increasingly essential in modern power electronics, offering benefits such as reduced harmonic distortion, lower electromagnetic interference, and enhanced voltage
capabilities. However, the complexity of their topologies, control strategies, and modulation techniques presents significant challenges. This project aims to explore and develop advanced
Advanced Multilevel Converters for Grid topologies, control methods, and modulation schemes for multilevel converters, focusing on improving efficiency, power quality, and system reliability. The research will involve a comprehensive
13 EEE CoE Tang Yi [email protected] analysis of existing converter structures, the design of innovative topologies, and the implementation of optimized control and modulation techniques. Simulation and experimental validation
Integration of Renewable Energy
will be conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed approaches under various operating conditions. The project's findings are expected to contribute to the advancement of
multilevel converter technology, enabling its application in high-power industrial systems, renewable energy integration, and smart grid infrastructures.

This research project explores the use of ammonia as a hydrogen carrier and its catalytic decomposition to produce hydrogen. The focus will be on developing and optimizing catalysts that can
14 MSE CoE Jason Xu Zhichuan Ammonia catalysis for hydrogen generation [email protected] efficiently break down ammonia into nitrogen and hydrogen under mild conditions. Students will engage in catalyst synthesis, characterization, and performance evaluation. This project is https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/xuzc/Publications.html
perfect for those interested in catalysis, green chemistry, and alternative energy sources, offering a comprehensive introduction to cutting-edge research in sustainable hydrogen production.

There are various control-theoretic notions and objectives of interest for a given control system (Lyapunov stability, asymptotic stability, exponential stability, etc.). Differential dynamic logic has
proven to be a useful formalism for specifying, organizing, and analyzing such properties and systems [A,B,C]. For example, it enables proof-theoretic analysis of such systems, combining classical
reasoning for discrete programs (loop invariants) with reasoning over continuous dynamics (continuous invariants) [C]. This project is about understanding how new forms of dynamics and their
stability properties can be fruitfully specified and analyzed using extensions of dynamic logic, for example, using temporal, adversarial, or stochastic extensions.

An Axiomatic Approach to Formally Verified The interested student should have a strong background in formal methods with a focus on deductive verification; some relevant mathematics background courses, such as analysis, differential
15 CCDS CCDS Tan Yong Kiam [email protected] https://tanyongkiam.github.io/advert.html
Control equations, or control theory, would be very useful.

[A] Deductive Stability Proofs for Ordinary Differential Equations, Tan and Platzer, TACAS 2021.
[B] Switched Systems as Hybrid Programs, Tan and Platzer, ADHS 2021.
[C] Verifying Switched System Stability With Logic, Tan et al., HSCC 2022.

Data-rich texts are widely seen in various applications such as market report, financial articles, and scientific papers. It is often hard and time-consuming for people to quickly understand the
An LLM-powered Approach to Covert Data-rich underlying ideas. Given the expressive power of data visualizations, this project aims to leverage LLM approaches to automatically convert data-rich texts to intuitive and engaging visual
16 CCDS CCDS Wang Yong [email protected]
Texts to Visual Storytelling representations, which can involve texts, visualizations and animations. The proposed approach will provide users with a more straightforward and effective way to quickly understand data-rick
texts in various applications.
This is a very chemistry but interesting topic. We are developing aqueous solution based electrolyte to construct aqueous Zn batteries to enable long cycles. This is more like cocktail strategy to
17 PO PO Fan Hongjin Aqueous batteries: materials and devices [email protected] ensure the electrolyte elements can fulfil multiple functions and stablize both the cathode and anode sides of the battery. Student will learn basic properties and fabrication of the electrodes and https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/fanhj/pub.html (publication No 254, 218)
batteries under guidance by senior member in the group.
 Plant-based meat serves as an alternative to conventional meat, where it composes of proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. However, there are certain food safety risks in the ingredients and
processing of plant-based meat. A common ingredient of plant-based meat is legume (beans and nuts), which contains anti-nutritional factors such as phytates, tannins, trypsin inhibitors and
Assessment of anti-nutrients content in legume oligosaccharides. Several types of legume also contain allergens, especially in the family of seed and nuts. While this source has good health benefits, the anti-nutrients and allergen content has https://dr.ntu.edu.sg/cris/rp/rp02121
18 CCEB CoS Chew Kit Wayne [email protected]
feedstock sources* been associated with negative physiological effects that can affect the digestive system and nutrient intake within the human body. This project proposes the assessment of anti-nutrient content
in raw plant-based meat feedstock to evaluate the presence of these anti-nutrients. The project will enhance the understanding of the food safety and risk concerns in plant-based meat.

No. Department College Supervisor Research Title Email Research Description URL
 Highly compact active nanophotonic devices integrated with silicon are important for future optical interconnects. One approach toward fabrication of nano-materials based optoelectronic
devices toward integrated photonic future.
Since the first graphene was isolated by researchers at University of Manchester in 2004, more two-dimensional (2D) materials has been intensively discovered. Transition metal dichalcogenides
(TMDs) are an emerging class of materials with direct bandgap semiconductor properties that make them highly attractive for fundamental studies of novel physical phenomena and for
Atomically-thin two-dimensional (2D) materials applications ranging from nanoelectronics and nanophotonics at the nanoscale. Recent research advancement of 2D materials is to assemble heterostructures having higher technological
19 EEE CoE Chae Sanghoon [email protected] https://sites.google.com/view/sanghoonchae/home
based optoelectronics potentials and variable nano-scale device applications.
In this project, we will develop new class of optoelectronic devices that assembles each graphene and other 2D materials into heterostructures. Student will learn the basic skill to make nano-
scale building blocks and characterization/analysis techniques. This will be good chance to learn how to deal with nano-materials and optimize the device structures for high performance
optoelectronic applications.

AudibleVis: A Spatial Audio Approach for Data visualization plays a crucial role in effectively communicating complex information, enabling extracting meaningful patterns and trends from large datasets. However, there are situations
20 CCDS CCDS Wang Yong Accessible Data Visualization [email protected] where data visualization lacks accessibility, such as for blind and low vision (BLV) people who cannot fully engage with traditional visual representations like graphs or charts. This project aims to
develop a spatial-audio-based approach to help BLV people easily access and interpret data visualizations.
Metal organic frameworks and zeolites are a class of porous materials that find applications in catalysis, separations and carbon capture. Their applicability is limited by defects present inside
them. This project will focus on imaging these defects using TEM, simulating TEM images and using machine learning to segment images and identify unit cell defects within the MOF and zeolite
crystal structures.
Automated identification of angstrom scale
21 MSE CoE Prashant Kumar [email protected] https://prashantksk.wixsite.com/kumar-atomic-lab/
defects in porous materials
Reference-
Kumar, P., Kim, D.W., Rangnekar, N. et al. One-dimensional intergrowths in two-dimensional zeolite nanosheets and their effect on ultra-selective transport. Nat. Mater. 19, 443?449 (2020).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-019-0581-3
This 3-month project focuses on automating the design of heuristics for complex search and optimization problems using Large Language Models (LLMs). Traditionally, crafting and configuring
heuristics requires expert knowledge and is time-consuming. By leveraging LLMs, we aim to automatically generate and optimize algorithms, making them more adaptable and practical for
various applications. Key objectives include:
Automating Heuristic Design with Large
22 SPMS CoS Cheong Kang Hao [email protected] 1. Enhancing the feasibility of LLM-generated algorithms for real-world problems.
Language Models*
2. Improving LLMs' ability to generate coherent long-form content for complex problem-solving.
3. Developing techniques to optimize and refine these algorithms automatically.

Students will work on integrating LLMs with optimization techniques, contributing to innovative AI tools that simplify and advance heuristic design across multiple domains.
Azacorannulene-Based Ligands for Transition Our research group has long focused on developing functional polycyclic aromatic molecules for various applications. In this research, we aim to synthesize novel azacorannulene-based ligands
23 CCEB CoS Ito Shingo Metal Complexes [email protected] and their transition metal complexes. The obtained metal complexes will be applied as a catalyst or photosensitizer for organic transformations. The student working on this project will be able
to learn basic skills and various analytical techniques on organic synthesis.
24 CCEB CoS Chew Sing Yian Bio-functional scaffolds for nerve regeneration* [email protected] In this project, we shall establish and characterize bio-mimicking scaffolds with topographical and sustained biochemical signaling ability to direct cell and tissue response. Methods include https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/sychew
analyses cell/tissue-implant interactions through in vivo behavioral analyses and tissue morphometric evaluations and quantifications.
Data definition and data manipulation language platforms of aDBMS are often human-centric. For instance, declarative queries are often formulated by humans or their results are directly
consumed by humans. Consequently, superior and effective design of these platforms needs to be informed by theories from cognitive psychology, a branch of psychology that studies how
Sourav Saha Bridging Cognitive Pyschology and Data individuals think and process information. In this research, we explore the emerging paradigm of psychology theory-informed design of human-centric components of a DBMS.
25 CCDS CCDS [email protected] https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/assourav/research/PIANO/index.html
Bhowmick Management In this paradigm, the design of the human-centric components is guided by theories from cognitive psychology in addition to theories from computer science. We invent novel techniques and
frameworks that embrace this paradigm in the arena of database querying.

Social computing platforms typically deal with data that are either related to humans or generated by humans. Consequently, effective design of these platforms needs to be cognizant
Sourav Saha Bridging Social Psychology and Social
26 CCDS CCDS [email protected] of social psychology theories. In this research, we explore the paradigm of psychology theory-informed design of social computing platforms where the design is guided by theories from https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/assourav/research/PIANO/index.html
Bhowmick Computing
social psychology in addition to theories from computer science. Specifically, we invent novel techniques and frameworks that embrace this paradigm in the arena of social influence.

The Hippo/YAP signaling pathway controls cell growth and survival and is often deregulated in cancers. YAP is a transcriptional coactivator that translocates into the nucleus to promote the
expression of pro-proliferative genes via the transcription factor TEAD. The canonical Hippo core kinases MST/LATS phosphorylate YAP and thereby prevent nuclear translocation. The activity of
MST/LATS is controlled by several intracellular and extracellular cues including cell-cell junction formation, cell polarity, the actin cytoskeleton, and extracellular matrix stiffness. How YAP activity
is regulated is an important question in cancer cell biology. We have identified a family of scaffolding proteins, called Homers, that regulate YAP via a novel non-canonical mechanism. The goal of
this project is to understand fundamental aspects of how Homers function.
Characterisation of a novel mechanism to
27 SBS CoS Alexander Ludwig [email protected] The candidate will use cell culture models, immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy to characterise the cellular localisation of YAP in response to Homer downregulation or overexpression. https://blogs.ntu.edu.sg/alabntusg/
regulate YAP signaling*
YAP activity in such cells will be measured via qPCR and TEAD reporter assays. In addition, immunoprecipitations will be performed to dissect how Homers interact with and regulate YAP. The
candidate will become familiar with techniques in molecular biology (cloning), mammalian cell culture, plasmid and siRNA transfections, immunoprecipitations, qPCR and TEAD reporter assays,
SDS-PAGE and Western blotting, as well as confocal microscopy and quantitative image analysis.

Please visit the Ludwig lab homepage for more information: https://blogs.ntu.edu.sg/alabntusg/

THIS PROJECT IS FOR THREE MONTH INTERNSHIP

BACKGROUND
Under normal growth conditions, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response is necessary for cellular homeostasis, while the unfolded protein response (UPR) dysregulation is correlated with
numerous pathologies, including neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic disease, cancer, and many ocular diseases including age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is a human disease
that is currently one of the leading causes of visual disabilities, affecting 3 in 100 Singaporeans (~170 million people globally). In AMD, the UPR is hyperactivated resulting in the induction of pro-
inflammatory and angiogenesis factors; conversely, attenuation of the UPR response potentially reduces retina cell death. However, the mechanism by which the UPR contributes to cell death in
aged retina cells and AMD pathogenesis is still elusive.
Characterizing role of the endoplasmic
28 SBS CoS Guillaume Thibault reticulum in age-related macular degeneration [email protected] PROPOSED WORK www.thibaultlab.com
(AMD)* Using a well-established aging retina cellular model, the student will carry out experiments to characterize the dynamic UPR response in vivo through the aging process using confocal microscopy
and super resolution fluorescence microscopy to monitor single molecules. To further elucidate the UPR transcriptional program in vivo, we will analyze the transcriptome by RNA-sequencing
(next generation sequencing). Newly identified factors will be further narrow down using different in vivo reporters, including reporters of ER membrane biophysical properties and ER-organelle
contact sites.
The shortlisted factors will be further investigated using cell biology, genetic, and biochemistry approaches.

The student will work together with an experience team of experts.

Find more about the Thibault lab at www.thibaultlab.com.

The Polyphonic Futures Lab at NTU's School of Art, Design, and Media is seeking a design student to conduct research under the supervision of Asst/Prof Veronica Ranner for the pilot project
"Mattering and Designing with Transience." This project examines the intersection of posthumanist practices, materiality, and transience in design, with the aim of addressing ecological and
Charting relations between design and tropical social challenges. The role involves active participation in critical and speculative design, thought experiments, and material studies, focusing on human impacts and ethical dilemmas within the
29 ADM HASS Veronica Ranner [email protected] https://www.polyphonicfutures.com/
biomaterial transience bio-digital convergence. This includes working with tropical biomaterials and insects. The successful candidate will document and catalogue transient temporal qualities and contribute to the
early stages of design projects that push the boundaries of biodesign and critical speculative design research at Nanyang Technological University.

Many machine learning and data science libraries are written in Python, for example, scikit-learn and PyTorch. The APIs in these libraries often have non-trivial usage constraints, such as option A
Code-Documentation Inconsistency Checking can only be used when option B is also enabled, or value C must be positive when option D is disabled. Users of these libraries rely heavily on the documentation to be able to use them correctly.
30 CCDS CCDS Li Yi for [email protected] But there are often inconsistencies between the library code and the corresponding documentation, which makes the usages of the APIs troublesome. In this project, we would like to
Python Software Libraries automatically discover these inconsistencies at scale by leveraging the power of Large Language Models (LLMs) and advanced program analysis. Through this project, we will try to contribute to
the documentation quality of these software projects and enhance their user experience.
 We are interested in understanding how local behaviorial rules at the individual level affect organization patterns and functions at the population scale for biological systems such as cells. In this
work, we will investigate the collective behavior of cell monolayers using a stochastic interacting particle model. Our cells move in a random manner and can adapt their motion in response to
31 PAP Div CoS Yong Ee Hou Collective motion of cells in a monolayer [email protected] their neighbors. Moreover, the polarity and the velocity of a cell do not align due to intercellular forces. We will run simulations to understand interactions and patterns. https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/eehou/

In certain scenarios, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) trained within specific parameter ranges necessitate substantial re-training when transitioning to different parameter ranges. This
process of re-training can prove to be highly time-consuming. Compounding this challenge is the potential unavailability of the requisite data. In light of these obstacles, this project endeavors to
Constructing Convolutional Neural Networks devise strategies for constructing CNNs capable of adapting to diverse parameter ranges without the need for extensive re-training. This approach hinges on a deeper comprehension of the
32 EEE CoE Wang Lipo [email protected] https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/elpwang/
without Re-training decision-making mechanisms inherent in CNNs. Through this endeavor, the student aims to develop methods that enhance the adaptability and robustness of CNN models across varying
parameter domains.

With the development in mass spectrometry (MS) methodology and instrumentation, LC-MS analysis sensitivity has been drastically improved. At state-of-art, analyte loss due to non-specific
interactions with reaction containers become evident and a bottleneck in many high-sensitivity methods. This issue is currently addressed by coating the container with low-absorbent materials,
Containerless/Surfaceless Targeted Proteomics such as Protein LoBind tubes from Eppendorf.
33 SBS CoS Xueming Dong [email protected]
via Acoustic Levitation and LC-MS* Here we aim to address this issue from an alternative direction. Acoustic levitation introduce pressure differences in the air and thus can be used to float liquid without the need of container,
essentially removing the context for non-specific interaction. Apart from bringing the current state-of-art for LC-MS analysis sensitivity to next level. Acoustic levitation also significantly reduces
the amount of waste associated with disposable containers, thus offering an additional advantage in terms of sustainability.
The project aims to develop a smart sensing system to detect the onset and track the propagation of corrosion in reinforced concrete structures, under climate changes in Singapore. It will
Corrosion monitoring of reinforced concrete consist of a self-sensing concrete unit, wireless IoT node, and advanced data analytics to enable online, automated, and real-time monitoring. Such a method will outperform the existing
34 CEE CoE Fu Yuguang [email protected]
structures under climate changes solutions in terms of low cost, large coverage, and low latency. The student is expected to help the development of sensing units and data analytics.

35 ITOM Div CoB (NBS) Vivek Choudhary Create an App for mental health [email protected] In this project, we will create a smartphone app for improving mental health. This app will integrate with our backend LLM engine for users to interact with the app. It will be built on react or https://sites.google.com/view/vkchoudhary
react native. There will be also opportunity to work on the LLM engine itself.
In this project, we seek to develop an innovative approach for teacher training with the use of large language models (LLMs) to create detailed student personas. These student personas will
Creating Student Personas with AI for ultimately be used in simulated microteaching environments to help educators refine their teaching techniques and better understand diverse student needs. If you possess a keen interest in AI,
36 NSSE NSSE Edwin Chng [email protected] https://dr.ntu.edu.sg/cris/rp/rp02467
Microteaching Simulations education, or both, and hold a basic understanding of machine learning concepts and prompt engineering, we invite you to apply. For more information and to apply, please send your resume
and a brief statement of interest (no more than a few sentences) to [email protected].
The aim of this collaboration is to leverage the billion-dollar company Polyhedra Network's expertise in Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs) and cross-chain interoperability to develop a robust,
scalable, and secure platform for decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. This platform will focus on enabling seamless interactions across different blockchain networks, thereby improving the
efficiency, security, and user experience of DeFi services.

Scope of Work:

Cross-Chain Interoperability for Decentralized Integration of ZK-Rollups:

37 CCDS CCDS Zhao Jun [email protected]
Finance (DeFi) Applications Develop and implement ZK-Rollup solutions to enhance transaction throughput and reduce gas fees in cross-chain interactions.

Cross-Chain Bridge Development:

Design and deploy a secure cross-chain bridge to enable seamless asset transfers and smart contract interactions between multiple blockchain networks.

Security Enhancement:
Utilize Polyhedra's ZKP-based security protocols to enhance the privacy and security of cross-chain transactions.

This project will collaborate with the billion-dollar company Polyhedra Network to develop a decentralized identity and credential verification system that leverages Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs)
to ensure privacy, security, and compliance. The system will be designed for use cases in education, healthcare, and cross-border employment.

Background:
The need for secure and verifiable digital identities has never been greater, especially in sectors where privacy and compliance are paramount. Polyhedra Network's expertise in ZKPs provides a
unique opportunity to develop a system that can verify credentials without exposing sensitive data, thereby addressing privacy concerns and regulatory requirements.
Decentralized Identity and Credential
38 CCDS CCDS Zhao Jun [email protected]
Verification Scope of Work:

Decentralized Identity Management:

Develop a decentralized identity management system where users can control their identity data and share it securely with third parties using ZKPs.

Credential Issuance and Verification:

Implement a system for issuing and verifying digital credentials using blockchain technology, ensuring that credentials are tamper-proof and easily verifiable across different platforms.

Decoding the Activation of Immune Cells at This project investigates the intricate mechanisms by which immune cells activate at the nanoscale. We will utilize state-of-the-art nanofabrication and advanced microscopy techniques to
39 CCEB CoS Zhao Wenting Nanoscale [email protected] observe the geometrical regulation of the key components in immune activation signaling at the molecular level. By deciphering these nanoscale events, we aim to develop a new strategy for
targeted therapies that can modulate the immune response and potentially revolutionize treatment strategies for cancer immune therapy.
The two key research objectives:
1. Develop state of the art deep learning models to classify avian calls
2. Adaptation of above models to unseen urban and wildlife noise by using transfer learning.
Deep Bioacoustic Classification for Avian Calls https://arxiv.org/pdf/2403.10380,
40 CCDS CCDS Chng Eng Siong [email protected]
under the presence of urban and wildlife noise Transformer Models (e.g. google's BirdNET), are used in state of the art bio-acoustic classification. The project will explore transfer learning methods to adapt existing transformer-based https://huggingface.co/datasets/DBDresearch-group/BirdSet
classification models to unseen urban and wildlife noise.

Such a module will play a crucial role in reducing the manual labour required in ecological monitoring, species identification, and conservation efforts in a real-world setting.
The student project focuses on developing a deep neural network for disease classification from endoscopic images. Endoscopy is a crucial medical procedure used for diagnosing and monitoring
various diseases, including gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory conditions, and more. Automating disease classification from endoscopic data using deep learning can enhance the speed and
accuracy of diagnosis and treatment planning. The project will involve training a neural network to classify different diseases based on endoscopic images. Objective: The primary objective of this
Deep Neural Network for Disease Classification project is to design, implement, and evaluate a deep neural network model which can accurately classifying diseases from endoscopic data. The model should facilitate medical professionals by
41 LKCMedicine LKCMedicine Yeo Si Yong [email protected]
from Endoscopic Imaging providing an automated diagnostic tool that can facilitate in the early detection and monitoring of diseases through endoscopic procedures. This project gives students valuable experience in
deep learning, medical data analysis, and medical technology. It has the potential to make a significant impact on the medical field by providing a tool that can help medical professionals in
diagnosing diseases and improve efficiency of doctors.

The student project involves the development of a deep neural network for medical image segmentation, a crucial task in the field of medical imaging. Medical image segmentation is essential
for various medical tasks, including disease diagnosis, treatment planning, and monitoring of disease. The project will focus on using deep learning techniques to automatically delineate and
Deep Neural Network for Medical classify regions of interest within medical images, such as MR scans, CT, or microscopic dataset. Objective: The objective of this project is to design, implement, and evaluate a deep neural
42 LKCMedicine LKCMedicine Yeo Si Yong [email protected]
Segmentation network model for accurate and efficient medical image segmentation. The tool can be used for the segmentation of structures of interest from medical data which may facilitate healthcare
professionals in the diagnostic processes. Students will learn how to implement Deep Neural Network for medical data segmentation, improve on Python skills and may publish the project.

