Singapore-Based Professor Jackie Ying Elected to U.S. National Academy of Engineering

SINGAPORE – A*STAR Senior Fellow and head of NanoBio Lab (NBL), Professor Jackie Y. Ying is the first scientist to be elected as a member to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering (NAE) based on her research in Singapore.

Election to the NAE is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer. Academy membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions to “engineering research, practice, or education, including, where appropriate, significant contributions to the engineering literature” and to “the pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, or developing/implementing innovative approaches to engineering education.” Election of new NAE members is the culmination of a year-long process. The ballot is set in December and the final vote for membership occurs during January. As an NAE member, Prof Ying is invited to participate in National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine workshops and reports on engineering issues of importance to U.S. policies.

Prof. Ying has over 190 primary patents, 41 of which have been licensed to multinational companies and start-ups for applications encompassing nanomedicine, drug delivery, medical implants, cell and tissue engineering, bioassays, and medical devices. She has published 370 articles with over 30,300 citations, and has won numerous awards. Her latest accolade was the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Journal of Drug Targeting. Prof. Ying was inducted to the German National Academy of Sciences in 2005 as its youngest member. She was also elected to American Association for the Advancement of Science (2015), Singapore National Academy of Science (2016), Islamic World Academy of Sciences (2017), U.S. National Academy of Inventors (2017), and Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA) (2019), winning the (TÜBA) Academy Prize in Science and Engineering Sciences in 2018. She was appointed by the U.S. NAE in 2006 to serve on the blue-ribbon committee that identified the grand challenges and opportunities for engineering in the 21st century.

“I am deeply honored to be elected to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering. I am grateful to the American colleagues for nominating and electing me. This is a recognition of our multidisciplinary research conducted at the NanoBio Lab and Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology in Singapore and MIT. I am fortunate to be blessed with a team of creative and passionate researchers, students and collaborators. I look forward to making more impact through commercialization of the latest technologies that we have developed,” said Prof. Ying.

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About NanoBio Lab

NanoBio Lab is a multidisciplinary lab-incubator that is committed to improving lives through scientific discovery and technological innovation. Using nanotechnology, we create new materials and systems with unique functions and enhanced properties for advanced applications. We work closely with hospitals and industry to shape the future of medicine, food safety, environmental monitoring and energy. Our research focus includes high-precision drug delivery vehicles, biocompatible materials for cell culture and medical use, portable detection kits for infectious diseases and food pathogens, intelligent sensors for environmental pollutants and food fraud, organs-on-chip for toxicology testing, and innovative energy storage solutions. Our vision is to improve the world through nanotechnology. Under the direction of renowned nanotechnology researcher, Professor Jackie Y. Ying, the NanoBio Lab works at the intersection of chemistry, materials science, engineering, and medicine to develop new nanocomposites, biomaterials, synthetic molecules, devices and biosystems to tackle major global challenges. As a nationally funded Laboratory, we contribute toward the growth of Singapore’s economy by nurturing research talents, creating portfolios of intellectual properties, and commercializing new technologies. For ongoing news, visit www.a-star.edu.sg/nbl.

About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)

The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is Singapore's lead public sector R&D agency, spearheading economic-oriented research to advance scientific discovery and develop innovative technology. Through open innovation, we collaborate with our partners in both the public and private sectors to benefit society.

As a Science and Technology Organisation, A*STAR bridges the gap between academia and industry. Our research creates economic growth and jobs for Singapore, and enhances lives by contributing to societal benefits such as improving outcomes in healthcare, urban living, and sustainability.

We play a key role in nurturing and developing a diversity of talent and leaders in our Agency and research entities, the wider research community and industry. A*STAR’s R&D activities span biomedical sciences and physical sciences and engineering, with research entities primarily located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis. For ongoing news, visit www.a-star.edu.sg.