Scholars of A*STAR: Dr Rosa So, I2R

The A*STAR Graduate Academy provides scholarships and fellowships to enable young aspiring scientific talent to pursue their passion in science, and prepare them for a rewarding career in R&D.

Meet our scholars and find out how an A*STAR scholarship has helped them along their research and development journey.

Dr Rosa So, Research Scientist and Division Head of Healthcare and MedTech Division, A*STAR’s Institute for Infocomm Research (I²R)

Q: What inspired you to pursue this field of science?

A: My strengths were in physics and math, but I took an interest in biology and human health. The field of biomedical engineering is a good fit which combines the study of biology and engineering, applying engineering principles to medical research.

Q: What are your research interests, and why?

A: I am interested in the field of medical technology in general. It is a fascinating area that allows for creativity and multidisciplinary thinking in solving the issue. In particular, I enjoy analysing neural signals and developing AI algorithms that can better decode signals from the brain. For brain machine interface applications, the interpretation of brain signals is crucial for the success of the final brain-controlled application.

Q: What does the A*STAR scholarship mean to you?

A: The scholarship allowed me to receive education from the best institutions in the world and be mentored by many brilliant scientists. Such experiences are invaluable to my training and learning as a young scientist.

Q: What are your motivations behind your career?

A: In today’s fast-paced technological world, being a scientist has become more exciting than ever. I hope to contribute to the field of medical technologies and make a difference in the delivery of healthcare.

Q: If you could invent something for the betterment of the world, what would it be?

A: I would like to invent a technology that can improve the quality of life of people with long-term disability and illness.

The Institute for Infocomm Research (I²R) aims to power a vibrant and strong Infocomm ecosystem in Singapore through key research areas in artificial intelligence, audio; language & speech, data analytics, communications & networks, cybersecurity, healthcare, robotics & AV, satellite, smart energy & environment and video & image analytics.

Keen to pursue a career in STEM? Start your journey with an A*STAR scholarship today!