43 EEE CoE Tay Wee Peng Deep graph neural networks [email protected] A graph neural network (GNN) is a class of machine learning algorithms designed to handle data with an underlying graph structure. Graph representation learning has many applications, https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/wptay/
including in sensor networks, social networks, and transportation networks. This project investigates deep GNNs in non-traditional sensor network applications.
44 CCEB CoS Ni Ran Deep learning neural networks for free energy [email protected] We will develop deep learning neural networks to evaluate the free energy of molecular systems to understand the stability of molecular structures.
evaluations*

45 EEE CoE Kim Tae Hyoung Design and Analysis of Digital Computing- [email protected] Traditional computing architecture consists of processors and memories. However, this architecture is not energy-efficient for artificial intelligence and machine learning because of excessive https://sites.google.com/view/tonykim/home
inMemory for Next Generation Smart IoT data transfer between them for computing. The concept of computing-in-memory (CIM) tackle this issue by minimizing the data transfer between processors and memories. However, most
Applications computing-inmemory macros use analog signals to represent digital computation results. Analog signals are susceptible to noises and environmental variations. Besides, analog-signal-based
computing-in-memory macros are not scalable.
 In this project, we will develop synthesizable computing-in-memory macros. The developed computing-in-memory macros will be compatible to the normal digital circuits design flow. This will
facilitate many circuits design companies to develop energy-efficient smart devices without significant design time overhead caused by analog signal processing. We will also co-optimize the
computing-inmemory architectures and circuits so that the overall energy efficiency can be further enhanced.
This project aims to create a passive silicon (Si) photonic waveguide, a crucial component in photonic integrated circuits (PICs) that enables the manipulation and guidance of light signals for
various applications including optical interconnects, sensors, and optical communication systems.
The project is divided into two phases. The first phase will focus on designing the Si photonic waveguide using software tools like COMSOL and Lumerical FDTD. The design process will consider
the waveguide dimensions, material properties, and operating wavelength, and simulation software will optimize the design parameters and assess the waveguide's performance, such as
Design and fabrication of passive Si photonic dispersion, mode confinement, and propagation loss.
46 EEE CoE Chae Sanghoon [email protected] https://sites.google.com/view/sanghoonchae/home
waveguide In the second phase, the Si photonic waveguide will be fabricated using standard CMOS processing, starting with Si deposition on a silicon dioxide substrate, followed by waveguide patterning
using a lithographic mask, and then waveguide etching using reactive ion etching (RIE) to achieve the desired shape and dimensions. Finally, the waveguide's performance will be evaluated using
various characterization techniques like optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and optical spectroscopy. The ultimate goal is to produce a high-performing Si photonic
waveguide that can be utilized in PICs and contribute to the development of new and improved photonic technologies.

Diabetes is a result of poor blood glucose concentration regulation and hyperglycaemia. Transplanted reconstituted pancreatic islet beta cell microtissues have emerged as
a potential treatment option for T1D and severe T2D whereby transplanted islet beta cells will secrete insulin in response to detected blood glucose to control
hyperglycaemia. Most transplanted cell strategies contain only a single cell type ? the insulin secreting beta cell. However, native islets contain a variety of cells directly
Designing therapeutic microtissues for involved in blood glucose homeostasis and literature has demonstrated potential benefits of incorporating additional cells into such microtissues to recapitulate the native
47 CCEB CoS Dang Thuy Tram [email protected]
treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes* islet architecture and function for application in transplantation and subsequent blood glucose regulation of diabetic sufferers. This project involves the modulation of
microtissue composition containing different cell types and investigating the resultant quality and functional impacts for treatment of poorly regulated blood glucose. The
student working on this project will gain experience in experimental planning, cell culture and viability characterization as well as exposure to entrepreneurship in biotech
towards the formation of a start-up company.
As modern transportation moves towards full electrification, there is a strong demand for secondary batteries with enhanced energy density, safety, and cycle life. Next-
generation secondary batteries should not only address range anxiety and safety issues in electric vehicles but also support the development of large-scale electric
transportation solutions, such as electric trucks and airplanes. Researchers have worked extensively to improve the energy density of traditional liquid Li-ion batteries by
incorporating ternary positive electrode materials and lithium metal negative electrode materials. However, ternary positive electrode materials are susceptible to
decomposition, which generates oxygen that can react violently with the flammable organic electrolyte. This reaction releases significant heat and may lead to safety
Developing A Next-generation Battery hazards. Additionally, the highly reactive lithium metal has poor chemical stability. During cycling, uneven deposition and stripping of lithium metal can result in the
48 EEE CoE Yang Yun Management System for All-Solid-State [email protected] formation of lithium dendrites that pierce the separator, potentially causing short circuits and leading to fires or even explosions. ASSBs use non-flammable solid
Batteries electrolytes instead of flammable and explosive organic electrolytes. Solid electrolytes are generally composite materials with a solid matrix that significantly enhances
safety due to their chemical and thermal stability. Besides, ASSBs offer advantages such as higher energy density, longer lifespan, faster charging speed, lighter weights,
smaller sizes, and greater flexibility. Emerging smart wearable devices and implantable medical equipment will increasingly rely on ASSBs. This project will develop new
ASSB models for a next-generation battery management system (BMS). The targetted BMS will regulate critical electrical, thermal, and mechanical parameters of ASSB
packs to ensure safety and long lifespan of all ASSB cells.

Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer (DWPT) systems offer a cutting-edge approach to powering Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and Electric Vehicles (EVs) without relying
Developing Next-Generation Dynamic
on physical connectors. This technology greatly improves operational flexibility, particularly in industrial and logistics environments. In this program, the student will apply
49 EEE CoE Yang Yun Wireless [email protected]
advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to design a comprehensive DWPT system, encompassing transmitter and receiver coils, power electronic circuits, control
Power Transfer Systems
mechanisms, and supporting systems. Successful completion of this project could set a new benchmark for next-generation wireless charging standards.
This project focuses on developing a Boundary Element Method (BEM) code that accounts for poroelastic effects, crucial for understanding the complex interactions
Developing a Boundary Element Method between fluid flow and fault mechanics. By integrating solid-fluid interactions into a physics-based computational framework, the code will model the coupled system of
50 ASE CoS Luca Dal Zilio Code for Poroelastic Effects in Earthquake [email protected] poromechanics, fault friction, and fully dynamic earthquake rupture. This innovative approach will provide deeper insights into the processes that trigger earthquakes and www.lucadalzilio.net
Mechanics* influence fault slip evolution, both in natural settings and as a result of human activities. The project aims to advance our ability to predict seismic hazards and contribute
to safer geo-energy exploration practices.
This project involves the development, integration, and optimization of key sub-components for an advanced atomic gravimeter. The student will be tasked with building
critical parts of the gravimeter, such as laser systems, vacuum chambers, and control electronics, under the guidance of the research team. They will also be responsible for
Rainer Helmut Development and Integration of Sub-
51 SPMS CoS [email protected] integrating these components into the existing system and ensuring seamless operation. The project includes rigorous testing of each sub-component and the assembled
Dumke Components for an Atomic Gravimeter*
gravimeter to validate its performance. This project aims to provide the student with practical skills in precision engineering, system integration, and experimental physics,
contributing significantly to the overall improvement and reliability of the atomic gravimeter.

We have discovered that mature Staphylococcus aureus bacterial biofilms secrete a toxin that rapidly kills squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells at very low concentrations
but has no negative effects on human keratinocytes of fibroblasts. We have identified the primary toxin to be alpha hemolysin (Hla). SCC specific toxicity is exerted
primarily through Hla-ADAM10 interaction, Hla oligomerisation and pore formation. The high target specificity and potential to cause cell death in a controlled manner
highlight Hla as a good candidate for an alternative SCC therapeutic.
Development and delivery of a novel We Aim to test the Hla toxin on a mouse model of SCC and optimise the delivery in different hydrogels for progressive stages of the condition. Our hypothesis is that Hla
David Lawrence
52 LKCMedicine LKCMedicine squamous cell carcinoma therapeutic [email protected] will kill SCC in vivo without damaging the surrounding normal cells. Skin cancer is a serious problem worldwide, especially for people with pale skin in the Fitzpatrick 1 and
Becker
based on a bacterial biofilm secreted toxin 2 class living in sunny environments like Singapore. SCC typically develop on the sun exposed neck and face areas and account for about 20% of skin cancers, which is
about 2.2 million people a year. Whilst basal cell carcinoma is more prevalent SCC is aggressive and more likely to metastasize and kill which makes it more dangerous.
Excision of SCC at early stages is normally effective but sometimes they form near the eyes and it is hard to take a large enough margin for safety. We will inject Hla in
hydrogel into early stage papilloma and place the hydrogel into the open craters of SCC. We will explore hydrogels with short lifetimes of around a day and others that can
release drug for a week or more in order to optimise the treatment regime. Development of a novel SCC therapeutic will be of benefit to the Singapore economy.

Development of broad-spectrum anti- Dengue is a critical threat to public health system, prevalent in tropical and sub-tropical countries. However, development of anti-Dengue drugs remains lackluster. Our lab
53 SBS CoS Xiao Tianshu Dengue inhibitor* [email protected] has been focusing on development of antiviral inhibitors targeting viral entry step. Here, we will utilize a variety of biophysical and biochemical approaches to identify and
characterize novel entry inhibitors against Dengue.
THIS PROJECT IS FOR A THREE-MONTH INTERNSHIP.

The ability to engineer the genome and transcriptome of living cells lends itself to many biomedical and biotechnological applications. In recent years, CRISPR-Cas has
Development of new programmable RNA
54 CCEB CoS Tan Meng How [email protected] emerged as a powerful system for genome and transcriptome engineering. Briefly, a Cas enzyme is recruited to a target site by a programmable guide RNA. In so doing, it www.mhtanlab.com
editing tools*
can also bring along an effector domain to modulate the target gene. Here, we are interested in developing new Cas13-based technologies to install A-to-I or C-to-U editing
events in RNA transcripts via site-selective recruitment of a deaminase domain. The tools developed may be used as a new therapeutic modality for well-defined genetic
diseases and can also be utilized to study RNA editing in various biological contexts.
Fiber-based light sources that generate high-energy femtosecond pulses hold paramount significance across various sectors, including laser micromachining, medical
imaging, precision metrology, modern ophthalmology, space ranging, and scientific instrumentations. Despite substantial advancements in the average output power of
ultrafast fiber lasers, extending the boundaries of the peak power and pulse energy remains an intricate challenge due to constraints imposed by nonlinear effects and the
saturation energy of gain fibers. Increasing the mode area of the gain fiber emerges as a key strategy to enhance both the peak power and pulse energy. However, a
substantial disparity exists between the market demand and industry offerings of large-mode area fibers. This is because the challenging requirements of bending flexibility
Development of ultra-large mode area
55 EEE CoE Chang Wonkeun [email protected] and effective single-mode operation mar their performance and hinder power and pulse energy scaling in fiber lasers.
fibers for high-power femtosecond lasers
This project addresses this pressing demand by introducing a new design paradigm for ultra-large mode area fibers. We will employ antiresonant guidance and strengthen
it with index guidance offered by additional low-index elements in the cladding. The novel hybrid light-guidance mechanism will combine the unique characteristics of
antiresonant and index guidance to achieve effective singlemode operation and bending flexibility in an ultra-large mode area fiber. The project aims to deliver an active
ultra-large mode area fiber and showcase its feasibility for generating high-energy femtosecond laser pulses.
The project aims to develop a digital twin framework for monitoring and management of MRT viaduct construction, to support HSB construction at NTU campus. An
integrated data infrastructure will be developed to collect essential data from IoT nodes (vibration) and Smart glasses (geometry). In particular, data fusion will be applied
Digital Twin for Railway Viaduct in to provide more robust and accurate structure responses measurement in different construction stages. A multimodality AI model will be developed to track the
56 CEE CoE Fu Yuguang [email protected]
Singapore deformation of the viaduct and infer their internal force distribution. It will integrate acceleration data and visual data to enhance the accuracy. 4D BIM modelling and
Augmented reality technologies (AR) will be developed to visualize construction sequence in real-time. It will also obtain rapid evaluation results to facilitate informed
decision-making during construction accident. The student is expected to assist the development of viaduct modelling and data analytics.
 Deep neural networks take many "features" as input, e.g., the pixels of an image, and map them into a small number of meaningful variables, e.g., to classify the image.
They, therefore, act as dimensionality or projector operator.
Massimo Pica Dimensionality reduction in Deep Neural
57 PAP Div CoS [email protected]
Ciamarra Networks*
This computational and theoretical research explores the inner workings of DNN to shed light on the mechanisms by which this dimensionality reduction process occurs.
Overall, the research contributes to developing an understanding of the inner workings of these AI systems.
"Graphene, is a single layer (monolayer) of carbon sheet, is the thinnest compound known, the lightest material known, the strongest compound discovered, the best
conductor of heat at room temperature, and the best conductor of electricity known. In nature, layers of graphene stacked on top of each other form graphite, with a layer
spacing of 0.33 nm. In 2004, researchers at University of Manchester first isolated graphene with the so-called ?Scotch-tape? method, then they got a 2010 Nobel price. It
Disassembling 2D van der Waals crystals is still used today to obtain single atomic layer flakes.
58 EEE CoE Chae Sanghoon [email protected] https://sites.google.com/view/sanghoonchae/home
into centimeter-sized monolayers Two-dimensional materials from layered van der Waals (vdW) crystals hold great promise for electronic, optoelectronic, and quantum devices, but technological
implementation will be hampered by the lack of high-throughput techniques for exfoliating single-crystal monolayers with sufficient size and high quality. In this project,
student will demonstrate a facile method to disassemble vdW single crystals layer by layer into monolayers with near-unity yield and with dimensions limited only by bulk
crystal sizes. The macroscopic monolayers are comparable in quality to microscopic monolayers from conventional Scotch tape exfoliation."
This study focuses on the vibrational analysis of a high-speed rotating spherical shell that rotates about its symmetric axis, based on the set of motion governing equations
developed with consideration of both the Coriolis and centrifugal accelerations as well as the hoop tension arising in the rotating shell due to the angular velocity,
especially on the rotating spherical shell with Coriolis and centrifugal forces as well as the hoop tension. A thin rotating truncated circular spherical shell with variable https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/vibrationacoustics/articleabstract/135/3/031006/472400/
Dynamics of High-Speed Rotating
59 MAE CoE Li Hua [email protected] thickness is taken as an example for the free vibrational analysis, after numerical validation of the present formulation. Several case studies are conducted for investigation Free-Vibration-of-a-High-Speed-Rotating-
Truncated Shell
of the influence of the important parameters on the frequency characteristics of the rotating spherical shell with variable thickness. The parameters studied include the Truncated?redirectedFrom=fulltext
circumferential wave number, the rotational angular velocity, Young's modulus of the shell materials, and the geometric ratio of the thickness to radius of the spherical
shell.

Recently, a great deal of progress [1, 2, 3, 4] has been made in the development of highly efficient approximation algorithms for certain computationally hard (specifically, #P-hard) probabilistic
inference, counting, and sampling problems that arise in computer science. These algorithms, known as fully polynomial-time randomized approximation schemes (FPRASes), come with rigorous
guarantees on the accuracy of their output and runtime. Such algorithms have applications in several areas of computer science, including machine learning (e.g., inference and sampling in
certain graphical models) and data management (e.g., counting and sampling answers of a database query).

However, key challenges remain. Much of the work in developing these algorithms has been purely theoretical in nature, and there is still work to do in seeing how these approaches can be
made amenable to practical implementation. This project aims to do just that: develop a software tool that implements the aforementioned ideas, and explore its implications for real-world
problems.

Efficient Approximation Algorithms with The ideal student would have a strong background in mathematics and/or computer science. Some knowledge of (or willingness to learn) a fast, compiled programming language (e.g., C, C++,
60 CCDS CCDS Timothy van Bremen Guarantees for Probabilistic Inference and [email protected] Rust, ...) would also be helpful.
Sampling
[1] Arenas, M., Croquevielle, L. A., Jayaram, R., & Riveros, C. (2021). #NFA Admits an FPRAS: Efficient Enumeration, Counting, and Uniform Generation for Logspace Classes.
Journal of the ACM (JACM), 68(6), 1-40.

[2] Meel, K. S., Chakraborty, S., & Mathur, U. (2024). A faster FPRAS for #NFA. Proceedings of the ACM on Management of Data, 2(2), 1-22.

[3] Arenas, M., Croquevielle, L. A., Jayaram, R., & Riveros, C. (2021, June). When is approximate counting for conjunctive queries tractable?. In Proceedings of the 53rd Annual
ACM SIGACT Symposium on Theory of Computing (pp. 1015-1027).

[4] Meel, K. S., & de Colnet, A. (2024). #CFG and #DNNF admit FPRAS. arXiv preprint arXiv:2406.18224.

Pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs) are crucial for synaptic transmission and are implicated in neurological disorders. Understanding their gating mechanism and modulation by lipids
is essential for therapeutic development. Prokaryotic pLGICs like GLIC have been instrumental in advancing our understanding of pLGICs due to their structural and pharmacological similarities to
Elucidate the gating mechanism of pentameric their mammalian counterparts. Our recent cryo-EM research on GLIC has revealed insights into symmetric channel gating. However, previous MD simulations hinted at asymmetric channel
ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs), 5-HT3AR by opening.
61 SBS CoS Sandip Basak [email protected]
cryo-EM using a new in-house data processing Therefore, a new cryo-EM data processing pipeline has been developed in our laboratory to isolate asymmetric protein particles, yielding additional insights into asymmetric channel opening.
pipeline.* Furthermore, we found that lipidic modulators which alter the rate of desensitization also influence asymmetric channel gating. This indicates the potential link between structural asymmetry
and channel desensitization. This work will be extended in studying human 5-HT3AR, a eukaryotic channel with similar gating mechanisms. In this project we will express the human 5-HT3AR in
insect cell expression system and purify in detergent environment. We will explore the asymmetric activation process using cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM).
Pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs) are crucial for synaptic transmission and are implicated in neurological disorders. Understanding their gating mechanism and modulation by lipids
is essential for therapeutic development. Prokaryotic pLGICs like GLIC have been instrumental in advancing our understanding of pLGICs due to their structural and pharmacological similarities to
Elucidate the gating mechanism of pentameric their mammalian counterparts. Our recent cryo-EM research on GLIC has revealed insights into symmetric channel gating. However, previous MD simulations hinted at asymmetric channel
ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs), GLIC by opening.
62 SBS CoS Sandip Basak [email protected]
cryoEM using a new in-house data processing Therefore, a new cryo-EM data processing pipeline has been developed in our laboratory to isolate asymmetric protein particles, yielding additional insights into asymmetric channel opening.
pipeline.* Furthermore, we found that lipidic modulators which alter the rate of desensitization also influence asymmetric channel gating. This indicates the potential link between structural asymmetry
and channel desensitization. In this project we will express, purify and reconstitute GLIC in lipidic nanodisc. We will study the effect of specific lipidic modulators on GLIC using cryogenic electron
microscopy (cryo-EM).
Context: Large AI models, such as those used in natural language processing, computer vision, and other advanced machine learning applications, require substantial computational resources,
often necessitating large GPU clusters. These clusters, while powerful, come with significant financial costs.
Serverless computing, a cloud computing paradigm, has demonstrated its effectiveness across various scenarios through its pay-as-you-go model. By abstracting the underlying infrastructure and
allowing automatic scaling based on demand, serverless computing helps organizations save costs and improve resource utilization. The flexibility and cost-efficiency of serverless computing
make it an attractive option for many applications.
Problem:
Despite the benefits of serverless computing, integrating it with GPU-centric workloads, particularly those involving large AI models, remains a significant challenge. The primary issues stem from
the substantial amount of data that needs to be transferred between storage, memory, and processing units. This heavy data transfer poses challenges to both the hardware and software system
design, including but not limited to:
Latency: High data transfer latency can severely impact the performance of AI inference tasks, making it difficult to achieve real-time processing.
Bandwidth: The available bandwidth between serverless functions and GPU resources can become a bottleneck, limiting the scalability and efficiency of the system.
Resource Allocation: Efficiently allocating GPU resources in a serverless environment, where workloads are highly dynamic and unpredictable, is complex.
Cost Management: While serverless aims to reduce costs, the unpredictable nature of AI workloads and the high cost of GPU resources can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully.
Enabling Large-Scale Serverless AI Inference
63 CCDS CCDS Dmitrii Ustiugov [email protected] Integration Complexity: Combining serverless architectures with GPU acceleration requires seamless integration of diverse technologies, which can be technically challenging and may require https://ustiugov.github.io/
Serving
significant development effort. Proposed Research
To address these challenges, the proposed research will explore the following areas:
Optimized Data Transfer Mechanisms:
Develop efficient data transfer protocols that minimize latency and maximize throughput between serverless functions and GPU resources.
Investigate the use of advanced networking technologies, such as RDMA (Remote Direct Memory Access), to reduce data transfer times.
Dynamic Resource Allocation Strategies:
Design intelligent resource allocation algorithms that can dynamically provision GPU resources based on workload demand and priority.
Implement machine learning models to predict resource requirements and optimize the allocation in real-time.
Cost-Efficient Serverless GPU Models:
Create cost management frameworks that predict and control GPU usage costs in a serverless environment.
Explore billing models that align with the dynamic nature of AI workloads, ensuring cost-efficiency without compromising performance.
Seamless Integration Frameworks:
Develop middleware solutions that facilitate seamless integration of serverless computing platforms with GPU clusters.
Beta-carotene serves as a precursor of vitamin A and provides relevant health benefits. Beta-carotene is a fat-soluble compound and its bioavailability from natural sources is very poor. Hence,
Loo Say Chye Encapsulating beta-carotene for improved studies have been focused on the development of specific core/shell micro- or nano-structures that encapsulate beta-carotene to improve its bioavailability. Here, the aim is to formulate delivery
64 MSE CoE [email protected]
Joachim bioavailability systems to encapsulate beta-carotene with the aim of improving bioavailability and shelf-life. Industrially-scalable techniques will be explored to translate this into a commercially-viable product.
 Developing energy-saving passive cooling technology is crucial for achieving COP26? goal of carbon neutrality and sustainability. Passive cooling has wide applications from power electronics,
food preservation, to building coating. From application prospectives, passive cooling can be categorized to indoor and outdoor cooling. For indoor applications, such as cooling of power
electronics, design of materials and devices based on evaporative cooling is crucial. For outdoor applications, such as cooling paint/construction materials, both evaporative cooling and radiative
cooling are important. For instance, passive radiative cooling in tropical climate (e.g., Singapore, 1.3477N 103.6816E) is challenging due to the high humidity (84% on average), abundant rainfall
(~167 days annually), intense solar radiation (up to 1200 W/m2 at daytime with 40% higher UV radiation), and strong downward atmospheric radiation (~20% higher than that of mid-latitude
65 MAE CoE Li Hong Energy-Free Cooling [email protected] https://dr.ntu.edu.sg/cris/rp/rp00952
area), which halve the radiative cooling potential; and thus far, there is no report of outdoor daytime sub-ambient radiative cooling under strong solar radiation (power density >1000 W/m2) in
tropical climate. Besides, heat insolation, conduction and dissipation play critical roles in different applications. In this project, we will develop materials and devices for passive cooling of
primarily (1) power electronic device/system (indoor application), and (2) buildings (outdoor application). Fundamental understanding of passive cooling mechanisms will be obtained, followed
by rational design of the materials/devices. We anticipate new materials/devices that offer new solutions to the energy-saving cooling of power electronics and buildings will be designed,
fabricated, characterized, and evaluated.
Engineering fibre optic devices for expanded Microscopic images in clinical and biological research are usually small and cover very limited, submillimetre fields of view. In many demanding applications such as imaging of large organs or
66 CCEB CoS Liang Kaicheng fields of view [email protected] plates of cells, coverage should extend to the centimetre scale. The student will work on optical and mechanical designs for miniaturized microscopes capable of wide coverage and high
resolution imaging.
Could our gut-brain biology be driving our unhealthy snacking behaviour? Building on this inquiry, the Hwei-Ee Tan lab at NTU Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine aims to understand how signals
in our intestines influence the brain, which then mediates our mood and behaviours (such as that of food craving). Experimental mouse models have been useful in allowing us to interrogate
Engineering in neuroscience: innovating a how the brain controls behaviour, but phenotyping animal behaviours reliably remains a significant challenge. In this project, student(s) will join us in engineering a 'open-source' device that can
67 LKCMedicine LKCMedicine Tan Hwei Ee [email protected] continuously monitor the food and water consumption of mice in their cages, which will then allow us to better characterise their feeding patterns. Student(s) should be interested in or http://tanlab.science
device to phenotype laboratory mice
comfortable with prototyping with Arduino or similar microcontrollers, as well as making (wiring, 3D printing, etc) and programming. This project offers engineers who enjoy making and tinkering
an interdisciplinary platform to innovate and create in traditional neuroscience and biomedical research spaces, and to potentially create 'disruptive' devices in this emerging arena in future.

This project aims to enhance the performance of quantum gate operations in superconducting quantum processors, with the goal of reducing error rates and increasing fidelity. The student will
start by reviewing current techniques for optimizing quantum gates, followed by utilizing simulation tools to model and discover possible enhancements. They will then implement these
Rainer Helmut Enhancing Quantum Gate Operations in improved gate designs on superconducting qubits in collaboration with the research team. Extensive testing and characterization will be performed to assess the performance of the optimized
68 SPMS CoS [email protected]
Dumke Superconducting Processors* gates. The student will thoroughly document their process and results, culminating in a comprehensive final report and presentation. This project offers practical experience in quantum
computing, focusing on essential gate optimization for the development of reliable quantum processors.

Biological microscopy usually relies on toxic molecules for fluorescent labeling or achieving transparency in tissue. It was recently discovered that certain food dyes can be used to make tissue
Enhancing optical transparency and bioimaging samples and living animals partially transparent. The student will study the principles underlying this new phenomenon and develop experimental protocols to exploit this capability for
69 CCEB CoS Liang Kaicheng [email protected]
quality in tissue using food dyes enhancing advanced imaging techniques in the laboratory.

THIS PROJECT IS FOR A THREE-MONTH INTERNSHIP

Many marine organisms, such as corals, oysters, barnacles, and mussels, build carbonate mineral skeletons or shells. These biocalcifying organisms not only play essential roles in marine
ecosystems but also serve as valuable indicators of environmental conditions. The trace element chemistry of these hard shelly parts reflects the environment in which they grow and can be
modified by changes in both the physical and chemical conditions of their surroundings, particularly in an era of rapid global and local environmental change.

In this project, the student will have the opportunity to participate in coral growth experiments conducted at the Singapore National Marine Laboratory. The project will involve the analysis of
carbonate minerals formed during these experiments, using advanced techniques at ASE, NTU, including Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Electron Microprobe Analysis.
Environmental change impacts on shells and SEM will allow the student to examine the microstructure of the carbonate minerals at high resolution, providing insights into the morphology and crystallography that can indicate how
70 CoS CoS Simon Redfern corals - how environment affects [email protected] environmental stressors, such as temperature and pH, influence coral growth. The Electron Microprobe will be used to perform precise quantitative analyses of trace elements within the https://sjinml.nus.edu.sg/
biomineralisation* carbonate structure, revealing the geochemical signatures that correspond to specific environmental conditions.

By combining these techniques, the project aims to enhance our understanding of how changes in the environment impact the growth and health of biocalcifying organisms. The findings could
have broader implications for predicting the resilience of marine ecosystems in the face of climate change.

Recent work by Selvam, Zhang, and Van den Broeck [1] proposes the Mixture of All Trees (MoAT) as a compact, fixed-structure graphical model which admits tractable computation of normalized
likelihood, as well as efficient estimation of marginal probabilities. Essentially, MoAT defines a mixture of all the possible n^{n-2} trees that can be drawn as a graphical model on n variables.

This raises the natural question of whether this idea can be generalized to other tractable models beyond trees (e.g., graphs of low treewidth), and how this affects the performance of the
model. Moreover, there is the question of connections to other results in lifted inference [2], as well as the development of alternative inference algorithms for the MoAT model. This project
aims to address these questions.
Evaluating Mixtures of Tractable Graphical
71 CCDS CCDS Timothy van Bremen [email protected]
Models in Machine Learning
The ideal student would have a strong background in mathematics and/or computer science, and interest in machine learning. Some knowledge of Python (or willingness to learn) would also be
helpful.

[1] Selvam, N. R., Zhang, H., & Van den Broeck, G. (2023, April). Mixtures of all trees. In International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Statistics (pp. 11043-11058). PMLR.

[2] Van Bremen, T., & Kuzelka, O. (2023). Lifted inference with tree axioms. Artificial Intelligence, 324, 103997.

Diffusion models have emerged as state-of-the-art generative models, excelling in domains such as computer vision, natural language processing, and interdisciplinary applications like drug
Expanding the Capabilities of Diffusion Models: design, material discovery, and more. While highly effective, these models are limited by their reliance on the distributions of the training data, restricting their ability to generate data beyond
72 CCDS CCDS Ong Yew Soon A [email protected] these boundaries. To address this limitation, diffusion target generation integrates external oracles to guide model outputs toward desired targets. This research focuses on the diffusion target https://openreview.net/pdf?id=OmpTdjl7RV
Guidance-Based Approach generation problem and shall propose novel guidance-based algorithm to steer diffusion models toward generating target data, so as to achieve high computational efficiency and broad
applicability on real-world problems.
Exploring Cryptography for Secret In this project, we will try to implement RSA key exchange to establish secret keys in public communication channel, followed by AES-128 for secret communication. This will demonstrate the
73 MAS Div CoS Guo Jian Communications [email protected] possibility to establish secret communication channel from public. Little to none background in cryptography is required, while programming skills in C++ or python is preferred.

THIS PROJECT IS FOR A # MONTH INTERNSHIP

Halogens are crucial trace elements in Earth's geochemical cycles. Despite their low concentrations, these elements play a significant role in the physical and chemical properties of mantle
minerals, influencing processes such as melting, mineral stability, and volatile cycling within the Earth's interior.

The student will have the opportunity to conduct high-temperature and high-pressure experiments to simulate mantle conditions and investigate how halogens are incorporated into and
Exploring Halogens in Earth's Deep Interior: released from mantle silicates. These experiments will involve using advanced analytical techniques to measure halogen concentrations and distribution within the minerals, providing insights
74 CoS CoS Simon Redfern [email protected]
Experimental and Computational Studies* into the mechanisms of halogen incorporation and their potential effects on mantle processes. In parallel, we may employ computational methods, including density functional theory (DFT) and
molecular dynamics simulations, to model the interaction of halogens with mantle silicates at the atomic level.

This project will contribute to our broader understanding of the role of halogens in the Earth's deep interior, with implications for mantle geochemistry, volcanic activity, and the global cycling of
volatiles. The findings from this research could enhance our knowledge of deep Earth processes and inform models of Earth's geochemical evolution.

THIS PROJECT IS FOR A THREE-MONTH INTERNSHIP.

Exploring RNA modifications with nanopore RNAs in living cells are modified in over 150 different ways. A major challenge is to map the locations of these modifications in endogenous RNAs. Existing methods suffer from different
75 CCEB CoS Tan Meng How [email protected] www.mhtanlab.com
sequencing* shortcomings, including reliance on antibodies that are not always available, lack of single-nucleotide resolution, inability to map multiple modifications simultaneously, and tedious workflows.
Nanopore sequencing has recently emerged as an attractive solution as RNA can be sequenced directly and modified nucleotides will give a different signal output from unmodified nucleotides.
In this project, the student will explore the use of nanopore sequencing to study RNA modifications in living cells.
Ultraviolet microscopy has been quite successful for tissue imaging, but the standard wavelength ~270nm used is absorbed by DNA and may cause damage to living samples. The DNA absorption
Exploring tissue microscopy across deep
peak is narrow, suggesting that wavelengths just tens of nanometres away could have significantly improved safety profiles while preserving or even enhancing the advantages of ultraviolet
76 CCEB CoS Liang Kaicheng ultraviolet wavelengths for translational [email protected]
imaging. The student will explore the effects of using UV wavelengths from 200 to 300 nm on microscopy image quality and sample viability, paving a translational pathway towards safe
imaging
ultraviolet microscopy for healthcare.
 Microalgae, particularly the Spirulina family, are known for their high phycocyanin content, making them a valuable source for natural pigments in food product formulations. Existing extraction
methods for phycocyanin often rely on volatile organic solvents, which pose toxicity risks and environmental hazards due to problematic solvent disposal. To address these issues, there is a need
Extraction of phycocyanin from Spirulina using
for innovative bioprocessing technologies that are both environmentally friendly and efficient. This project aims to develop a green and sustainable extraction method using a deep eutectic
77 CCEB CoS Chew Kit Wayne deep eutectic solvent-based liquid biphasic [email protected] https://dr.ntu.edu.sg/cris/rp/rp02121
solvent-based liquid biphasic system (DES-LBS) for the rapid recovery of phycocyanin from Spirulina. The study will evaluate the performance of DES-LBS under various operating conditions to
system*
determine optimal recovery, extraction efficiency, and partition coefficient. By leveraging DES-LBS, this project seeks to minimize environmental impact while maximizing the extraction yield of
phycocyanin from Spirulina.
Few-shot learning has emerged as a promising machine learning approach in the fields of molecular, chemical, and medical research, where obtaining large, labeled datasets can be challenging.
This research project focuses on developing and applying few-shot learning techniques to these domains, aiming to improve model performance in tasks such as molecular, chemical, and medical
image analysis.
The core objective of the project is to create models that can learn from a limited number of examples, thereby reducing the need for extensive data collection and annotation. In the molecular
and chemical domains, this involves leveraging existing knowledge of molecular structures and properties to make accurate predictions with minimal data. For instance, few-shot learning models
Few-Shot Learning for Molecular, Chemical, and can be trained to predict the activity of new compounds by learning from a small set of known compounds with similar structures. This has significant implications for accelerating the drug
78 EEE CoE Wang Lipo [email protected]
Medical Domains discovery process, where identifying promising candidates early can save both time and resources.
In the medical domain, the project explores the application of few-shot learning in tasks such as disease diagnosis from medical images, where labeled data is often scarce. By training models
that generalize well from a few labeled examples, the research aims to enhance diagnostic accuracy, especially in rare or underrepresented conditions.
Overall, the project seeks to bridge the gap between data scarcity and the need for high-performance models, offering a versatile approach that can be adapted across various applications within
the molecular, chemical, and medical fields.

Few-Shot Image Classification focuses on training models to classify images with very few examples per category. Traditional models need large datasets, which are often impractical to obtain.
Fewshot learning aims to overcome this limitation by enabling models to generalize from a small number of examples. This project provides a foundation for understanding and implementing
Few-Shot Medical Image Classification: a few-shot learning. There are papers with codes on Few-Shot Image Classification at https://paperswithcode.com/task/few-shot-image-classification , focusing on medical images. The student will https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/elpwang/
79 EEE CoE Wang Lipo [email protected]
Comparative Study download an existing code, reproduce the experimental results reported in the paper. Then the student should summerize existing research on few-shot medical image classification, comparing
their advantages and disadvantages.

Light emitting photonic fibers have found extensive use in industries such as textiles, smart clothes, healthcare, and consumer goods due to their lightweight, flexible, and cost-effective nature.
Unlike conventional silica fibers, polymer fibers are a new emerging class of tools for sensing owing to their strong stretchability and versatile applications. This project seeks to develop an
advanced and efficient manufacturing process that will significantly improve the quality, versatility, and accessibility of polymer light emitting fibers. In this project, students will learn how an
optical fiber works and how a fiber is made. The student will learn together with senior students to fabricate flexible optical fibers and involve in the integration process on a chip to form a
Flexeible Photonic Fibers for Biomedical Sensing simple biomedical sensor. Simple biosensing experiments for proteins or cancer related biomarkers will be tested on a flexible fiber chip. For students who are keener in software, the student
80 EEE CoE Yu-Cheng, Chen [email protected] can learn how to use COMSOL software to design their fiber with different material and find the best size and structure of fiber, and then make the polymer fiber for real applications. Lab https://www.ntubimp.com/
on Chips
homepage: https://www.ntubimp.com/

Refs: https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/adi.0046
Refs: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/11/12/472

This project focuses on developing forecasting algorithms to predict time-varying factors that enhance urban microgrid operations and management. The goal is to achieve the best prediction
accuracy using machine learning and statistical techniques available in MATLAB and Python, which can help improve the energy economics and reliability of urban microgrids. The intern will
Sundar Raj Forecasting Time-varying Factors to Enhance develop models to forecast key factors such as energy demand, renewable energy generation (e.g., solar or wind), energy market fluctuations, and environmental conditions that affect microgrid
81 ERI@N ERI@N [email protected]
Thangavelu Urban Microgrid Operations and Management performance. The forecasted values will support decision-making for microgrid operations, enabling optimal energy distribution, storage, and load balancing, which will improve energy efficiency,
reduce operational costs, and enhance system resilience. By the end of the internship, the intern will gain valuable experience in data analysis, forecasting methods, and their application in the
evolving field of smart energy systems.
WebAssembly is a widely used virtual machine, now supported by all major Web browsers. WebAssembly's official standards body maintains a large corpus of tests, used to ensure the
conformance of its major implementations, including those in Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. However, these tests are written in a bespoke, undocumented test format called "WAST". This project
would aim to properly
Formalising the definition of the WebAssembly
82 CCDS CCDS Conrad Watt [email protected] document and formally model this WebAssembly test format, including the behaviour of ambitious concurrent extensions to WAST which are currently in discussion. Since other parts of the
test format
WebAssembly language are already formally specified, this will bring the WAST format up to the same standard. The project member will become familiar with the basics of the WebAssembly
semantics and its approach to formal specification, the existing state of the WebAssembly test suite and the WAST format, and will work with members of the WebAssembly standards
community to formally specify WAST in an idiomatic way.
Plant cells accumulate oil in the form of triacylglycerol (TAG) in their seeds as a main resource of carbon and energy for seedling development. Plant oils are not only essential for the human diet
but also provide renewable feedstocks for many industrial uses.

83 SBS CoS Ma Wei Gene regulation of plant oil biosynthesis* [email protected] Research in my lab focuses on mechanistic understanding of gene regulation of plant oil biosynthesis and translation of knowledge gained from our research into benefits for the agroeconomy. https://www.ntu.edu.sg/sbs/research/research-directory/ma-wei

Student will participate in the research projects in elucidating the regulatory mechanism of these essential plant oil regulators. Student will have an opportunity to learn molecular biology,
genetics, protein-protein interactions, developmental biology, and lipid biochemistry from the research work.

A combination of AI, high-throughput experiments (robotics) and high-performance simulations can be used to accelerated materials development. For inorganic crystalline materials, structure
determines property. Therefore, property-driven generative design, driven by machine learning, critically requires understanding of the structure of materials. A deep understanding of crystal
84 MSE CoE Kedar Hippalgaonkar Generative Design for Materials [email protected] structures and their symmetries is essential for accurate generative design and the student will work with a team of graduate students on this exciting new frontier. https://kedarh.wixsite.com/nanotransport

Graph signal processing techniques and Graphs are commonly used to represent entities and relationships. Graph signal processing (GSP) has emerged as a powerful tool for addressing these problems by leveraging the domain
85 EEE CoE Tay Wee Peng applications [email protected] knowledge of graphs. In this project, we investigate the development of GSP frameworks for vertices with mixed or non-traditional signals. We aim to apply our frameworks to sensor network https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/wptay/
data.
At the Institute for Digital Analytics and Science (IDMxS), we are developing an affordable smartphone-attachable diagnostic tool that can detect undetectable molecules and pathogens. One
approach is to develop a simple microscope using either a dark field or an interference-based imaging technique employing a grating based substrate. The student will deploy a simulation
package capable of calculating transmission and reflection properties of thick gratings and photonic crystal based substrates, so that imaging properties can be optimised. Key tasks will include
Grating based substrates for nanoparticle based
86 EEE CoE Matthew Foreman [email protected] coding, simulations and optimisation of grating structures using Python.
assays This project is a great opportunity for a student who is interested in optics, computational modelling and optimization algorithms. The student will gain hands-on experience with state of the art
simulation and optimisation (e.g. machine learning) techniques, and have the opportunity to contribute to the development of a new diagnostic tool that could have a significant impact on public
health.

The trillions of bacteria living in our body encode over 46 million genes, suggesting tremendous functional capacity (by contrast, the human genome has less than a thousandth of that).
Moreover, emerging evidence suggests that the gut microbiota profoundly influences host physiology and behaviour. In this project, we will investigate the fundamental biological basis of gut-
Gut-Brain Neurobiology: Microbiome, Brain and feelings, how microorganisms and chemicals in the gut signal to brain to modulate neural substrates that control physiology and behaviour. The Hwei-Ee Tan lab at NTU Lee Kong Chian School of
87 LKCMedicine LKCMedicine Tan Hwei Ee [email protected] http://tanlab.science
Behaviour Medicine employs a range of experimental techniques in mice to study the mammalian gut-brain axis including sequencing, metabolomics, in vitro microbiota anaerobic culture, in vivo
multiphoton neural imaging/recording, genetically-guided functional interrogation, as well as systems and behavioral neurobiology techniques.

88 PAP Div CoS Wang Xiao High pressure physics on freestanding [email protected] In this study, ultrathin membranes will be placed in a high pressure environment up to at least 20 GPa. Subsequently, their magnetic and electric properties will be studied. We expect to discover www.renshawlab.com
membranes new properties in this high pressure condition.
 GaN?s superior high-power, high-frequency performance thanks to its large critical electric field (EC) and saturation velocity (vsat), has positioned it as an excellent candidate for radar systems,
satellite communications, and electronic warfare. High-power RF devices based on GaN high-electron mobility transistors (HEMT) present a compelling departure from traditional vacuum
technologies, offering the capability to deliver kilowatts of microwave power, while remaining cost-effective and inherently modular. The performance of GaN electronics, however, is practically
limited by the constraints associated with the device structures rather than the intrinsic properties of the material. One major limit in high-frequency GaN electronics is the parasitic contact
resistance of tunneling junctions.

Electronic Metadevice is an innovative concept, in which a microstructured metal is coupled to the two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) beneath through collective subwavelength
electromagnetic interactions, eliminating the need for electron injection seen in traditional devices [1].

The main objective of this project is to implement, characterize, and model electronic metadevices in form of switches on a standard foundry process, and to explore the potential of three-
Mohammad High-performance GaN Integrated Circuits
89 EEE CoE [email protected] terminal GaN amplifiers based on electronic metadevice concept: https://sites.google.com/view/ilabntu
Samizadeh Nikoo based on Electronic Metadevices
1) Development of ultrahigh-power GaN electronic metadevice switches on UMS foundry process with operation power >10 W mm?1 with operation frequency above 200
GHz.

2) Conducting a complete experimental study on the taped-out devices to evaluate their cutoff frequency, contact resistance, power handling, switching time, and breakdown
voltage, and to benchmark these devices against classic technologies provided by the foundry, to showcase the supremacy of our new device solution.

3) Development of a model for the realized devices for the sake of future MMIC designs.

[1] Samizadeh Nikoo, M. & Matioli, E. Electronic metadevices for terahertz applications. Nature 614, 451?455 (2023).
Eukaryotic cells compartmentalize biochemical reactions and cell signaling events in membrane-bound organelles. These organelles actively communicate with each other at the membrane-
contact sites (MCSs). To facilitate this, membrane remodeling occurs at the MCSs remains unclear. Recently, I discovered an unexpected contribution of MCS to endosomal sorting. Excitingly,
How does the organelle contact site contribute these observations provide new mechanisms for the understanding of membrane dynamics at the MCSs. The PhD candidate will utilize cell biological and biochemical approaches mainly using
90 SBS CoS Sho Suzuki [email protected] https://dr.ntu.edu.sg/cris/rp/rp02382
to membrane remodeling?* yeast and mammalian cells to study how organelle contact sites contribute to membrane remodeling. Loss-of-function mutations of genes encoding the MCS resident proteins are directly linked
to neurological disorders, including Parkinson?s disease. This research program is uniquely positioned toward new mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases.

This project aims to explore how humans can remain relevant in an era increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence (AI). Our primary focus is on determining the optimal sequence for
91 ITOM Div CoB (NBS) Vivek Choudhary Human-AI collaboration [email protected] involving humans and AI in decision-making processes. We will investigate whether AI should lead with humans following, or if the reverse approach is more effective. Additionally, we'll analyze https://sites.google.com/view/vkchoudhary
how different design configurations impact overall performance. To conduct this research, we'll need to develop and implement code using either R or Python programming languages.

A novel marine bacterium has been isolated from Singapore water with the ability to change colour from white-green-red. This phenomenon is unknown and we cultivated a number of isolates,
some with stable colouration and other with the ability to change their colour and sequenced their genomes. We have also identified the red (a known antibiotic), but not the green natural
Rebecca Josephine Identifying the genetic basis of colour changing
92 SBS CoS [email protected] product. This project will use comparative genomics and bioinformatic approaches to determine: 1) are the colour variants due to genomic rearrangement, point mutation or a plasmid?; 2) does https://www.caselabntu.com/
Case in a novel bacterium*
the colour variation reflect evolution throughout the genome or only in the phenotypic genes? Should these questions be answered, further work can be undertaken to identify the green
coloured natural product and characterise the strain to describe the novel species.
This project investigates how lysosomes interact with other organelles and biomolecular condensates within macrophage cells experiencing metabolic stress. By combining advanced imaging
techniques, proteomics, and cellular assays, we aim to identify key proteins and molecular mechanisms governing these interactions. The Global Connect Fellow will play a key role in this project
Imaging Lysosome Dynamics in Stressed by leading the imaging experiments, utilizing cutting-edge microscopy to visualize and analyze lysosome-organelle interactions in real-time. They will also have the opportunity to gain experience
93 SBS CoS Claudio Bussi [email protected]
Macrophages in complementary techniques such as proteomics and molecular biology by collaborating with other lab members. This research will shed light on the role of lysosomes in cellular adaptation to
stress, with implications for understanding diseases like neurodegeneration and cancer, where metabolic dysfunction and lysosomal impairment are prominent features.

This project will focus on simulating the electron beam path inside chiral crystals at experimental conditions. The student will learn the principle of electron beam transmission and scattering
Imaging chiral crystals using sub-atomic from a quantum physics-based perspective, and apply that knowledge to understand how the electron beam travels at Angstrom length scales inside a chiral twisted crystal structure. Successful
94 MSE CoE Prashant Kumar [email protected] completion of the project will result in new knowledge about twisting of electron beams at sub-atomic levels. https://prashantksk.wixsite.com/kumar-atomic-lab/
electron probes

Implementing Computer Vision Algorithms on Computer vision and machine learning algorithms play an important role in many applications today. However, most of the existing algorithms are complex and cannot run efficiently on
95 CCDS CCDS Lam Siew Kei FPGA for Edge Computing [email protected] embedded systems that have low computing capabilities. This project aims to design embedded systems for computer vision and machine learning algorithms. The student will explore design https://siewkeilam.github.io/ei-research-group/index.html
options on an FPGA.
Large Language Models (LLMs) have become pivotal in natural language processing tasks due to their ability to generate coherent and contextually relevant text. However, one of the persistent
challenges is ensuring the factual accuracy and relevance of the information generated by these models. Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) is an emerging approach that integrates
Implementing Retrieval-Augmented external information retrieval systems with LLMs to enhance the reliability, accuracy, and relevance of the generated content.
Generation
96 CCDS CCDS Zhao Jun [email protected]
(RAG) for Enhanced Large Language Model The primary objective of this project is to develop and implement a RAG-based system that improves the performance of LLMs across various tasks. The project aims to:
Performance Increase the factual accuracy of text generated by LLMs.
Reduce the occurrence of hallucinations by grounding generated content in verified external data.
Enhance the ability of LLMs to generate content that is both contextually relevant and informative.
CakeML (https://cakeml.org/) is a formally verified compiler, i.e., it comes
with a proof that the compiler will never miscompile input programs. This
strong correctness guarantee adds a layer of trust in developing safety-
critical applications.
Implementing and Verifying a Compiler Pass
https://github.com/CakeML/cakeml/issues?q=is%3Aissue%20state%3Aop
97 CCDS CCDS Tan Yong Kiam for [email protected] This project is about developing a compiler optimization in the CakeML project.
en%20label%3A%22student%20project%22
CakeML This optimization will need to be proven correct and integrated into the
CakeML compiler. This project is suitable for students who wish to learn
compiler verification and have strong background in functional programming
and/or compiler development. Knowledge of proof assistants would be
beneficial.
This project focuses on leveraging meta-learning techniques to enhance the accuracy and adaptability of diagnostic models for skin lesion classification. Skin cancer diagnosis presents unique
challenges due to the diversity of lesion types and variations in patient demographics. Traditional machine learning approaches often struggle to generalize well across different skin conditions
and patient populations, leading to misdiagnosis and delays in treatment. Meta-learning offers a promising solution by enabling models to learn from a variety of skin lesion datasets and adapt
Improving Skin Lesion Diagnosis through Meta- quickly to new cases with minimal labeled data. In this project, we will investigate how meta-learning algorithms can improve the performance of skin lesion classification models by learning
98 EEE CoE Wang Lipo [email protected] from diverse lesion characteristics and patient demographics. Through empirical evaluation using the publicly available ISIC (International Skin Imaging Collaboration) Archive dataset, we will https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/elpwang/
Learning
assess the effectiveness of meta-learning in enhancing diagnostic accuracy and robustness, especially in scenarios with limited annotated data or rare skin conditions. By developing and
evaluating meta-learning-based skin lesion diagnostic models, this project aims to contribute to more accurate and timely detection of skin cancer, ultimately improving patient outcomes in
dermatology practice.

Fission nuclear energy is crucial for decarbonizing the global energy system due to its ability to produce reliable, carbon-free electricity. Unlike fossil fuels, nuclear fission emits no greenhouse
gases during operation, making it a key solution for achieving net-zero emissions. It provides a stable, scalable energy source to complement intermittent renewables like wind and solar.

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are transforming the nuclear energy landscape by addressing challenges of traditional large reactors. SMRs are more cost-effective, faster to deploy, and safer
due to their modular construction and passive safety features. Their smaller size and standardized design make them ideal for remote areas and regions with limited grid infrastructure.
Additionally, SMRs can adapt to fluctuating renewable energy output, enhancing grid stability.
Yi-Sheng (Eason) Improving material safety in small modular
99 MSE CoE [email protected]
Chen nuclear reactors
However, the adoption of nuclear energy and SMRs faces materials engineering challenges. Reactor materials must endure high temperatures, radiation, and corrosive environments over
decades. Innovations in advanced alloys, ceramics, and coatings are essential to prevent radiation-induced damage, embrittlement, and corrosion. Real-time monitoring and predictive modeling
further enhance safety.

By addressing these challenges, nuclear fission, including SMRs, can play a critical role in achieving a sustainable, low-carbon future, offering reliable, emissions-free energy to meet global
climate goals.
 The increasing demand for food and valuable biocompounds has triggered the search for novel and sustainable resources. Microalgae are a promising source of sustainable high-value nutrients.
Microalgae requires mainly water, nutrients and light at suitable intensity and wavelength to support its growth. The effect of different light plays a significant role in microalgal cultures and one
Influence of light sources and wavelengths on challenge is to observe how different light source can enhance or limit their photosynthetic efficiency and productivity. In this project, we will investigate the use of different light sources at
100 CCEB CoS Chew Kit Wayne [email protected] different wavelengths to evaluate the growth and composition of microalgae culture. The photosynthetic efficiency of microalgae at different wavelength and light type used will be measured to https://dr.ntu.edu.sg/cris/rp/rp02121
the growth of microalgae*
understand how changes in lighting can affect the growth and accumulation of functional compounds within the cells. The project will contribute to the development of a more sustainable
approach by using microalgae and its light-absorbing mechanism to naturally utilize CO2.

At the Institute for Digital Analytics and Science (IDMxS), we are developing diagnostic tools that can detect molecules and pathogens at very low abundance. So doing can enable early disease
detection and facilitate better healthcare outcomes. Central to our approach is to use a digital paradigm, where instead of making bulk measurements of a patient?s sample, we count individual
pathogens. The student will prove the superiority of our approach from a fundamental point of view. Employing concepts from information theory, the student will quantify improvements
Information theory of digital nanoparticle
101 EEE CoE Matthew Foreman [email protected] achievable in the digital diagnostic paradigm. Key tasks will include mathematical analysis of underlying detection statistics, and Monte Carlo simulations in Python.
diagnostic assays This project is a great opportunity for a student who is interested in mathematics and informatics. The student will gain experience with a variety of statistical techniques, and they will have the
opportunity to contribute to the development and optimisation of new diagnostic tools that could have a significant impact on public health.

In this project, we focus on the integration of computer vision outputs with large language models to enhance feedback mechanisms in educational settings. Imagine using advanced computer
Integration of Computer Vision Outputs with vision techniques to analyze student actions and behaviors, and then leveraging powerful language models to provide insightful feedback to both students and teachers. This innovative
102 NSSE NSSE Edwin Chng Large Language Models for Feedback in [email protected] approach aims to personalize learning experiences, improve teaching strategies, and ultimately foster a more effective and engaging classroom environment. If you?re eager to make a tangible https://dr.ntu.edu.sg/cris/rp/rp02467
Educational Settings impact on the future of education and want to be at the forefront of AI-driven innovation, we invite you to apply. For more information and to apply, please send your resume and a brief
statement of interest (no more than a few sentences) to [email protected].
THIS PROJECT IS FOR A THREE-MONTH INTERNSHIP.

Cutaneous wound healing involves tightly regulated phases: inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling. In chronic wound infections, progression from the inflammatory to proliferative phase is
disrupted. Recent findings from the Kline-Thibault labs suggest that the unfolded protein response (UPR) plays a role in this impairment, triggered by wound-associated microbes like E. faecalis.
Investigating host-pathogen interactions We screened an E. faecalis transposon mutant library using a fibroblast reporter cell line, identifying 457 mutants with defects in UPR activation, primarily in carbohydrate metabolism, amino
103 SBS CoS Guillaume Thibault underlying UPR induction by E. Faecalis in [email protected] acid metabolism, and cell wall synthesis. www.thibaultlab.com
epithelial cells*
This project seeks an undergraduate intern to assist in verifying a subset of UPR-defective mutants in human keratinocytes, determining if they maintain their phenotype across species and cell
lineages. Additionally, the project will explore how pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs) contribute to UPR activation. The intern will screen UPR-defective mutants against HEK-Blue cells
expressing different PRRs to assess the link between PRR and UPR activation. siRNA inhibition of PRR pathways in keratinocytes will further clarify this relationship, potentially offering
alternative strategies to modulate UPR during wound healing.
Wireless charging has the potential to impact various industries, such as consumer electronics, automotive, healthcare, industrial automation, and smart infrastructure. This project aims to
develop a novel approach to the magnetic core design for wireless charging inspired by the versatility of LEGO. The idea is to explore the applicability of LEGO's modular design philosophy to
LEGO-Inspired Machine Learning Assisted create customizable magnetic cores, which are expected to provide improved energy transfer efficiency and power density for inductive wireless charging systems. The project will involve in-
104 EEE CoE Tang Yi [email protected] depth research into magnetic field modelling techniques, new machine learning based magnetic core design methodologies, and the development of a prototype incorporating these concepts.
Magnetic Core Design for Wireless Charging
Verification of the prototype performance will be conducted through testing and comparison with existing solutions. By leveraging the LEGO concept, it is expected to achieve improved energy
efficiency and power density while reducing leakage flux and system costs.

Medical imaging data analysis is critical for the detection and management of diseases. It is however a tedious and time-consuming process that demands high levels of expertise from clinicians.
The research project introduces an innovative deep learning model leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs), specifically utilizing the capabilities of the MedClip. (Contrastive Language?Image
LLMs for the Analysis of Medical Imaging Pretraining) model to automate the analysis of medical scans. This model is adept at comprehending visual information and associating images with relevant textual data, enhancing
105 LKCMedicine LKCMedicine Yeo Si Yong [email protected] https://medvisailab.github.io/research/
Dataset interpretative accuracy. This work will involve models in areas such as region segmentation, image understanding, and text generation. This research will significantly alleviate the burden on
radiologists by automatic analysis of radiology data and reducing the costs associated with training large numbers of specialists in this field.

With the advance of artificial intelligence (AI), the emergence of Google Gemini and OpenAI Q* marks the direction towards artificial general intelligence (AGI). To implement AGI, the concept
of interactive AI (IAI) has been introduced, which can interactively understand and respond not only to human user input but also to dynamic system and network conditions. In this project, we
Large Language Models (LLMs) for Next explore an integration of Large Language Model (LLM) based IAI in networking. We will investigate the use of LLMs in enhancing network functionality, improving user experience, and
106 CCDS CCDS Dusit Niyato [email protected] https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/dniyato/
Generation Network Design promoting efficient network management. We will also propose LLM-based network optimization framework, which consists of environment, perception, action, and brain units. We also design
the pluggable large language model (LLM) module and retrieval augmented generation (RAG) module to build the knowledge base and contextual memory for decision-making in the brain unit.

Learning from Nature: Experimental analysis of There is huge effort continuously to learn from nature. Mimosa pudica is a very common plant found in many Southeast Asia countries, including Singapore, and is best known for its responsive
mechanical stimulation to the plant (Mimosa behaviour towards mechanical stimulation by touching its leaves. Therefore, the aim of this project is to grasp a better understanding of this unique plant by studying its response to mechanical https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S15675394193076
107 MAE CoE Li Hua [email protected]
pudica) movement stimulation and its responsive behaviour via experimental work and data analysis. The project will include the following areas: (1) literature survey; (2) data analysis of experimental work done 62
by others previously; (3) supplement experiment, if necessary.
Large AI models trained on vast amounts of data have shown promise of adaptability to small specialized tasks. New types of 'small' data generated from bioengineering research and emerging
Leveraging foundation AI models for technologies may also be interpretable by such foundation models, which could accelerate their pathway towards commercialization and adoption. The student will study modern fine tuning AI
108 CCEB CoS Liang Kaicheng [email protected]
interpreting small data from new technologies techniques on state of the art foundation models, and explore their relevance and translatability to new biomedical datasets. Note: medium-high proficiency and confidence in Python coding is
expected, and familiarity with machine learning fundamentals is preferred.
The selected candidate will participate in a project investigating how Singapore youths leverage social media in the search for peer support, coping strategies, and other methods for self-
expression and self-care in a world characterized by the increased entanglement of social media use and socioemotional health. There has been increased awareness of socioemotional distress
and the need to develop social support mechanisms in the wake of Covid-19. Social media are chosen as the context for the study because of their centrality in young people?s everyday lives,
and because they exemplify the significance of trend-based networked cultures, many of which function separate from, if not in resistance toward, what some young people see as conservative
or frightening healthcare institutions, cultures, and practices.
James Patrick Leveraging social media to face socioemotional The project focuses on contemporary social and cultural practices facilitated through social media platforms such as Reddit, and Instagram. The selected candidate will work on collecting,
109 SO HASS [email protected] analyzing, and reporting data that identify the prevalent socioemotional health issues that youths in Singapore face today, as visible in social media content. Further, they will seek to
Williams challenges
understand how social media platforms afford help-seeking and/or help-giving practices. The research is grounded in the fields of symbolic interactionism and cultural sociology. Rather than
rely on preexisting psychological profiles or a priori sets of socioemotional conditions, the project is mapping the lived, empirical reality of young people?s socioemotional wellbeing as
expressed in social media content. The research project is framed within a naturalistic methodology, but the student may leverage both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis
techniques to investigate the types of problems that young people commonly express, the types of solutions or ameliorative outcomes they seek, and the types of communicative/interactive
practices in which they engage on social media platforms.

Recently, Ng et al. (2020) proposed a comprehensive framework to redefine world class education/successful education and future-ready learner outcomes. The framework consists of four
dimensions. The first dimension is the three specific purposes of education articulated as development of learners for: learning, living, and lifework (Ng & Wong, 2020). The second dimension is
the importance of time continuum emphasizing that future readiness involves understanding history, meeting current knowledge standards, and preparing for future needs. The third focuses
on the contextual factors, including economic, social, and environmental considerations, which provide a backdrop for defining and understanding the specifics for the educational purposes
MULTI-DIMENSIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR described in the first two dimensions. The fourth dimension, considered the most critical, involves practical applications such as leadership and management practices, teaching and learning
110 AQ AQ David Ng Foo Seong DEFINING FUTURE-READY LEARNING [email protected] methodologies, community engagement, and research and inquiry activities. This multi-dimensional framework aims to ensure that Singaporean students are holistically prepared for future
OUTCOMES challenges.
Ng et al. (2020) redefined the word class education, stating that ?A successful education system is able to develop future-ready individuals who will continue to learn beyond graduation, take
on future lifework, and thrive in a changing society and environment.? The definition will need supporting evidence from each of the four dimensions. The project?s operational aim is to define
future-ready outcomes based on alignment and integration of the four dimensions.

In this project, students will use LLM techniques to solve database system problems, such as index selection, data integration, generating data dictionary, NLP2SQL, etc.

Requirements: This is a research project, and suitable for students who are interested in doing research, and are willing to take up challenges. You will need to read research papers and develop
111 CCDS CCDS Cong Gao Machine Learning and LLM for Databases [email protected] new solution. It is necessary to be familiar with a programming language. You are also expected to commit time for the project. https://mlxdb.github.io/

?It is necessary to be familiar with a programming language.

?Some background on database and machine learning will be helpful
 This project explores the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in predicting and optimizing steel properties during production. Steel's properties?such as strength, ductility, and
toughness?are influenced by numerous factors, including composition, temperature, and processing techniques. Traditional methods of predicting these properties can be time-consuming and
complex.

Yi-Sheng (Eason) In this project, you will apply machine learning algorithms to vast datasets from steel production, identifying patterns and correlations that influence final material properties. By accounting for https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-651X/ad6fc0
112 MSE CoE Machine learning in materials industry [email protected]
Chen key parameters like chemical composition and processing conditions, you will participate in the development of predictive models that can accurately forecast steel properties, leading to more
efficient and cost-effective production processes.

This interdisciplinary project offers a unique opportunity to blend materials science with data science, equipping you with cutting-edge skills applicable to the future of industrial innovation.

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are often referred to as "black-box" models because their inner workings can be difficult to interpret and understand. This lack of interpretability can be a
significant limitation, especially in critical applications where explanations of decisions are essential, such as medical diagnoses or legal contexts. Making CNNs more interpretable is an ongoing
Making Artificial Intelligence More research area, and several techniques have been proposed to address this challenge. The student should (1) carry out a literature survey on existing work on the topic, (2) either download an
113 EEE CoE Wang Lipo [email protected] https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/elpwang/
Interpretable existing program or code a new program for an existing approach, and (3) attempt to improve the results by modifying the existing algorithm and/or combining existing algorithms.

This research project involves mapping the evolution of the historical drug trade in China by linking historical GIS to ancient texts, and thence using existing online drug name synonymy tools, to
Michael Stanley- Mapping the History of Chinese Materia modern biodiversity and biochemistry data. This will link the geography and names from the historical tradition to the modern marketplace and future medical agriculture, as well as defend
114 HIS HASS [email protected] https://www.polyglotasianmedicine.com/links
Baker Medica to Modern Ecologies against potential harm to the world drug supply from climate change. Project foundation is well-established, as can be seen in the associated link.

My area of research focus is philosophy of mind, and I?m particularly interested in supporting projects from students on topics in the philosophy of memory.
Memory is a fundamental cognitive faculty. Without it, a creature would be unable to learn from its past and unable to reliably anticipate its future. The pertinence of memory for big
questions concerning personal identity, knowledge, or moral responsibility indicate its importance. It is crucial for us to have a full understanding of memory, its role, and its relation to faculties
such as imagination, an understanding grounded in psychology but which is also philosophically sensitive. And yet it is only in the last decade or so that memory has become a sustained focus
for analytic philosophy in the way that perception or language have long been. So the philosophy of memory is quickly becoming an active and exciting area of inquiry.
In my own current work I am especially interested in (i) the relationship between memory and reference, and (ii) memory errors. Episodic memory is a system that enables us to consciously
`relive? specific events from our personal past. For example, one might remember making coffee this morning and sensorily recall what it was like to hear the kettle reach a boil or to smell the
coffee grounds. Success in such cases will require two things. First, something must `fix? or determine that one?s memory is about that particular event, rather than, say, a similar event the
Memory successes and memory errors: A new
115 PL HASS James Openshaw [email protected] previous day. Second, one?s memory must be suitably accurate. Though these observations are simple, what we might call the reference-fixing and accuracy conditions of remembering remain www.jamesopenshaw.com
philosophical framework
obscure. Existing theories face major challenges. The thriving work on memory in philosophy and the sciences requires new approaches to these issues. In part, this is because memory systems,
like all systems, can break down or malfunction, and do so in revealing ways.
Confabulation is a symptom of various neuropathologies in which the patient reports having a memory of an event which did not occur (or occurred at a different stage in their life). A full
picture of memory requires us to understand memory systems not only when they properly function but also when they fail. And, while philosophers have largely assumed that confabulations
are defective, there are reasons to think the story is more complicated, and that confabulations can, along some dimensions, be successful or adaptive. For instance, they may refer to genuine
events or places in the patient?s past, although the events or places are mischaracterised. If so, we will need either a new theory of reference or a new theory of confabulation, for existing
theories predict that the two phenomena should be incompatible.
I would be very happy to work with students interested in philosophical questions concerning memory, reference, imagination, confabulation, and related phenomena.

This research aims to provide a comprehensive meta-analysis of vulnerabilities and attack vectors in machine learning (ML) models, with a particular emphasis on the role of explainable AI (XAI)
in enhancing or compromising security. As ML systems are increasingly deployed in critical applications, understanding their security risks is of paramount importance. While numerous studies
have explored specific attacks such as adversarial examples, data poisoning, and model inversion, there remains a need for a unified analysis that identifies patterns across different attack types
and defense mechanisms. Additionally, the impact of model explainability on security remains a contentious topic; some argue it could expose models to new risks, while others believe it
enhances transparency and helps detect attacks.
Research Objectives:
Meta-Analysis of Vulnerabilities, Attack
1.Meta-Analysis of Vulnerabilities and Attack Vectors: This will involve analyzing trends, identifying commonalities and differences across attack types, and evaluating the effectiveness of
Vectors,
116 EEE CoE Chang Chip Hong [email protected] various defense mechanisms.
and the Role of Explainability in Machine
2.Impact of Explainability on Security: To investigate how explainability affects ML security by surveying the literature and conducting experiments. This aspect will explore whether explainable
Learning Security
AI methods introduce new vulnerabilities or help in defending against attacks.
3.Supporting Analysis of Defense Mechanisms and Privacy-Preserving Techniques: To provide a supplementary review of defense strategies against adversarial attacks and privacy-preserving
methods, highlighting their effectiveness and limitations.
Expected Contribution:
This study will provide a holistic view of the current state of ML security, revealing under-explored vulnerabilities and proposing a roadmap for future research that balances the trade-offs
between explainability and security.

This project delves into the innovative application of meta-learning in few-shot object detection. Traditional object detection algorithms typically require large annotated datasets for training,
limiting their applicability in scenarios where labeled data is scarce or costly to acquire. Meta-learning offers a promising solution by enabling models to generalize from a few examples and
adapt quickly to new object classes with minimal training data. In this project, we aim to investigate the effectiveness of meta-learning techniques in enhancing the performance of few-shot
117 EEE CoE Wang Lipo Meta-Learning for Few-Shot Object Detection [email protected] object detection systems. The student will explore one or two meta-learning approaches tailored to the unique challenges of few-shot learning in object detection. By developing and evaluating https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/elpwang/
meta-learning-based object detection models, this project seeks to provide insights into the practical benefits and limitations of applying meta-learning in this domain.

Metal complexes supported by unusual boron Complexes consist of metal and ligands, and the nature of the metal complexes highly relies on the property of the ligands. Recently, we have developed an entirely new ligand system based on
118 CCEB CoS Rei Kinjo cluster ligands [email protected] boron cluster. By incorporating metal onto the ligands, in this project, we will develop a series of unprecedented metal complexes and investigate their catalytic activity. https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/rkinjo/publication.html

This research investigates a novel approach to recycling metallic lithium from spent lithium-ion batteries using a selective lithium-ion conducting membrane. The project aims to develop a
Metallic Lithium Recycling from Spent specialized membrane that selectively allows lithium ions to pass through while blocking other contaminants, enabling the efficient recovery of high-purity metallic lithium. By optimizing this
Lithiumion Batteries via Selective Lithium-ion membrane-based process, the research seeks to address the growing need for sustainable battery recycling methods, reduce environmental impact, and promote the circular economy in lithium- https://www.edisonangsg.com/
119 NSSE NSSE Edison Ang Huixiang [email protected]
Conducting ion battery technology. This innovative technique could significantly improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of lithium recovery from spent batteries.
Membrane

Vibrio cholerae has a complex life history where it can move from marine to fresh water sources, and opportunistically infect humans. Much of its life is spent associated to particles in marine
environments and it is known to attach to chitin, a common polymer in marine invertebrates. V. cholerae is found associated with microalgae and this association is poorly understood. We
Rebecca Josephine Microalgae as a marine resovoir for Vibrio hypothesis that V. cholerae is associated with a specific group of microalgae, diatoms, in which some species are known to have chitin in their outer surface. This project aims test if V. cholerae
120 SBS CoS [email protected] https://www.caselabntu.com/
Case cholerae* can specifically associate with microalgae with chitin compared to those without chitin. This will be done in our co-culturing system we have developed. In addition, you will have the opportunity
to explore mutants deficient in attachment and chemotaxis to chitin and use microscopy to identify changes in host colonisation associated with localisation to chitin.

This project focuses on designing and optimizing the microstructures of metallic alloys to enhance their performance and sustainability. By understanding and manipulating the microstructure at
the microscopic level, we can develop materials with improved properties such as strength, durability, and corrosion resistance, which are crucial for sustainable engineering applications.

Yi-Sheng (Eason) Microstructural engineering for sustainable As a participant in this project, you will have the opportunity to use advanced microscopy techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), to characterize and analyze the
121 MSE CoE [email protected] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmatsci.2022.100947
Chen metallic materials microstructures of various alloys. You?ll explore how different processing techniques influence these structures and, consequently, the material's overall performance.

This hands-on experience in cutting-edge materials science will give you valuable insights into how metals behave and how we can engineer them for future applications, contributing to a more
sustainable and innovative world.

The rapid advancement of large language models (LLMs) has revolutionized various fields, including biomedical research. However, these models often generate information that is not factually
accurate or "hallucinations," posing significant risks in critical domains such as healthcare and biomedical research. This project aims to develop innovative techniques to detect and mitigate
Mitigating Hallucination in Large Language hallucination in LLMs, enhancing their reliability and trustworthiness in the biomedical domain.
122 CCDS CCDS Chan Guo Wei Alvin [email protected] https://www.alvinchan.io/
Models for Medical Research
This project addresses a critical challenge in the application of LLMs to biomedical research. By developing robust methods to mitigate hallucination, it aims to enhance the utility and safety of
AIgenerated content, ultimately contributing to more reliable and effective biomedical research and healthcare solutions.
 The mechanical and structural properties of double helical DNA have been successfully described by models with varying levels of complexity and coarse-graining schemes. In this project, we will
123 PAP Div CoS Yong Ee Hou Monte Carlo simulations of DNA [email protected] work on a discrete elastic model of the DNA to understand the interplay between base pair interactions and the bending and twisting of the DNA. We will perform Monte Carlo simulations to https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/eehou/
understand equilibrium structure and shape.

Large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT have shown remarkable performance for tasks based on human language. However, relatively few work has been done on using these powerful AI
models for the development of medicine. This research will focus on the development of an LLM-based model that represents a novel approach in the field of drug discovery. The implications of
Multi-Modal Large Language Model for Drug this research are profound, offering the potential to revolutionize the way drug formulations are discovered and optimized. By leveraging the power of deep learning to understand and model
124 CCDS CCDS Chan Guo Wei Alvin [email protected] the multi-faceted nature of drug formulations, we can accelerate the pace of discovery and enhance the precision of drug development processes. This, in turn, could lead to the creation of more https://www.alvinchan.io/
Development
effective and targeted therapies, ultimately translating to improved clinical outcomes.

Multimodal Deep Learning Model for Medical This project aims to develop a state-of-the-art multimodal deep learning model that leverages multiple data modalities to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The
125 LKCMedicine LKCMedicine Yeo Si Yong Dataset. [email protected] model will include data from different scan modality, along with medical report to create a comprehensive, patient-centered analysis tool. The incorporation of the diverse data can provide a
more detailed and accurate assessment of health, supporting clinicians in making more informed decisions.
Supervisors: Atul Parikh and Peter Torok

At the Institute for Digital Analytics and Science (IDMxS), we are developing accessible diagnostic tools aimed to detect small molecules and pathogens. Our approach is to develop and test
simple microscopes based on darkfield microscopy and interferometric scattering microscopy. Leveraging nanoparticle-based assays, wherein DNA probe molecules are conjugated onto various
types of nanoparticles, we will trigger particle clustering in the presence of target molecules. By changing their material composition, shape, and size, we can mix distinct nanoparticles in solution
and then distinguish them by type using image analysis. By programming these different nanoparticle types to detect separate target pathogens, e.g. covid and flu, the aim is to accurately detect
Multiplexed nanoparticle imaging for disease the presence of multiple targets and estimate their concentration by capturing a single image.
126 PO PO Peter Torok [email protected] The student?s role involves contributing to the development of conjugation protocols for DNA and various types of nanoparticles, using standard wet chemistry techniques. Once these protocols
diagnostics
are established, images will be captured of nanoparticle samples?both with and without target molecules?at different concentrations using a home-built optical microscope setup. The student
will run the acquisition of thousands of images crucial for analysis purposes, primarily using the Python programming language. By applying simple machine learning algorithms, quantitative
methods to differentiate target molecule concentrations will be developed.
The project would expose the student to (1) interdisciplinary research combining tools and techniques from across physical, biological, and data sciences and engineering; (2) collaborative
environment, involving working in small and large teams; and (3) a societally-led problem of global significance and import.
By achieving these objectives, we aim to develop a cost-effective multiplexed diagnostic tool capable of paving the way for at-home disease diagnosis.

Multiview endoscopic microscopy for tumour In complex surgeries such as the brain, mapping of the tumour field is critical, especially in real-time while the resection is ongoing. However, mapping is usually done based on pre-operative
127 CCEB CoS Liang Kaicheng resection guidance [email protected] scans, and there are very limited options for real-time imaging. Endoscopic microscopy is a promising approach to obtain live multi-perspective views. The student will work on optical and
mechanical designs involving fibre optics and miniature lenses/mirrors for multi-view endoscopic probes.
This project explores the application of nanomaterials in agriculture to enhance crop growth, improve nutrient uptake, and increase resistance to environmental stress. By leveraging the unique
properties of nanomaterials, such as high surface area, controlled release mechanisms, and improved solubility, this research aims to develop innovative solutions for sustainable farming.

Key areas of focus include:

128 NSSE NSSE Edison Ang Huixiang Nanomaterials for Crop Science [email protected] Nano-fertilizers: Enhancing nutrient efficiency and reducing environmental runoff. https://edisonangsg.com/
Nano-pesticides: Targeted pest control with minimal ecological impact.
Soil Enhancement: Improving soil health and water retention.
Plant Growth Regulation: Stimulating plant metabolism and stress tolerance.
This project contributes to the advancement of precision agriculture, promoting higher crop yields while minimizing resource waste and environmental harm.

129 PO PO Fan Hongjin Nanoporous carbon materials for energy [email protected] The research is about fabricating nanoporous carbon fiber materials and study its function in capacitive energy storage. The effect of pore size and shape will be compared to elucidate the https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/fanhj/pub.html
storage storage mechanism. The research activity includes material synthesis and electrochemistry test, both under guidance by senior members in the group.

Linear temporal logic (LTL, [1, Ch. 5]) and, more generally, ?-regular objectives are alternatives to the traditional discount sum and average reward objectives in reinforcement learning (RL, [2]),
offering the advantage of greater comprehensibility and hence explainability [3]. In prior work, we study the relationship between these objectives. Our main result is that each RL problem for ?-
regular objectives can be reduced to a limit-average reward problem in an optimality-preserving fashion, via (finite-memory) reward machines. Furthermore, we demonstrate the efficacy of this
approach by showing that optimal policies for limit-average problems can be found asymptotically by solving a sequence of discount-sum problems approximately. Consequently, our prior work
resolve an open problem of Alur et al. [3]: optimal policies for LTL and ?-regular objectives can be learned asymptotically.

The purpose of the proposed Global Connect Fellowship project is to conduct an empirical evaluation and to develop more performative learning algorithms which still come with correctness
guarantees. A first milestone would be the implementation of our prior work and to demonstrate that competitors (such as [4]) may fail to find optimal policies. Thereafter, there are various
avenues which can be explored:
? Guide learning by suitably designed reward shaping [5].
? Develop more practical algorithms for limit-average rewards.
? Identify fragments of LTL or assumptions for which more refined approaches are applicable without sacrificing
New Omega-Regular Objectives for optimality. ? Study extensions of the RL framework such as partially-observable MDPs [6] or multi-task environments
130 PO PO Ong Chih-Hao Luke [email protected]
Reinforcement Learning [7].

The ideal candidate has a strong background in the theory and practice of reinforcement learning, as well as the foundations of automata theory.

References:
[1] Christel Baier and Joost-Pieter Katoen. Principles of Model Checking. 2008.
[2] Richard S. Sutton and Andrew G. Barto. Reinforcement Learning: An Introduction. 2018.
[3] Rajeev Alur, Suguman Bansal, Osbert Bastani, and Kishor Jothimurugan. A framework for transforming specifications in reinforcement learning. 2022 [4] Cameron Voloshin,
Abhinav Verma, Yisong Yue: Eventual Discounting Temporal Logic Counterfactual Experience Replay. ICML 2023.
[5] Andrew Y. Ng, Daishi Harada, Stuart Russell: Policy Invariance Under Reward Transformations: Theory and Application to Reward Shaping. ICML 1999
[6] M.T.J. Spaan. Partially Observable Markov Decision Processes. In: Wiering, M., van Otterlo, M. (eds) Reinforcement Learning. Adaptation, Learning, and
Optimization. 2012 [7] Rich Caruana. Multitask learning. Machine Learning. 1997.

Synthetic organic chemistry has the ability to enhance the value of simple materials. Through the development of precise chemical reactions, commodity chemicals can be transformed to
medicines, agrochemicals, and other substances which improve human life. This is the power of organic synthesis.

Phillip Stephen New chemical rearrangements with The building blocks of organic synthesis are predominantly derived from the petrochemical industry, originating from benzene and other hydrocarbons. While the transformation of fossil fuels to
131 CCEB CoS [email protected] a lifechanging medicine is an incredible achievement, dependence on non-renewable resources is a major issue. The challenge facing organic synthesis today is the sustainable production of https://www.grant-lab.org/
Grant applications in drug discovery*
valuable chemicals.

This project involves the development of new chemical rearrangements which aim to improve the efficiency and sustainability of organic synthesis. Come to NTU and get involved!

132 EEE CoE Mohammad New high-perfromance radiofrequency [email protected] here is a continuous drive to enhance the operation frequency and power handling of electronics. Numerous applications, ranging from telecommunications and medical diagnosis to aerospace https://sites.google.com/view/ilabntu
Samizadeh Nikoo switches based on micro-electromechanical and defense rely on advanced electronic technologies. The overall performance of electronic chips is ultimately limited by the characteristics of its device building blocks, and as a result,
systems (MEMS) development of new electronic devices can provide upstream solutions to boost the performance of electronics systems. The main aim of this research proposal is to demonstrate a new type of
electronic devices (namely mesoscale devices) based on Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) technology, which can significantly extend the state-of-the-art in terms of power capability
and operation frequency.

The specific aims are as follows:

1) Design and Multiphysics Finite Element Method (FEM) simulation of mesoscale microwave, mm-wave, and terahertz switches.

2) Optimization of the parameters based on the simulations and to design the device layout.

3) Fabrication of mesoscale MEMS switches and experimental characterization based on time-domain and frequency-domain techniques.
 4) Showcasing the technological potential by integration of mesoscale MEMS switches on a semiconductor platform.

Our new technology has great potentials to be used in satellite electronics, RF front-end of advanced telecommunication chips and radars.
A complex network is a system made up of interconnected nodes (entities) and edges (relationships) that exhibit non-trivial patterns of connection, often displaying features not found in simple
networks like lattices or random graphs, and are used to model real-world systems like social networks, biological pathways, or the internet, where interactions between components are
133 PAP Div CoS Yong Ee Hou Nonlinear dynamics of Complex Network [email protected] https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/eehou/
intricate and not easily predictable. In this project, we will study how to model nonlinear dynamics on different complex networks (e.g., random, scale free, etc) and see how they can be used to
model social systems.
134 PO PO Lydia Helena Wong Novel materials for solar cell application [email protected] This project will look into discovery, synthesis and characterization of new materials for solar cell applications. https://www3.ntu.edu.sg/home/LydiaWong/index.html
Applicants should have background in Materials, Chemistry, Physics or Engineering

Olfaction, the sense of smell, is critical for the survival of many animal species. It is a key physiological process that allows for the detection and discrimination of volatile airborne molecules.
Insects use the sense of smell to find food, avoid predators and noxious agents, to find appropriate mating partners, and to find hosts for completing life cycles. There is continued global health
interest in finding effective methods to control insects that harbour infectious agents including mosquitoes, ticks, and flies. The olfactory system has evolved over 500 million years, resulting in
evolutionarily distinct chemosensory olfactory receptors (ORs) in insects compared to vertebrates. These receptors sense odorants or pheromones as a chemical signal and convert it into an
Optimize the expression, purification and
electrical signal. The insect olfactory system is comprised of a diverse odorant specific OR subunit and a highly conserved olfactory co-receptor (Orco) subunit in an unknown stoichiometry. The
reconstitution of Olfactory receptor (Orco)
135 SBS CoS Sandip Basak [email protected] Orco subunit is conserved across insect species and has been implicated in trafficking and/or membrane localization of conventional OR subunits. Interestingly, when heterologously expressed,
from
Orco alone can form a cyclic nucleotide activated ion channel without the odorant selective OR. The initial focus of this work will involve a structural and functional description of an olfactory
Drosophila in lipidic nanodisc*
receptor complex from the model organism Drosophila melanogaster. The D. melanogaster olfactory system is simpler and the sequence similarity between the D. melanogaster Orco and the
mosquito Orco is greater than 70% implying similar architectures. The main goal of this project is to optimize the expression of the Drosophila Orco receptor. The expressed protein will then be
used for purification to get a stable homogeneous sample.
Beside that the aim will be to reconstitute Orco protein in native-like lipidic nanodisc to get information about the conformational changes during the receptor activation.

The maritime industry is under increasing pressure to reduce its carbon footprint and improve energy efficiency in response to environmental regulations and sustainability goals. This project
aims to explore innovative solutions for energy management and optimization on vessels by investigating alternative energy sources such as LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas), hydrogen, biofuels, and
ammonia. The research will focus on two key aspects:
1. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): A comprehensive environmental impact assessment of alternative energy sources, from resource extraction and production to operational use
Optimizing Energy Efficiency in Maritime
and disposal. This analysis will help identify the most sustainable options based on greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, and waste generation throughout the energy's life cycle.
Operations: Life Cycle Assessment and
2. Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA): A detailed evaluation of the economic feasibility of alternative fuels, considering factors such as capital costs, fuel availability,
136 CEE CoE Yan Ran TechnoEconomic Analysis of Alternative Fuels [email protected]
infrastructure requirements, and operational costs. The study will assess the trade-offs between economic performance and environmental impact to determine viable solutions for commercial
for
implementation.
Sustainable Shipping
The project will involve data collection from industry reports, scientific literature, and case studies of vessels that have implemented alternative energy solutions. Students will use software tools
to model energy systems and perform LCA and TEA analyses.
By the end of the project, participants will develop a framework for energy optimization strategies that balance environmental and economic considerations. The findings will contribute to the
growing body of research on sustainable shipping and provide actionable recommendations for improving energy management practices in the maritime sector.

One key goal of education is to equip students with durable and transferable knowledge and skills to solve problems they encounter in different contexts across their lifetimes. Often, novice
learners would learn an example source problem and a solution to the problem from a worked example (i.e., given a problem statement, solution steps with underlying principles, and the final
answer) after an initial instruction), and then apply the same or a modified solution to analogous target problems posed in novel contexts through retrieval or problem-solving practice (i.e.,
retrieving the learned procedures and underlying principles from memory). This is commonly referred to as analogical problem-solving or problem-solving by analogy (Gick & Holyoak, 1983; Gray
Optimizing Memory and Transfer in Self-
137 PS HASS Darren Yeo [email protected] & Holyoak, 2021). Research efforts have focused on improving analogical problem-solving with problems in the mathematical (e.g., Huang et al., 2023; Novick & Holyoak, 1991; van Gog et al.,
Regulated Learning of Problem Solving
2015; Yeo & Fazio, 2019) and nonmathematical domains (e.g., Corral et al., 2023; Gick & Holyoak, 1983; Hostetter et al., 2019; Peterson & Wissman, 2018). The effectiveness of different studying
strategies for various types of problems is still being determined, as is how well students' typical study methods align with proven effective learning strategies. The findings of this research will be
used to establish evidence-based guidelines for students to enhance their learning in math and the broader field of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) using retrieval
practice and worked examples.

This research proposal aims to explore and optimize the scheduling of serverless functions to enhance both performance and cost efficiency in cloud environments. By leveraging advanced
Optimizing Serverless Function Scheduling for techniques such as adaptive scaling, resource allocation algorithms, and workload prediction, the project will identify bottlenecks in the current scheduling processes. The goal is to develop
138 CCDS CCDS Dmitrii Ustiugov [email protected] https://ustiugov.github.io/
Enhanced Performance and Cost Efficiency innovative solutions that reduce latency, improve throughput, and lower operational costs. The intern will investigate real-world serverless platforms and conduct experiments to benchmark the
proposed optimizations, contributing to more effective serverless function deployment.

139 PAP Div CoS Wang Xiao Optoelectronic devices based on [email protected] In this project, 2D layered materials will be heterogeneously integrated with other types of materials, such as oxides. Based on these structures, novel optoelectronic devices with superior www.renshawlab.com
heterogenouslyintegrated 2D materials functionality will be developed.
In 1952, Alan Turing published the reaction-diffusion (RD) mathematical framework, laying the foundations of morphogenesis as a self-organized process emerging from physicochemical first
140 PAP Div CoS Yong Ee Hou Pattern Formation in Nature [email protected] principles. In this work, we will study how to use phenomenological reaction diffusion equations to model different kinds of patterns we see in nature. We aim to follow recent work by the https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/eehou/
Milinkovitch group closely.
The performance-interpretability tradeoff (PIT) in data science and AI refers to the balance between how well a statistical/machine learning model performs, and how readily humans can
comprehend it. While `high stakes? contexts of application like finance and engineering focus on finding the optimal balance between performance and interpretability, nascent ones like
discourse analysis provide valuable opportunities to investigate the domain-specific nuances and implications of PIT. With the rise of data science and AI in the humanities, this project will
investigate the nature and characteristics of PIT in discourse research. The initial focus is on i) the (strategically) indeterminate nature of PIT, ii) PIT in time-based algorithms and discourses, and
iii) conceptual relationship(s) between PIT and `mixed-methods? discourse research, with subsequent developments based on emergent findings. Discourse datasets to be investigated include
Performance-interpretability tradeoff in psychological counseling, social media, academic lectures, and other relevant time-based contexts, while time-based algorithms include LSTM, ARIMA time series, and survival regression models.
141 LMS HASS Dennis Zhiming Tay [email protected]
discourse research Modeling and analytic procedures will replicate established procedures from previous relevant work, with implementation in the Python language. The results will bear important implications for
discourse research methodology, and open new pathways to theoretical PIT research in machine learning.

Feel free to contact me at [email protected] for more information!

THIS PROJECT IS FOR A THREE-MONTH INTERNSHIP

The great importance of corrugated two-dimensional (2D) perovskites as the next-generation perovskite materials cannot be overemphasized. Currently, artificial intelligence (AI)-based materials
design and discovery is widely regarded as the fourth paradigm for material science. With the milestone achievement of Materials Genome Initiative (MGI), various databanks such as Materials
Project, JARVIS, NOMAD, Aflowlib, OQMD, etc, have been built up. Together with other well-established materials databanks, they provide a solid foundation for data-driven functional prediction
Periodic-geometry-based learning models for and new material design and discovery. Even with the progress, the incorporation of materials periodicity and multiphysical information into materials representation and featurization remains
142 MAS Div CoS Xia Kelin [email protected]
corrugated 2D perovskite design and discovery to a major challenge.

In this project, we propose periodic geometry (PD)-based learning models for corrugated 2D perovskite design and discovery. Periodic-geometry-based material descriptors that are aware of
materials periodicity information and multiphysical properties are developed. Further, we propose cellular complex neural network (CCNN) models for materials design and discovery.
Mathematically, CCNNs are a generalization of graph neural networks (GNNs) and can learn not only the multiphysical higher-order interactions, but also the periodicity information of the
material structures.
This project aims to investigate the role of phase separation in plant immune signaling during plant-microbe interactions, focusing on immune regulators localized at the plasma membrane. We
hypothesize that phase separation plays a critical role in the spatial and temporal regulation of immune responses. By employing interdisciplinary approaches such as advanced single-molecule
Phase Separation in Plant Immune Signaling imaging, protein structural analysis, biochemistry, biophysics, and plant pathology, we will explore how different immune regulators undergo phase separation on the plasma membrane and
143 SBS CoS Miao Yansong [email protected] https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/yansongm
During Plant-Microbe Interactions* influence defense mechanisms. We will analyze the biophysical properties of these regulators, assess their structural dynamics, and observe their interactions with microbial factors, including
effectors etc. This study will provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying plant immunity and may identify new targets for enhancing disease resistance in crops.
 This project investigates how intracellular signaling events, including protein modifications and membrane remodeling, influence the initiation and regulation of actin remodeling?encompassing
polymerization, stabilization, and depolymerization?to support cellular activities under physiological and pathological conditions. The phase separation of different actin-binding proteins is
crucial in coordinating these signaling events, thereby dynamically regulating actin cytoskeleton dynamics. To explore this, we will use molecular cloning to construct actin-binding proteins,
Phase Separation-mediated Actin Remodeling express them, and understand how signaling events modulate these key regulators via phase separation for involvementmodeling. Protein biochemistry techniques will be used to analyze
144 SBS CoS Miao Yansong in [email protected] protein interactions and modifications that mediate phase separation. Advanced imaging methods, such as live-cell fluorescence microscopy, will be utilized to visualize the spatiotemporal https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/yansongm
Cell Signaling* dynamics of actin and signaling proteins in real-time. This study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying actin remodeling in response to rapid cellular
signaling linked to cytoskeletal regulation.

This project aims to develop and apply a cutting-edge Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) framework for modeling complex coupled-field problems in heterogeneous poroelastic media,
Physics-Informed Neural Networks for with a focus on CO2 sequestration in depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs. The study will explore the interaction between fluid flow and subsurface mechanics to predict caprock integrity and assess
145 ASE CoS Luca Dal Zilio Poroelastic Media: Enhancing CO2 [email protected] the risk of induced seismicity. By employing a novel composite neural network architecture tailored to capture the discontinuities at material interfaces, this project will offer improved accuracy www.lucadalzilio.net
Sequestration and Caprock Integrity* and reliability in simulations, advancing our understanding of CO2 storage safety and long-term containment strategies.

There is extensive research focussed on motion planning for robot manipulators. Part insertion is one such scenario that is common in both daily life and industrial settings. The contact-rich
manipulation tasks, for example, inserting USB port and socket, are complex and hence can lead to failures or damage to the manipulated object. In literature, these problems have been solved
using vision-based methods and learning-based methods. Both these methods have their own limitations. In the sole vision-based method, inaccuracy in determining the pose may lead to a
mismatched trajectory and hence a failure. In the learning-based method, extensive sampling is required to gather sufficient data. This is time-consuming and expensive. Training in a simulator
and then testing in real world doesn?t always lead to accurate results. There is extensive research in reducing this sim-to-real gap. Moreover, gathering a dataset covering all possible cases can be
Planning Robotic Contact-Rich Tasks via challenging.
146 MAE CoE Domenico Campolo [email protected] https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/d.campolo/
differentiable Physical Interaction models
For more technical details, pls refer to:
Campolo, D., & Cardin, F. (2023). Quasi-Static Mechanical Manipulation as an Optimal Process. In 2023 62nd IEEE Conference on Decision and Control (CDC) (pp. 4753-4758). IEEE
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lD_xX7ZpVtP_sHZZA6F39nAYYpcs4gnv/view

Genetic exchange helps us understand how microbes adapt, affecting their behavior and potential to cause disease. New genetic exchange mechanisms, like CRISPR systems (Jinek et al. 2012)
and bridge RNAs (Durrant et al. 2024), have transformed genome editing and engineering. Previous studies (Smillie et al. 2011; Groussin et al. 2021) focused on genome exchanges of uniform
genomic regions, assuming exchanged regions remain largely unchanged. However, bacterial genomes are highly diverse due to mutations, gene deletions, horizontal gene transfer, and
recombination. These varied regions often encode important ecological functions. Traditional methods like BLAST (Camacho et al. 2009) and multiple sequence alignment (Edgar 2004) mainly
detect changes such as point mutations and short insertions/deletions (<20bp). Our preliminary data show that genetic exchange regions can evolve to include diverse long insertions/deletions
(50-100bp), which are linked to spacer changes in CRISPR systems, a bacterial immunity mechanism. These varied regions have been overlooked in previous methods.
Predicting DNA-Protein Binding via AI to
Enhance Therefore, it is crucial to design computational methods that can detect flexible genetic exchanges allowing for heterogeneous changes. Our long-term goal is to create an AI-guided platform to
147 SBS CoS Anni Zhang [email protected]
Bacteria-Based Cancer Therapy Safety and predict emerging health risks in Singapore. The objective of this proposal is to design computational approaches to predict flexible microbial genetic exchanges and uncover new exchange
Efficacy* mechanisms. We hypothesize that flexible computational algorithms, such as x-mers and language models, can identify various genomic patterns. To achieve this, we will:

Aim #1: Develop a machine learning model to detect flexible genetic exchanges.
Aim #2: Discover new mechanisms of microbial genetic exchange.

Upon completion, we expect to have developed new computational models that can reveal under-explored mechanisms of microbial evolution, aiding in the early prediction and preparedness
for emerging health risks in Singapore.

In this project, we aim to build deep neural networks that can predict characteristics of materials from their chemical formulae or 3D lattice structures. Example characteristics include stability,
band gap (for semi-conductors), voltage and current (for solar cells), etc. We will also study the adversarial robustness of the built predictors.
Predicting Inorganic Material Characteristics
148 CCDS CCDS Li Boyang [email protected]
Using Deep Learning This project is in collaboration with world-class material scientists from NTU and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Primary science learning requires learners to interaction and explore their physical environment. Evidence has shown that unguided exploration could lead to misconceptions in their
explanations and understanding of how things work. This suggests that for learning to take place, the spontaneous concepts of learners must be guided to become legitimate and formal
Primary Science Learning: Role of Curricular
149 NSSE NSSE Tan Aik Ling [email protected] theoretical scientific concepts. Curricular resources such as textbooks, activity books, manipulatives and online materials can be used by teachers to mediate the process of transforming https://dr.ntu.edu.sg/cris/rp/rp01472
Resources in Mediating Science Learning
students' spontaneous ideas to theoretical knowledge. In the project, students will work with a team of researchers to examine how grade 3 and 4 teachers and students interact with an
integrated suite of curricular resources to learn science in classrooms in Singapore.
The development of printed, flexible and biocompatible electronics that are composed of non-toxic materials and can completely disappear in a controlled fashion after fulfilling its duty will
150 EEE CoE Leong Wei Lin Printed Electronics [email protected] enable many novel applications such as sensors for food monitoring and integrated health diagnostics. This project aims to demonstrate a flexible, printed transistor based on bioinspired https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/wlleong/
materials.

The macromolecular condensation driven by the liquid-liquid phase separation has more and more been recognized as a key principle to organize the intracellular macromolecules from
nanoscale to mesoscale for their functionality. Early studies extensively focused on understanding phase separation from the perspective of the molecules per se, exploring mechanisms such as
multivalent interactions, condensation propagation, and molecular organization. However, it remains unclear how the condensation-engaged cellular microenvironment regulates biomolecular
phase separation. Indeed, the cellular microenvironment could vary a lot depending on the cell types and development stages. In this project, genetically encoded nanoparticle- or/and chemical
Probing the cellular microenvironment for
151 SBS CoS Miao Yansong [email protected] dye-based sensors will be designed and applied to characterize the cellular microenvironment by dissecting and quantitatively analysing different physical properties of the cytoplasm
molecular condensation during plant signaling*
microenvironment including viscosity and macromolecular crowing. The condensation of several well-studied markers that undergoes phase separation either in 3D cytoplasm solution or 2D
panel of plasma membrane will then be characterized in different cell types with distinct cellular microenvironment. Furthermore, in vitro reconstitution will be conducted to recapitulate the
condensation in simple solutions that mimic different cellular physical properties. This project is proposed to understand how the cellular microenvironment regulates phase separation
condensation assembly and plant signaling.

Our cells are known to alter the organization of their nucleus during aging and cancer. However, many of the changes are on the nanometer scale and thus challenging to probe. In this project,
Probing the nanoscale nuclear organization in using designed nanochips fabricated by high-resolution lithography, we will examine the changes in the nuclear deformability and nuclear envelope organization in aging and cancer cells. The
152 CCEB CoS Zhao Wenting [email protected]
aging and cancer cells student will learn frontier topics in cancer biology, cellular aging, nuclear mechanics, and nanobiotechnology, and gain fundamental research experience related to this topic.

153 NSSE NSSE Kwek Leong Chuan Quantum Mechanics for Secondary Schools [email protected] 2025 is the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. In this project, the candidate will study possible topics on quantum theory that can be covered in a secondary school syllabus,
including hands-on activities. This project may involve collaboration with Prof. Myungshik Kim at Imperial College.

The global challenge of sustainability requires innovative solutions to optimize resource usage, reduce waste, and minimize environmental impact. Quantum optimization, leveraging the
principles of quantum computing, offers a novel approach to tackle these complex, large-scale optimization problems. This proposal aims to explore how quantum optimization can be applied to
various sustainability challenges, including energy management, supply chain optimization, and sustainable resource allocation.

Research Objectives:
Develop Quantum Optimization Algorithms: Design and implement quantum algorithms tailored to sustainability-related optimization problems, such as Quantum Approximate Optimization
154 CCDS CCDS Zhao Jun Quantum Optimization for Sustainability [email protected] Algorithm (QAOA) and Quantum Annealing.
Optimize Energy Consumption: Apply quantum optimization techniques to enhance energy efficiency in smart grids, reducing energy waste and lowering carbon emissions.

Sustainable Supply Chain Management: Use quantum algorithms to optimize supply chain operations, ensuring minimal environmental impact while maintaining cost-effectiveness.

Resource Allocation: Develop quantum optimization models for sustainable allocation of natural resources, balancing economic growth with environmental preservation.

Rainer Helmut Join our project on Quantum Sensing, where we use atom interferometry to tap into the wave-like nature of atoms. By harnessing this revolutionary method, we can create unrivaled inertial
Quantum Sensing / Matter Wave
155 SPMS CoS Dumke [email protected] navigation sensors?pushing the boundaries of modern science and engineering. This hands-on experience will deepen your understanding of quantum mechanics and open doors to the rapidly
Interferometry
expanding field of next-generation sensor technology. Don?t miss your chance to be at the forefront of tomorrow?s breakthroughs!
 Quantum state tomography (QST) is a standard process of reconstructing quantum information of an unknown quantum state through measurements of its copies. QST is used to verify state
preparation, examine state properties such as correlations, and calibrate experimental systems. In this project, the candidate will join a group working on integrated photonic chip and look into
Quantum State Tomography on an Integrated the possibility of implementing quantum state tomography on a photonic chip.
156 NSSE NSSE Kwek Leong Chuan [email protected]
Photonic Chip
Prerequisite:
A good understanding of quantum mechanics as well as good programing skills with Python

When two atomic layered materials are twisted together, they form an emergent moire pattern
that radically reconstructs their electronic bandstructure and component electronic wavefunction. Such quantum matter possess behavior more than the sum of their individual layers; for
instance, while graphene itself is non-superconducting, when two layers of graphene are twisted together, a strong superconducting state can form [1]. Similarly, while graphene does not
possess an anomalous Hall effect (often used as a signature of non-trivial geometric phase behavior), when a twisted bilayer graphene heterostructure on boron nitride quantized Hall resistance
[2].

This computational and theory project will explore how geometric phases emerge in moire quantum matter. It will concentrate specifically on how broken symmetries (e.g., broken time reversal
Justin Song Chien Quantum geometry in strongly interacting
157 PAP Div CoS [email protected] and inversion symmetry) enable pronounced values of quantum geometric quantities such as the Berry curvature, quantum metric, Berry connection polarizability that may dominate the linear https://sites.google.com/site/justincsong/home
Wen moire quantum matter*
and nonlinear transport behavior in moire quantum matter. The candidate will perform bandstructure calculations of moire matter as well as Wilson loop computations of quantum geometric
quantities. The candidate should be familiar with basic bandstructure of solids, the adiabatic theorem, as well as have an ability to code.

[1] Cao, Yuan, et al. "Unconventional superconductivity in magic-angle graphene superlattices." Nature 556.7699 (2018): 43-50.

[2] Serlin, M., et al. "Intrinsic quantized anomalous Hall effect in a moire heterostructure." Science 367.6480 (2020): 900-903.

Quantum sensing technologies operate with quantum mechanics as the basis and provide extremely high efficiency for various sensing applications. One such quantum sensing platform is based
Quantum sensing with two dimensional on quantum photo emission in semiconductors. This project aims to develop quantum sensing devices based on exciton emissions in two-dimensional semiconductor heterostructures. In this
158 EEE CoE Song Peng [email protected]
semiconductors project, students will be exposed to cutting-edge quantum sensing sciences and technologies, to gain hands-on experience fabricating state-of-the-art quantum optoelectronic devices.

Cyber-physical systems are a class of systems that combine both cyber and physical components (e.g., sensors and actuators) to monitor and control the physical world. Such systems are often
responsible for control in safety-critical applications, such as in automotive systems, and thus, impose strict timing and safety requirements. In modern cyber-physical systems, deep neural
networks (DNNs) are widely used for planning, perception, and control tasks. Specifically, to ensure a greater explainability and a more modular architecture, pipelines of DNN models are used.
These pipelines can often be divided into planning, perception, and control stages, with data dependencies between the components. Furthermore, in such a pipeline, the performance of one
Real time scheduling of deep neural networks component may impact the scheduling decisions of the subsequent components. Thus, a comprehensive scheduling framework considering performance as well as data dependencies among
159 CCDS CCDS Arvind Easwaran [email protected] https://cps-research-group.github.io
on heterogenous hardware different components of the pipeline is required. Furthermore, considering the heavy memory footprint of the contemporary DNN models, it is essential that the scheduling algorithms are aware
of the memory limitation. Additionally, contemporary computing platforms consist of heterogeneous computing units (specifically, CPUs, GPUs, and NPUs/TPUs) to execute workloads of different
characteristics efficiently; however, with corresponding challenges. Thus, we aim to study the problem of risk-aware scheduling of real-time deep neural network workloads on heterogeneous
resources, while considering the time-memory-accuracy trade-offs and satisfying the system design constraints.?

Mobile robots and autonomous vehicles need to know their position in a map during navigation. This is problem called localization. Unfortunately they cannot rely on GPS for localization in
Real-time Visual Localization System on an indoor environments or in places with tall buildings. An alternative is to use visual localization where computer vision algorithms are used to both localize the robot or vehicle, while
160 CCDS CCDS Lam Siew Kei [email protected] https://siewkeilam.github.io/ei-research-group/index.html
Embedded Platform simultaneously generating a map of the environment. The aim of this project is to develop a high-speed and light-weight algorithms for visual localization on an embedded platform.

Objective: The objective of this research is to develop a robust framework to minimize hallucinations in Neural Machine Translation (NMT) by incorporating Retrieval-Augmented Generation
(RAG) techniques. The research will explore methods to improve the accuracy and reliability of translations, particularly in low-resource languages where hallucinations are more prevalent.
Reducing Hallucinations in Neural Machine
161 CCDS CCDS Zhao Jun Translation Using Retrieval-Augmented [email protected] Collaboration with the LingoAI company: This project will be conducted in collaboration with LingoAI, leveraging their expertise in natural language processing and AI foundation models. LingoAI
Generation (RAG) will provide access to their unique platforms, enabling the integration and testing of novel RAG-based methods. Their technical and consultancy support will be crucial in addressing the real-
world challenges of NMT hallucinations, with the potential to develop new IPs and applications.

Regio and Stereoselective Functionalisation of Even though alkyl C(sp3)-H functionalization has seen significant improvements in the past few years, long chain fatty acids have yet to be investigated as starting substrates for C(sp3)-H
162 CCEB CoS Tan Choon Hong Fatty Acids* [email protected] activation reactions. Our group believes functionalization of C(sp3)-H bonds at specific positions along the alkyl chain of long chain fatty acids will generate a library of novel, unique and https://tanchoonhong.wixsite.com/tchlab/about
unnatural fatty acids which are likely to have their own unique properties and bioactivities.
This project focuses on evaluating the performance of reinforcement learning (RL) for optimizing the operation of urban microgrids. The aim is to explore advanced machine learning techniques,
specifically RL, to enhance energy efficiency and minimize operational costs in urban microgrids. The intern will develop RL algorithms using MATLAB or Python to improve decision-making in
Reinforcement Learning Algorithms for the
Sundar Raj microgrid environments, addressing challenges such as energy distribution, load balancing, and resource management. The intern will analyze various RL methods, assess their effectiveness
163 ERI@N ERI@N Operation and Management of Urban [email protected]
Thangavelu through training and testing, and identify the most suitable models for deployment, with the goal of improving the efficiency, sustainability, and resilience of urban microgrids. By the end of the
Microgrids
internship, the intern will gain hands-on experience applying advanced AI techniques to solve complex energy management problems, contributing to the development of smarter, more
sustainable urban energy systems.
Research Toward Achieving Cognitive Binocular Visual signals occupy number one position among all the signals at the input of any AI system or product. Hence, the ability of understanding the meanings from visual signals is very important
164 MAE CoE Xie Ming Vision [email protected] to the development of advanced robots and AI systems. The objective of this research project is to investigate physical principles which will enable a binocular vision system to produce http://xieming.robotics.sg/index-page-publication.html
meaningful outputs about the detailed knowledge behind a 3D scene.
Research Toward Achieving Large Knowledge AI systems are knowledge-based systems which depend on the mental abilities of acquiring and organizing knowledge derived from signals and data. In general, knowledge include both
165 MAE CoE Xie Ming Models [email protected] conceptual meanings as well as physical meanings. The objective of this research project is to investigate the design and development of large knowledge models which include the organized http://xieming.robotics.sg/index-page-publication.html
knowledge coming from both the physical world and the conceptual worlds.

Resource provisioning and scheduling for edge and cloud architecture have gained a lot of attention in the recent past both in academia and industry. This interest is primarily driven by the
enormous success of two technologies in the field of computing: 1) Artificial intelligence (AI), and 2) Internet of Things (IoT). Cloud architectures play a central enabling role for AI due to the
significant demand that this technology imposes on computation resources. Orthogonally, IoT has enabled an unprecedented decentralization and deployment of applications across application
Resource Scheduling for Deadline-Constrained domains, including several in which AI is gaining prominence. As a result, the edge and cloud hardware architecture are poised to dominate the field of computing across application domains. A
166 CCDS CCDS Arvind Easwaran [email protected] key challenge in this edge and cloud architecture is the efficient scheduling of time-critical applications while satisfying various constraints and optimization objectives. This is a research project, https://cps-research-group.github.io
Applications in Edge-Cloud Systems
which aims to address this challenge by developing decentralized and online scheduling algorithms that can provide deadline guarantees for time-sensitive applications while minimizing the
power consumption of end devices and response time of non-time-sensitive applications. These capabilities will be enabling technology for the deployment of various safety-critical and time-
sensitive applications across domains such as manufacturing, robotics, urban energy system, autonomous driving system, etc.

Cancer has been recognized as a human ailment for centuries. With the advances in medical sciences, people have revealed that Ras oncogenes are the major cause of the progression of various
cancer types. However, no effective anti-Ras pharmacological inhibitor has reached the clinic despite 30-year efforts. The major challenge for anti-Ras therapeutics attributes to the complicated
Revealing the Nanoscale Organization of biochemical interactions between Ras and other signaling players. To solve that, biophysics have pointed out a novel potential of cells to adjust their behaviors by sensing the physical signals
167 CCEB CoS Zhao Wenting [email protected]
Oncogenic Ras Protein in Cells from the
neighborhood. In this project, we aim to explore the effect of surface topography on Ras functions and cancer progression. The student will be expected to prepare and image cancer-related
proteins on nanochips in cells, as well as to practice lab techniques in nanobiotechnology and molecular biology.
This project aims to explore the effects of hydrogen exposure on various structural materials, particularly steels and other metallic alloys commonly used in critical infrastructure. Hydrogen is
known to cause embrittlement in metals, significantly reducing their mechanical strength and increasing the risk of failure in components exposed to hydrogen environments. This phenomenon
is particularly relevant in industries such as energy, transportation, and chemical processing, where hydrogen is used or produced.

Yi-Sheng (Eason) Risk assessment of structural materials In this project, you will be involved in assessing the susceptibility of different metallic materials to hydrogen embrittlement. Using advanced testing methods and analysis techniques, you will
168 MSE CoE [email protected] investigate how hydrogen affects the microstructure, mechanical properties, and overall integrity of these materials. Your work will help identify which materials are more prone to failure, and https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.04.076
Chen exposing to hydrogen
under what conditions, providing valuable insights for the safe design and maintenance of hydrogen-exposed structures.

This research offers an exciting opportunity to work at the intersection of materials science and engineering, with real-world applications that contribute to the development of safer and more
reliable infrastructure in hydrogen-related industries. Join us in making a tangible impact on the future of sustainable and secure energy solutions.
 Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) playing the role of controllers have demonstrated impressive empirical performances on challenging control problems like autonomous vehicles. However, the
potential adoption of DNN controllers in real-life applications also gives rise to a growing concern over the safety of these DNN-controlled systems, especially when used in safety-critical
applications. It is worth noting that simulation-based testings [1] cannot provide formal safety guarantees such as "no system trajectory from the initial state set will lead to an obstacle collision".
Recently, Dalrymple et al. [2] gave a high-level picture of formal AI safety, advocating AI systems that are guaranteed safe in the sense that they are equipped with a quantitative safety guarantee.

In previous work [3], we proposed a novel framework for unifying both qualitative and quantitative safety verification problems of DNN-controlled systems under perturbations. To achieve this,
we formulate the safety verification tasks as the synthesis of valid neural barrier certificates (NBCs) that can serve as proof certificates of system safety. Initially, the framework seeks to establish
almostsure safety guarantees through qualitative verification. Whenever qualitative verification fails, our quantitative verification method is invoked, yielding precise lower and upper bounds on
probabilistic safety across both infinite and finite time horizons.

Though our approaches provide formal safety guarantees (in theory) and show the effectiveness over a set of benchmarks (in practice), there are still some remaining questions to be addressed.
1.Effects of different hyperparameters.
We have lots of hyperparameters in [3], like the number k used in the k-inductive barrier certificates, and the granularity used to split the state space. Next, an interesting direction is to explore
Safety of Systems controlled by Deep Neural and discuss the effects of these hyperparameters on the final results.
169 PO PO Ong Chih-Hao Luke [email protected]
Networks 2.Scalability.
In this work, we represent barrier certificates (BCs) [4] in the form of neural networks (due to the powerful expressivity of NNs), and adopt the learner-verifier architecture [5] to synthesize our
NBCs. A common problem is to scale our approaches to large neural networks and high-dimensional system states.
3.Different forms of quantitative safety bounds.
In this work, we can derive quantitative safety bounds through our NBCs. However, the bounds over finite time horizons are restricted to certain fixed forms (i.e., linear or exponential w.r.t. the
time horizon), for technical reasons in Probability Theory. An interesting question is how to generate safety bound functions in other forms, e.g., polynomials, or even arbitrary forms (if exist).
4.Tightness of quantitative safety probability bounds.
One drawback of BCs is that BC conditions have nothing to do with the tightness of quantitative bounds, i.e., although we can find a BC satisfying all its BC conditions, the tightness of the derived
bound via this BC is unknown. However, when we focus on quantitative analysis, the tightness of the quantitative results is non-trivial. To address this, we proposed a simulation-guided loss
term (see Section 6 in [3]) to improve the tightness of the bound during training. Next, we will consider other methods about improving the tightness of quantitative bounds.

References

[1] Zhang et al., Machine learning testing: Survey, landscapes and horizons. IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering. 2020.
Ultraviolet microscopy is a new technique in medical imaging which promises high resolution images with cellular details for doctors to use in diagnosis. However, this technique has yet to be
Signal and image processing for ultraviolet translated into an endoscopy system for more demanding clinical applications. A challenge lies in the real-time processing of raw signals into meaningful and high quality images. This biomedical
170 CCEB CoS Liang Kaicheng [email protected]
endoscopic microscopy project will see the student leveraging principles of signal and image processing to enable real-time imaging for future healthcare applications.

Large-scale high-dimensional vector data has become ubiquitous in contemporary times. For instance, various forms of unstructured data, such as images, videos, texts, and speeches, are
typically transformed into vectors using deep learning techniques (e.g., word2vec, node2vec, item2vec, etc.). These vectors are subsequently employed in downstream analytical tasks. K nearest
neighbor (KNN) search in high-dimensional vector space constitutes a fundamental problem with a wide array of applications in information retrieval, recommendations, and retrieval-based
large language models. Due to the curse of dimensionality, exact KNN queries often result in unacceptable response times. In pursuit of a better balance between time and accuracy, many
Similarity Search on High-Dimensional Vector
171 CCDS CCDS Long Cheng [email protected] researchers have turned to its relaxed version, known as approximate K nearest neighbor (AKNN) search. Various algorithms have been proposed to address the AKNN problem, encompassing https://vectordb-ntu.github.io/
Data
quantization-based, graph-based, hashingbased, and tree-based approaches. However, popular AKNN algorithms such as the quantization-based ones do not provide theoretical guarantees and
may fail in some scenarios. In addition, most of these algorithms primarily focus on vector data and may fall short in real-life applications involving more than just vectors. This project aims to
develop new quantization-based algorithms that provide theoretical guarantee as well as algorithms to address various AKNN problems, including the attribute-filtering AKNN problem, the AKNN
problem for sparse vectors, and the multi-index AKNN problem. These would help to bridge the gap between AKNN solutions and real-world applications featuring diverse data types.

This project aims to explore how fluid injection can trigger earthquakes and aseismic slip in the Earth?s crust. Using advanced hydro-mechanical models, we will simulate the complex
Simulating Earthquakes Triggered by Fluid interactions between fluid flow and fault mechanics. The study will focus on understanding the transition from slow aseismic creep to rapid seismic slip, influenced by fluid pressurization. By
172 ASE CoS Luca Dal Zilio [email protected] www.lucadalzilio.net
Injection* comparing model results with data from in-situ experiments, the project will shed light on the mechanisms behind fluid-induced seismicity, offering insights into seismic hazard assessment and
geo-energy exploration.
Juvenile arthritis is not a singular disease but rather a term encompassing various joint pain, inflammation, and joint-related conditions. The current treatment approach is bolus injection of
steroids, which are associated with severe side effects, such as osteoporosis and uncontrolled drug release which would hinder the growth of children and cause aversion to the drug. To address
this issue, a responsive drug delivery system is needed. Based on research conducted in our lab, we propose a responsive drug delivery platform for inflammatory diseases, utilizing an
Smart drug delivery system for management of inflammation-sensing module and a drug module. In the presence of inflammation, the platform undergoes cleavage, leading to the targeted release of the drug. Conversely, in the absence of
173 CCEB CoS Dang Thuy Tram [email protected]
arthritis* inflammation, the system remains inactive, preserving drug. This project entails screening various anti-inflammatory drugs for incorporation into the drug release platform, developing different
polymer systems to meet specific clinical requirements, and investigating their impact on arthritis. The student working on this project will gain valuable technical skills in polymer synthesis,
polymer microgel characterization techniques, experimental planning as well as exposure to entrepreneurship in biotech towards commercialization.

There has been a marked surge of recent research interest in developing DNN-based computational methods for solutions of differential equations. Compared with classical methods, such plug-
Spectral Neural Networks for Solving andplay approaches are applicable to more general classes of problems with a uniform framework. However, practitioners are plagued with the accuracy and efficiency in the involved learning
174 MAS Div CoS Wang Li-Lian Differential [email protected] and training. How to properly integrate classical tools with these emerging techniques becomes essential to surmount these obstacles. The aim of this project is explore the construction of
Equations* spectral NNs that can excel the capabilities of high accuracy of spectral methods and approximability of NNs. The essential idea is to design single layer NN and build in spectral basis and then
tensorise the resulting structures for multiple dimensions.
Moore's law based growth of conventional electronics has stagnated decades ago. In order to push the electronics technology beyond, various alternatives have been considered. Spintronics
materials have played a supplementary role and magnetic random access memory (MRAM) has already entered the market as a replacement for e-Flash. In order to push the spintronics
S. N. Spin torque Materials for energy efficient materials further, it is essential to reduce the energy consumption. In this sense, spin-orbit torque and orbital torque play an important role.
175 PAP Div CoS [email protected] https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/prem/spinlab/index.html
Piramanayagam electronics*
In this project, the student will work on growth of materials and investigation of materials and devices. The student will learn fabrication and characterization techniques, which are important
aspects of experimental condensed matter physics research.

The removal of introns and linkage of exons via splicing is an essential step in the expression of human genes, and certain changes of this process cause many genetic diseases as well as cancer. In
Francesc Xavier Roca Splicing mechanisms and their implication in addition, alternative splicing is a key regulatory mechanism whose alterations are also associated to disease. In this project, the student will study the mechanisms of splicing in relation to one of
176 SBS CoS [email protected] the projects in the lab, in the context of either human myeloid cells and leukemia, or the regulation of antiviral genes, or the diagnosis of novel genomic variants affecting splicing and found in
Castella human disease*
the Singaporean populations. The student will use standard molecular biology such as cloning, cell culture and transfection, RNA extraction, RT-PCR, and perhaps bioinformatics.

Stable version of reactive main group species In chemical synthesis, application results from fundamental research, and many basic reactions frequently involve highly reactive and transient intermediates. Isolation of such species leads to
177 CCEB CoS Rei Kinjo for small molecule activation [email protected] dramatic advance in the area. In this project, we challenge to synthesize, isolate and characterize the highly reactive main group species, namely, p-block elements. We will further investigate https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/rkinjo/publication.html
their reactivity for small molecule activation as well as catalyst application.
WebAssembly is a widely used virtual machine, now supported by all major Web browsers. WasmCert-Isabelle is a machine-checked encoding of the WebAssembly specification in the Isabelle-
HOL tool, created in order to analyse the WebAssembly type system and prove it correct - this technique is known as "mechanisation", and it is one of the most reliable ways to build a strong
certification of trust in the system under analysis. A new form of control flow, called stack switching, is being experimented with in WebAssembly. This project would aim to extend WasmCert-
178 CCDS CCDS Conrad Watt Stack switching for WasmCert-Isabelle [email protected] Isabelle with stack switching, in order to analyse the correctness of this new feature. This would involve becoming familiar with Isabelle/HOL and the basics of the WebAssembly semantics, and
the basics of delimited continuations, the underlying primitive for stack switching. The project member will work towards updating the Isabelle-HOL model of WebAssembly itself, and associated
certifications - namely the proof that the
WebAssembly type system is correct, and a verified reference interpreter built on top of the model.
 Stress granules (SGs) are dynamic cytoplasmic aggregates containing mRNA, RNA-binding proteins, and translation factors that form in response to cellular stress. Evidence indicates that SGs are
intended to be transient structures, but the chronic stresses associated with aging lead to persistent SGs that appear to act as a nidus for the aggregation of disease-related proteins. This project
aims to characterize the dynamics of stress granules that form in microglial cells under different types of stress, such as oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory stimuli, and lysosomal damage. We will
combine human microglial cell lines and induced-pluripotent stem cell-derived microglial cells with confocal and super-resolution imaging modalities to obtain a quantitative overview of how SG
Stress Granule Dynamics During dynamics are influenced by environmental stressors and what interactions these structures establish with other cellular organelles.
179 SBS CoS Claudio Bussi Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress [email protected] References: www.bussilab.com
Conditions in Human Microglial Cells* Bussi, C., Mangiarotti, A., Vanhille-Campos, C. et al. Stress granules plug and stabilize damaged endolysosomal membranes. Nature 623, 1062?1069 (2023)
Wolozin, B., Ivanov, P. Stress granules and neurodegeneration. Nat Rev Neurosci 20, 649?666 (2019)
Herman, A.B., Silva Afonso, M., Kelemen, S.E., et al. Regulation of stress granule formation by inflammation, vascular injury, and atherosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular
biology, 39(10), pp.2014-2027 (2019).

This project seeks to employ state-of-the-art electro-fabrication technology for the nanoscale engineering of chiral structures to tap on the potential of chiral induced spin selectivity (CISS) to
Study of Nanoscale Chirality Using discriminate enantiomers based on electronic effects. We also seek to investigate how chiral nanostructures may be applied in asymmetric catalysis probing the question of whether structural
180 CCEB CoS Tan Choon Hong [email protected] https://tanchoonhong.wixsite.com/tchlab/about
Electrofabrication* chirality can be transferred to molecular chirality. This will shed light into the mechanism behind CISS as well as the nature of chirality in various forms namely, structural and molecular chirality.

This project focuses on optimizing quantum gate operations in superconducting quantum processors to minimize error rates and improve fidelity. The student will begin with a review of existing
gate optimization techniques, followed by using simulation tools to model and identify potential improvements. They will then implement these optimized gate designs on superconducting
Rainer Helmut Superconducting Quantum Processors
181 SPMS CoS [email protected] qubits, working closely with the research team. Comprehensive testing and characterization of the optimized gates will be conducted to evaluate performance. The student will document their
Dumke Optimization*
findings and methodologies, culminating in a detailed final report and presentation. This project provides hands-on experience in quantum computing, emphasizing gate optimization crucial for
advancing reliable quantum processors
One fascinating example of cooperative behavior in nature is the swarming of honeybees whereby honeybees self-assemble into tightly packed structures to protect the queen bee. The physics
of collective behavior is well described by the emerging framework of active matter, now a major paradigm in statistical physics.. We are interested in understanding how local behaviorial rules at
182 PAP Div CoS Yong Ee Hou Swarming behaviors in honey bees [email protected] the individual level affect organization patterns and functions at the population scale for biological systems such as honeybees. In this work, we will model the dynamical process of honeybee https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/eehou/
swarming as active particles (or agents) to understand the physics of honeybee self-organization.

Organic synthesis is a fundamental activity that provides access to compounds which may have a natural origin, i.e. previously isolated from a living organism, or are unnatural, i.e. designed by
people. Synthesis is underpinned by spectroscopic methods, especially high field NMR, to ensure that the structures of the synthesized molecules are confirmed. Organic synthesis provides
access to the compounds, acts to confirm structural assignment and generates new chemical knowledge.
Roderick Wayland
183 CCEB CoS Synthesis of Natural and Unnatural Products [email protected]
Bates In this project, you will synthesise molecules of current interest. This may be because they are natural products, suggested to be natural products or due to anticipated biological or materials
properties. Organic synthesis in this laboratory has special emphasis on the control of stereochemistry and the use of transition metal catalyzed reactions such as Pd-catalysed coupling,
carbonylation, alkyne cyclotrimerisation and metathesis.

Smart contracts have shown great potential in revolutionizing the legal environment, by streamlining processes, reducing costs, and increasing transparency and efficiency. A smart contract can
be viewed as a self-executing agreement with the terms of the contract written directly into code. When certain conditions are met, the contract automatically executes, ensuring the agreed-
Synthesising Provably Correct Smart Legal upon actions are carried out without the need for intermediaries or manual intervention. One of the prominent attempts on smart legal contract is the Accord Project
184 CCDS CCDS Li Yi [email protected]
Contracts with LLMs (https://accordproject.org/). Smart legal contracts have been applied in domain such as Finance, insurance, purchase agreements, etc. In this project, we would like to build a technique to
translate legal documents into smart contracts automatically with the help of Large Language Models (LLMs). The success of this project will enable average layman users to create their smart
legal contracts without deep technical knowledge.
In this project, we focus on the creation of synthetic data to train AI models for computer vision tasks in educational settings. Synthetic data, generated through advanced simulations and
models, offers a powerful tool for overcoming limitations of real-world datasets, including privacy issues, data scarcity, and bias. In this work, you will engage in groundbreaking work that aims to
Synthetic Data for Computer Vision Tasks in enhance AI's ability to recognize and interpret visual information accurately. We are seeking motivated students with a strong background in computer science or artificial intelligence (preferred https://dr.ntu.edu.sg/cris/rp/rp02467
185 NSSE NSSE Edwin Chng [email protected]
Education but not necessary). Familiarity with programming languages such as Python and a passion for exploring new ideas are essential. Previous experience in research is a plus but not required. For
more information and to apply, please send your resume and a brief statement of interest (no more than a few sentences) to [email protected].

This project aims to engineer synthetic proteins to create immune regulatory hubs, effectively rewiring plant signaling pathways to enhance growth or strengthen defense against pathogens. By
leveraging synthetic protein engineering, we will design novel proteins that can integrate into plant signaling networks, modifying their responses to environmental cues and microbial attacks.
Structural biology techniques will be used to elucidate the three-dimensional structures of these engineered proteins and predict their interaction sites. Systems biology methods will enable us
to model the impact of these synthetic hubs on overall plant signaling networks. In combination with protein biochemistry, we will assess the functionality of these proteins in vitro. Transgenic
plants expressing these engineered proteins will be generated to validate their effectiveness in vivo, either to boost growth or enhance immune responses. This approach offers a promising
Synthetic Protein Engineering for Plant Signal
186 SBS CoS Miao Yansong [email protected] strategy to develop crops with improved resilience and productivity under stress conditions. https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/yansongm
Rewiring*

Artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to revolutionize the existing methods of augmented reality processing and natural voice interactions, through which humans collaborate with AI agents to
complete specific tasks. In contrast to human-human digital collaborations, which facilitate mutual understanding and synchronized attention, human-AI collaborations focus on optimizing the
The Cognitions and Emotions in Human-AI comprehensibility of AI instructions. Drawing on the instructional design literature, this study considers two augmented reality features facilitating progressive, multiple-round human-AI
187 ITOM Div CoB (NBS) Ben Choi Collaborations with Augmented Reality: A [email protected] collaborative diagnosis (i.e., verbalized instructions and visual illustrations) and examines how verbalized instructions and visual illustrations affect diagnosis effectiveness and efficiency. We
DualCoding Perspective enrich the instructional design literature by integrating dual-coding theory to elucidate the interaction effect of the two features and reveal the underlying mechanisms through the mediating
effects of cognitive effort and confused emotion. We plan to conduct laboratory experiments involving augmented reality devices and neuroscience techniques.

DDX3X is an ATP-dependent RNA helicase. While germline mutations in the DDX3X gene are the underlying cause of a neurodevelopmental disorder in affected females called DDX3X syndrome,
DDX3X somatic mutations have been associated with human cancers. DDX3X plays tumor suppressive or oncogenic role depending on the tumor type. We discovered DDX3X mutations as an
important prognostic and chemosensitivity predictive marker in non-Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes. Most DDX3X mutations are missense, truncating, or single-base substitutions distributed
https://molecular-cancer.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/
188 LKCMedicine LKCMedicine Navin Kumar Verma The DEAD-box helicase DDX3X in cancer [email protected] within the ?helicase ATP-binding? and the ?helicase C-terminal? domains of the gene. We hypothesize that the types and positions of mutations within the DDX3X gene may inform on the nature
s12943021-01437-0
of mutagenic mechanisms involved in tumor development, progression, and aggressiveness. The aim of this project is to summarize current knowledge on DDX3X gene variations observed in
human cancers. The study will uncover tumor-type specific mutations in the DDX3X gene, which will contribute to better understanding of the significance of DDX3X as a target for therapeutic
strategies.
Halide perovskite emitters have garnered significant interest for their applications in optoelectronic devices, particularly in light-emitting diodes (LEDs), lasers, and display technologies. These
The Science of High INtensitY (SHINY) materials exhibit exceptional photophysical properties, making them ideal candidates for next-generation light sources as well as scintillators. This project explores the synthesis, characterization,
189 PAP Div CoS Sum Tze Chien Perovskite [email protected] and optimization of perovskite materials to engineer stable, highly luminescent next-generation emitters. The student will investigate the photophysics of these systems using a range of state-of- https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=UD8dRdYAAAAJ&hl=en
Emitters* the-art optical spectroscopy techniques. Importantly, The student will have opportunities to work in a fast-paced frontier research field and interact with a highly dynamic research team.
 Human-GenAI interactions have significantly transformed business operations, enhancing productivity and efficiency across industries like customer support, banking, finance, and education.
However, these interactions, particularly through GenAI-powered systems like social chatbots, may unintentionally expose individuals? private information, raising privacy concerns (Dennehy et
al., 2023). Public opinion indicates that over two-thirds are worried about data privacy, with many fearing AI companies will misuse their personal data (McClain et al., 2023). Privacy behaviors,
such as self-disclosure, are often shaped by a tradeoff between privacy costs and benefits (Choi et al., 2015; Jiang et al., 2013). The APCO model (Dinev et al., 2015) helps explain how
antecedents (e.g., cues and heuristics) influence privacy concerns, which are then mediated by privacy calculus. This study applies the APCO model to explore key elements of human-GenAI
interactions. It also draws on social penetration theory (Altman & Taylor, 1973), which emphasizes balanced vulnerability and reciprocal sharing, to analyze two components: information
retention and interaction reciprocity in social chatbots.

Previous privacy studies typically focus on one-off decisions, such as cookie approvals or app permissions. However, this study looks at privacy within ongoing exchanges, aligning with a more
relational view of privacy (Petronio, 2002). The second objective is to examine the privacy costs and benefits that individuals weigh in multiple human-GenAI interactions.

The Two Tales of AI-IA in Human-GenAI The third objective is to explore how relationship stages progress over time. Social penetration theory suggests that information disclosure evolves through different stages of relationship
Interactions: A NeuroIS Approach to development, which this study tests in the context of human-GenAI interactions.
190 ITOM Div CoB (NBS) Ben Choi [email protected]
Disentangling the Impact of Information
Retention and Interaction Reciprocity This study further explores two types of GenAI information retention: mindless AI and mindful AI. Mindless AI lacks the ability to retain human disclosure, often perceived as mechanical or
impersonal, while mindful AI can remember human input, which is seen as a cue for relationship development (Ray et al., 2019).

It also examines two types of reciprocity in human-GenAI interactions: human disclosure only, where only the human shares information, and human disclosure with AI reciprocity, where the
chatbot also shares information, mimicking human-human interaction. Using Choi et al.'s (2015) privacy response taxonomy, the study investigates three human responses to social chatbots:
inaction, approach, and avoidance. Additionally, it explores how relationship development occurs across three forms of information intimacy: gradual, escalated, and idealized progression.

By combining these elements, the study seeks to understand the dynamics of privacy concerns and relationship development in human-GenAI interactions, contributing to a more nuanced view
of privacy in the context of evolving AI technologies.

THIS PROJECT IS FOR A THREE-MONTH INTERNSHIP.

Almost all photosynthetic CO2-fixation is mediated by the slow and non-specific carboxylase Rubisco. Our group tries to understand how plants and algae have compensated for these
problematic properties. A key strategy used in almost all algae involves the condensation of Rubisco into dense protein droplets, which are then flushed with CO2 gas. This is known as a
biophysical CO2 concentrating mechanism. In the past we have used purified proteins to reconstitute in vitro the Rubisco droplets of diverse algae [1,2]. This happens by a mechanism known as
liquid-liquid phase separation. We have recently discovered multiple additional Rubisco binding proteins that we believe contribute to the phase separation of Rubisco in the diatom
Phaeodactylum tricornutum. In this project we will focus on one of our putative Rubisco linker proteins, purify it, and characterize its properties. The project will involve protein biochemistry and
Oliver Martin
fluorescence microscopy.
191 SBS CoS Mueller- The stickers and spacers of Rubiscondensation* [email protected] https://blogs.ntu.edu.sg/omclab/
Cajar
References:
Oh ZG, Ang WSL, Poh CW, Lai SK, Sze SK, Li HY, Bhushan S, Wunder T, Mueller-Cajar O. A linker protein from a red-type pyrenoid phase separates with Rubisco via oligomerizing sticker motifs. Proc
Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2023 Jun 20;120(25):e2304833120. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2304833120. Epub 2023 Jun 13. PMID: 37311001; PMCID: PMC10288592.

Wunder T, Cheng SLH, Lai SK, Li HY, Mueller-Cajar O. The phase separation underlying the pyrenoid-based microalgal Rubisco supercharger. Nat Commun. 2018 Nov 29;9(1):5076. doi:
10.1038/s41467018-07624-w. PMID: 30498228; PMCID: PMC6265248.
In this project, we are interested in developing a multi-scale understanding of biopolymers that can explain how different levels of biological organization can arise in a hierarchical manner. We
plan to utilize emerging geometrical and topological data analysis tools such as persistent homology, Betti numbers, Ricci curvature, and Hodge Laplacian to extract meaningful geometrical and
192 PAP Div CoS Yong Ee Hou Topological Data Analysis of G-quadruplex [email protected] topological information, with the goal of uncovering previously unknown features. These persistent structural features are related to biological functions of the biopolymers, from which we can https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/eehou/
better understand structure-activity relationship as well as structure-function relationship.

THIS PROJECT IS FOR A THREE-MONTH INTERNSHIP

Enormous power has been demonstrated by geometric deep learning (GDL) in molecular data analysis. In particular, the recent great success of AlphaFold 3 shows the great advantage of GDL in
analyzing biomolecular structural information. However, there still remains great challenges in traditional GDL. In particular, its failure to characterize high-order interactions/information pose a
major issue for its applications in AI for sciences.

Topological Deep Learning (TDL) leverages novel topological tools to characterize data with complicated higher-order structures. Different from graph-based data representation, TDL uses
Topological deep learning for material data topological representations from algebraic topology, including simplicial complexes, cell
193 MAS Div CoS Xia Kelin [email protected] https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.jcim.4c02033
analysis * complexes, sheaves, hypergraphs, and combinatorial complexes to model not only pair-wise interactions (as in graphs), but also higher-order interactions among three or more elements. In fact,
these algebraic topology-based molecular representations have already achieved great success in molecular data analysis, including protein flexibility and dynamic analysis, drug design, virus
analysis, materials property analysis. Mathematically, TDL uses a generalized message-passing mechanism thus enables the communication of information from simplices of different dimensions.
In contrast to GNNs, where information is passing among nodes or edges, TDL allows information to propagate through any neighborhood relations.

In this project, we will study the TDL-based models for material data, from Material Project, Javis, etc. We will focus on the incorporation of multiscale and periodic information into TDL models.
We will also design special novel TDL architectures that can be aware of the general physical laws, i.e., physics-inspired TDL models.

The genus Parasponia has garnered scientific interest in the past few decades due to its unique ability to form nitrogen fixing root nodules with Rhizobia as the only species outside of the family
Fabaceae (Legumes). The simplistic method, through which the rhizobia infect Parasponia roots, is believed to have a simple genetic background and hence be inducible in other plants, including
crop species, using genome editing techniques. Parasponia is closely related with the genus Trema, a group of physically very similar but non-nodulating species. Among Trema, Trema tomentosa
is a unique species as it is possibly an allopolyploid between Trema orientalis and a non-nodulating Parasponia-like species. Studying Trema tomentosa could, hence, allow a better understanding
of the differences between the nodulating Parasponia and non-nodulating Trema. However, research into Trema tomentosa has been limited by the poor genome assembly the species has.
Trema tomentosa genome assembly as a tool
194 SBS CoS Jarkko Salojarvi [email protected]
for understanding nodulation in Parasponia
In this project, you will produce a high-quality genome assembly for Trema tomentosa. You will first extract High Molecular Weight DNA from the species and send part of it to be sequenced with
PacBio HiFi sequencing, known for its high quality. In the meantime, you will also perform an ultra-long read library prep for Nanopore and run the resulting ultra long reads with PromethION
sequencer present at the lab. You will then extract more HMW DNA and produce an Omni-C DNA library to be short-read sequenced. Using these resources, you will then carry out a genome
assembly utilizing the HiFi reads, the ultra-long Nanopore reads and the Omni-C reads to produce a high-quality genome assembly for Trema tomentosa. You will then phase the assembly to
separate the parental subgenomes and use mapping of reads from Trema orientalis and Parasponia species to verify the subgenome origins.

This project is about developing verified CakeML-based tools for the verification-aware Dafny programming language. Potential sub-topics of interest include: 1) formalization of Dafny semantics,
2) verified compilation of Dafny to CakeML, 3) developing verified verification condition generators (VCGs), 4) verified encoding of VCGs into lower-level satisfiability modulo theories (SMT) and
5) verified proof checking for SMT. Putting all of these together with CakeML's existing verified compilation toolchain will lead to an end-to-end verification result for Dafny programs, placing the
195 CCDS CCDS Tan Yong Kiam Trustworthy Dafny [email protected] language's trustworthiness on firm formal foundations. https://cakeml.org/checkers.html

The subset of topics to be tackled in the scope of the GCF will be discussed with the student. The interested student should have a strong background in formal methods and programming
languages. In particular, familiarity with mechanized theorem proving is a must.
This project aims to develop an innovative deep learning-based framework for melanoma skin cancer diagnosis that combines cutting-edge classification accuracy with enhanced interpretability
through the ABCD rule (Asymmetry, Border, Color, and Dermoscopic structures). While deep learning models have demonstrated exceptional performance in detecting melanoma from
dermoscopic images, their "black-box" nature limits clinical adoption due to a lack of explainability and trustworthiness. To address this gap, our approach integrates explainable artificial
Trustworthy Deep Learning for Melanoma intelligence (XAI) techniques to align model predictions with established clinical diagnostic criteria.
196 LKCMedicine LKCMedicine Fan Xiuyi [email protected]
Diagnosis Using the ABCD Rule
The proposed framework comprises two key components: a robust convolutional neural network (CNN) for classifying skin lesions and an explainability module that visualizes and quantifies the
model's decision-making process based on ABCD features. This approach bridges the gap between AI-driven automation and human expertise, offering a transparent, trustworthy diagnostic tool.

We are interested in developing novel reinforcement learning (RL) and assessment methods to enable the design of trustworthy control systems in cyber-physical computing. In particular, we are
197 CCDS CCDS Arvind Easwaran Trustworthy Reinforcement Learning [email protected] interested in developing programmatic policies for RL, deriving sample complexity bounds for efficient learning, as well as develop formal verification techniques for them. We are also interested https://cps-research-group.github.io
in the application of such methods in the domain of multi-energy systems, particularly for control/coordination of building energy systems.
 The quantum confinement and exotic physics in two-dimensional materials and their heterostructures make them appealing candidates for constructing electronic and optoelectronic devices
Two dimensional heterostructures for quantum with unprecedented performances. This project will explore those materials for quantum optical devices that have the potential to achieve extremely high energy conversion efficiency. In detail,
198 EEE CoE Song Peng [email protected]
optical devices the student will work on the fabrication, and characterization of a type of optic device based on 2D materials for bulk photovoltatic applications.

The exponential growth in AI technology has led to an increasing demand for power-efficient and compact solutions for AI chips. This project aims to address these pressing needs by designing
and developing an ultra-efficient and ultra-compact power supply for AI chips. The student will explore cutting-edge power converter topology, architecture, and thermal management design,
Ultra-Efficient and Ultra-Compact Power Supply aiming to optimize power delivery while minimizing size and energy loss. The incorporation of advanced power devices such as GaN and SiC further enhances power converter performance. The
199 EEE CoE Tang Yi [email protected]
for AI Chips in Data Centers student will conduct comprehensive simulation studies and prototyping to validate the feasibility and efficacy of these advancements. This research not only meets immediate AI industry needs
but also propels future power supply innovation, fostering the proliferation of AI across a spectrum of applications.

Quantum computing stands as a transformative paradigm in computational capabilities, holding the promise to unlock solutions for problems that have long challenged classical computers. A
significant step in the quantum revolution was the realization of Quantum Supremacy?, marking the point where quantum computers outperform their classical counterparts in solving specific
tasks. However, this remarkable achievement also unveiled a formidable challenge: the need to scale up quantum computers by increasing the number of entangled qubits?. The manipulation
and readout of these qubits have typically relied on separate interconnects, giving rise to a significant thermal load on cryogenic systems, which ultimately imposes limitations on the scaling-up
process?. Using optical links to connect qubits to the room temperature environment has been investigated as an approach to mitigate the thermal load of RF interconnects, however, the added
Mohammad Ultrafast Metadevice-Circuit QED Interface: noise of optical read-out is significantly higher than that can be achieved with microwave electronics?.
200 EEE CoE [email protected] https://sites.google.com/view/ilabntu
Samizadeh Nikoo Towards Scaled-up Quantum Computers
To address this important challenge, this projects centres on the development of high-speed, energy-efficient cryogenic electronics to be able to directly control and read out qubits without
relying on significant number of radiofrequency interconnects. We aim to use recently proposed electronic metadevices? on Gallium Nitride (GaN) at cryogenic temperatures, to establish a high-
performance interface with qubits based on circuit quantum electrodynamics (QED). This research project paves the way towards the realization of scaled-up quantum computers, as it
introduces integrated highperformance electronics capable of directly controlling and reading out qubits.

Hollow-core fibers guide light through their central hollow region. This unique ability to confine and transmit light along a narrow channel makes them an ideal platform for staging light-matter
interactions. The hollow channel can be filled with matter particles, creating a significant overlap with the light over an extended and flexible length. Over the past decade, numerous
demonstrations have shown that pumping gas-filled hollow-core fibers with femtosecond laser pulses leads to a variety of fascinating effects, including pulse compression to the sub-cycle regime
and nonlinear frequency conversion to the vacuum-ultraviolet and mid-infrared regions.
Ultrafast optics in matter-coated hollow-core
201 EEE CoE Chang Wonkeun [email protected] Another intriguing method to promote light-matter interactions in hollow-core fibers is by coating the inner surface of the fiber with material at the core-cladding interface. This technique allows
fibers
the tails of the spatial modes in the core to overlap with the coated material over a long length. Interactions between single- or few-layered materials and ultrashort pulses are of particular
interest due to the unique bandgap structures and nonlinear optical properties of these layered materials. This project aims to establish a novel fiber-based platform to study ultrafast light-
matter interactions in layered materials and explore new physics that cannot be observed in any other conventional settings.

The future of humanity relies on the exchange of unprecedented amount of data. In response to this demand, integrated telecommunication circuits must operate at higher frequencies, reaching
the terahertz band, to provide enhanced bandwidths and data rates. However, the performance of semiconductor devices degrades at frequencies above 100 GHz, which limits the capacity of
wireless networks. Electronic metadevice is a new concept inspired by optical metamaterials, which was first demonstrated in form of switches that could challenge the limitations of traditional
Ultrahigh-speed Mm-wave and Terahertz
Mohammad semiconductor devices [1]. This project aims to experimentally investigate some the critical aspects of electronic metadevices, and to build integrated circuits based on this new technology,
202 EEE CoE Electronic Metadevices for 6G [email protected] https://sites.google.com/view/ilabntu
Samizadeh Nikoo which can offer a solution for 6G telecommunication networks. The selected candidate will be granted access to cutting-edge facilities at NTU for the fabrication of 6G telecom chips and
Telecommunications
conducting experiments.

[1] Samizadeh Nikoo, M. & Matioli, E. Electronic metadevices for terahertz applications. Nature 614, 451?455 (2023).
Genetics, lifestyle, and behavioral risk factors are important determinants of cancer risk. Our team works on profoundly understanding the contributions genomics play in cancer predisposition in
Asia with the following ongoing projects
Joanne Ngeow Yuen 1) Understanding genetic, lifestyle, and behavioral risk factors for childhood cancer and early onset cancers in Asia
203 LKCMedicine LKCMedicine Understanding Cancer Predisposition in Asia [email protected] https://dr.ntu.edu.sg/cris/rp/rp01259
Yie 2) Lifestyle and reproductive history modifiers of known cancer predisposition syndromes comparing Asia with Europe/ America datasets3)
Clinical utility of long-read sequencing for hereditary cancer testing
4) Improving access to genomic medicine in Asia: understanding and overcoming systemic barriers to testing
In this project, we will collect and annotate a set of meme images that require cultural backgrounds to understand. If time allows, we will explore the training of vision-language models to
Understanding Cultural Memes in Low-resource understand such memes.
204 CCDS CCDS Li Boyang [email protected]
Languages
We will focus on languages other than Western languages or Mandarin Chinese, which already have plenty of resources. Working knowledge in such languages would be an advantage.

Acquisition of mutations in the tumor suppressor gene, p53, is the most common event across all cancer types. While un-mutated wild-type p53 exerts its tumor-suppressive functions through
the regulation of various process, mutations in p53, which in over 90% of the cases occur in the DNA-binding domain, essentially abrogate many of these functions, leading to loss of activity. As a
conventional tumor-suppressor, mutations in p53 lead to loss of its tumor-suppressive functions. However, mutant p53 is unique amongst all tumor suppressors in that it acquires novel
CS- oncogenic ?Gain-of-function? (GOF) properties. As such, mutant p53 is often associated with aggressive cancers, metastasis and resistance to various forms of therapies. However, when and how www.thesabapathylab.com
205 SBS CoS Kanaga Sabapathy Understanding Mutant p53 Gain of Function
[email protected] mutant p53 gains GOF is an unresolved mystery, as not all p53 mutants exhibit this activity. The goal of this project is to start deciphering at which point in the journey of a cancer cell does
mutant p53 gains its oncogenic functions. Using cellular systems and biochemical approaches, the goal is to evaluate the temporal sequence of events leading to the mutant p53 GOF. Students
will employ cell culture and biochemical and molecular biology techniques during the project. Some prior experience is advantageous.

Protein cages are formed by the self-assembly of multiple protein subunits into a hollow cage-like structures of nanometer size. They form structures that range from tetrahedron and octahedron
to dodecahedron and icosahedron. While many applications have been explored, the fundamental study on its self-assembly mechanism is lacking. Attempts to elucidate the self-assembly
mechanisms have been shown through experiments where the self-assembly intermediates have been isolated. However, how the self-assembly intermediates formed the specific structure of a
cage will require theoretical insights. The question that we will try to answer in this project is ?are there other cage structures that are possible given specific self-assembly intermediates??

Understanding the Self-Assembly Mechanism of In order to answer this question, we will use E2 protein cage as a model. E2 protein cage is a component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multi-enzyme complex consisting of 60 subunits that
206 CCEB CoS Lim Sierin [email protected]
Protein Cages* forms a 25nm cage of icosahedral structure. The intermediate of the self-assembly has been determined to be trimers, similar to viruses, as reported by Peng et al. [1]. In this project we will
derive theoretical insights on how the trimers form the dodecahedral structures. A simulation using a coarse grain approach will be employed, effectively modeling interactions between protein
subunits using patchy particles [2]. We will focus on systems composed of spherical neutral particles with patchy surfaces designed to promote bonding between patches on different particles.
This method facilitates the self-assembly of desired cage structures and, with careful design, may also be used to yield intermediate subunits. To explore the possible cage structures as a function
of patch locations, we will use Brownian dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations.

THIS PROJECT IS FOR A THREE-MONTH INTERNSHIP

Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) is an emerging strategy for climate mitigation that involves the application of finely ground silicate minerals to land, where they react with CO? to form stable
carbonate minerals. This project aims to explore the potential of different silicate minerals, specifically wollastonite, forsterite, and natural volcanic ash, to improve soil quality and increase plant
productivity through pot experiments.

The student will have the opportunity to participate in controlled experiments where these minerals will be applied to various soil types, and their effects on plant growth and soil health will be
Unlocking Climate Solutions: The Role of Silicate
carefully monitored. The project will focus on assessing the rates of silicate mineral dissolution and their capacity to sequester carbon through chemical weathering processes.
207 CoS CoS Simon Redfern Minerals in Enhanced Rock Weathering and Soil [email protected]
Fertility*
Advanced analytical techniques will be employed to measure the dissolution rates of these minerals in soil environments. These measurements will be correlated with changes in soil pH, nutrient
availability, and carbon content to evaluate the potential of ERW for both enhancing soil fertility and achieving significant carbon drawdown.

Additionally, the project will investigate how these mineral amendments influence plant productivity, providing insights into the broader environmental benefits of ERW beyond carbon
sequestration.
The results of this research could contribute to the development of scalable strategies for climate mitigation while simultaneously enhancing agricultural productivity.

In this project, we explore the potential use of computer vision (CV) technologies to monitor and detect underlying mental health issues present in K-12 students. Our work aims to develop
Unraveling the Potential Use of Computer innovative tools that rely on the sole use of visual data to identify signs of stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges amongst students. We welcome students from diverse academic
208 NSSE NSSE Edwin Chng Vision as a Mental Health Screening Tool for K- [email protected] backgrounds, including computer science, psychology, and education. If you are eager to work on this challenge and make a tangible difference, we invite you to apply. For more information and https://dr.ntu.edu.sg/cris/rp/rp02467
12 Students to apply, please send your resume and a brief statement of interest (no more than a few sentences) to [email protected].
 Chirality is a ubiquitous structural property determined by the non-super-imposability of mirror image of an object. Simplest chiral objects are helical screws which have a handedness in the
Unraveling the role of short range order in turns. Materials can be designed at the atomic scale to have a helical pitch in the arrangement of atoms. Determining the handedness of the helix at the atomic scale is non-trivial since electron
209 MSE CoE Prashant Kumar symmetry breaking at the nanoscale through [email protected] diffraction patterns have subtle differences for a left-handed crystal vs a right-handed crystal. This project will provide the student with hands-on experience on the TEM to acquire and analyze https://prashantksk.wixsite.com/kumar-atomic-lab/
automated imaging the electron diffraction pattern in order to create a 3D reciprocal space map of a chiral crystal, thereby enabling structure solution of such materials.

Autonomous mobility in sea, land and air is important demand in industry and society. So far, a lot of efforts has been dedicated to the achievement of autonomous mobility in land. Future
Vision-Guided Planning and Control by challenge and competition will be toward achieving autonomous mobility in sea. The objective of this research project is to investigate vision-guided planning and control which will enable
210 MAE CoE Xie Ming [email protected] http://xieming.robotics.sg/index-page-publication.html
Autonomous Surface Vehicle autonomous surface vehicles or under-water vehicles to navigate in a complex water area in which there are presence of many other fixed or mobile targets.

Vision-Guided Planning and Control of Motion Humanoid robot is gaining astonishing level of popularity in recent years. For humanoid robots to be widely acceptable in industry and society, it is necessary to make these robots to achieve
211 MAE CoE Xie Ming by [email protected] humanlike intelligence. The objective of this research project is to investigate vision-guided planning and control of motions which will enable a humanoid robot to achieve autonomous biped http://xieming.robotics.sg/index-page-publication.html
Humanoid Robot walking in complicated environments, autonomous grasping of soft objects, and autonomous manipulation of complex objects.
Money laundering is widely seen in existing cryptocurrency transactions. Prior research has been focused on developing automated approaches to detect money laundering behaviours in
Visual Identification of Money Laundering in cryptocurrency transactions. However, such approaches are often unable to be adaptive enough to identify various and evolving money laundering behaviours in the increasingly popular
212 CCDS CCDS Wang Yong [email protected]
Cryptocurrency via Human-AI Collaboration cryptocurrency transactions. This project aims to combine AI and human domain knowledge and develop a novel visual analytics approach to allow users to interactively identify money
laundering behaviours in a scalable and adaptive manner.
Visualization for Explainable Large Language Despite the excellent performance of Large Language Models (LLMs), they still suffer from the lack of explainability and other critical issues like haullucination. This project aims to develop novel
213 CCDS CCDS Wang Yong Models [email protected] visualization techniques to enhance the explainability of LLMs, making it easier for common users to easily understand how LLMs work. Hopefully, it can also benefit the mitigation of
hallucination of LLMs.
THIS PROJECT IS FOR A THREE-MONTH INTERNSHIP. The Golgi is a subcellular organelle that functions as a trafficking hub within a eukaryotic cell. It comprises serially stacked membrane sacs
called cisternae, roughly divided into four zones ? the cis, medial, trans-Golgi, and trans-Golgi network. However, it is still unclear how the Golgi maintains its unique organization and how
Visualizing the dynamic cargo movement within cargos, such as proteins and lipids, move within the Golgi. One of the greatest challenges is that the details within the Golgi are beyond the resolution of conventional and even super-resolution
214 SBS CoS Lu Lei [email protected] https://sites.google.com/site/leilulab/home-1
the Golgi* light microscopy. We have recently developed novel super-resolution methods and demonstrated their capabilities in visualizing sub-Golgi organization and dynamics (Tie et al., 2016; Tie et al.,
2018; Tie et al., 2022). This project will quantitatively examine the intra-Golgi trafficking of secretory and endocytic reporters using our cutting-edge microscopic tools. It involves cell culture,
transfection, microscopic imaging, and image analysis.
This project aims to offer a sustainable solution to biomass waste utilization for great sustainability. The solid and gaseous wastes we produce from consumption of plants (biomass) go into the
environment as carbon. The carbons in the air and soil are utilized by plants and turn into biomass and fuel. In this carbon cycle, biomass provides renewable fuel that help to mitigate
greenhouse problem. It utilizes biodegradable waste to produce fuel resources and energy, which doesn?t result in pollution as burning fossil fuel does. Cellulose, an important structural
component of the cell wall of green plants, is the most abundant biopolymer. Therefore, utilization of cellulose is an important part of biomass refinery. Cellulose can be converted to sugars,
215 MAE CoE Li Hong Waste to Green Hydrogen and Green Chemicals [email protected] https://dr.ntu.edu.sg/cris/rp/rp00952
alcohols, or other chemicals. The main challenge of cellulose refinery originates from its stubborn crystalline structure that typically needs harsh process conditions including high temperature,
high pressure, and high acid
concentration to break it down to useful products. In this project, we will explore a green and cost-effective process for biomass waste (e.g., sawdust and seafood waste) upcycling to biofuels,
green hydrogen, and green chemicals.
This research project focuses on the study and optimization of water electrolysis, a process that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using electrical energy. The project aims to investigate
216 MSE CoE Jason Xu Zhichuan Water electrolysis for hydrogen production [email protected] various catalysts and electrode materials to enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of hydrogen production. Students will gain hands-on experience with electrochemical techniques, https://personal.ntu.edu.sg/xuzc/Publications.html
material characterization, and data analysis. This project is ideal for students interested in renewable energy technologies and sustainable engineering solutions.

Traditionally, defensive driving education and assessments have been administered within driving schools, with certain professionals mandating routine safety training. However, the efficacy of
When Machines are Learning, Why Not traditional driving education and assessment is limited by the availability of human resources. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers promising avenues for overcoming this personnel bottleneck. This
Humans? short paper outlines a study that contributes to the discourse on stereotypes and biases beyond the foundational aspects of artificial intelligence. Prior studies have extensively investigated and
217 ITOM Div CoB (NBS) Ben Choi [email protected] illuminated issues concerning gender and racial biases inherent in AI recommendations and analyses. However, a critical underlying cause of these challenges is that AI is engineered to emulate
A Study Examining Roadcraft Training by AI
Coaches the human decisionmaking processes. This study offers a novel perspective by considering potential constructive applications of such inherent biases. Furthermore, by systematically examining
the generalizability of nonhuman agents, this study aims to raise awareness, if not underscore, of the significance of these fundamental human limitations.

Sentic APIs are a suite of application programming interfaces that perform various sentiment analysis tasks in different languages. All the APIs are based on the sentic computing framework and,
hence, leverage an ensemble of symbolic AI (SenticNet) and subsymbolic AI (deep learning). The primary objective of this project is to thoroughly evaluate the functionality, reliability, and
XAI for Interpretable, Trustworthy, and performance of the Sentic APIs, ensuring their robustness and efficiency across various tasks. Additionally, the project aims to leverage these APIs to develop and enhance affective computing
218 CCDS CCDS Erik Cambria [email protected] https://sentic.net/api
Explainable Affective Computing applications, which focus on understanding and responding to human emotions. By integrating Sentic APIs into these applications, the project seeks to advance the field of emotion-aware
technologies, enabling more intuitive and emotionally intelligent systems. For more info, please visit https://sentic.net/api or contact Dr Rui Mao ([email protected]).

Humans do not perceive the entire scenes at once. Instead, they move their eyes and pay attention to certain parts of the visual scenes. How do we come up with AI models capable of predicting
219 CCDS CCDS Zhang Mengmi predicting eye movements with AI models [email protected] human eye movements? Students get to program computational models of eye movement predictions. Alternatively, students also get to learn how to use advanced eye tracking devices in the https://a0091624.wixsite.com/deepneurocognition-1
lab, design eye tracking expeirments with programming languages, collecting human data, and analyzing these eye movement data.