Honours and Accolades
Clarivate's list of Highly Cited Researchers 2024
Congratulations to the A*STAR IHPC staff who have been recognised in Clarivate's 2024 list of Highly Cited Researchers.
- Prof Zhang Yong-Wei, Distinguished Research Fellow
- Dr Wu Gang, Principal Scientist, Materials Science & Chemistry
- Dr Fu Huazhu, Principal Scientist, Computing & Intelligence
Clarivate's list of Highly Cited Researchers 2023
Congratulations to Dr Zhang Gang, Senior Principal Scientist from the Engineering Mechanics department at A*STAR's Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC), who has been recognised in Clarivate's 2023 list of Highly Cited Researchers.
In his research contributions to computational materials science and nanoscale heat conduction, Dr Zhang has found the thermal properties of nanostructures differ significantly from their bulk counterparts because the phonon characteristic lengths are comparable to the lengths of nanostructures. His theoretical and simulation results provided rigorous proof for the “breakdown of Fourier’s law” and have been widely accepted as a basic law of heat conduction in nanoscale.
Read more on Clarivate's annual list of Highly Cited Researchers.
2023 Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology
Our heartiest congratulations to Dr Gao Xian Ke Richard, a Senior Principal Scientist from the Electronics and Photonics department at the A*STAR’s Institute of High Performance Computing for his election as a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (FIET).
With an unwavering dedication to electromagnetic compatibility/interference (EMC/EMI), he has consistently showcased remarkable technological innovations. Dr Gao has pioneered the incorporation of robust design methodologies and metamaterials to address emerging challenges in this field. Notably, his ground-breaking work encompasses the innovative common-mode filtering technology utilising electromagnetic bandgap materials for high-speed electronic systems, and unique 2D/3D frequency selective surfaces technology for 5G electromagnetic shielding and absorption by achieving wideband and multi-band. These innovative technologies have provided tangible benefits to the industry, solidifying their significance.
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is a leading professional organisation headquartered in the United Kingdom. The Fellowship of IET is a prestigious honour bestowed upon individuals who have made significant contributions to the engineering and technology field, recognising their expertise, leadership, and commitment to advancing the profession.”
More about the Fellowship of Institution of Engineering and Technology - FIET.
2023 Fellow of the Royal Society
Our heartiest congratulations to Prof Gao Huajian, Scientific Director at A*STAR’s Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC) and Distinguished University Professor at the Nanyang Technological University for his election as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), the UK’s national academy of sciences and the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence.
Prof Gao's pioneering contributions in nanomechanics of engineering and biological systems have earned him recognition. He integrates analytical and computational approaches with state-of-the-art experiments to understand how materials' deformation and failure characteristics depend on their internal microstructures. By applying fundamental concepts of plasticity, diffusion theory, and hierarchical materials design, Prof. Gao predicts properties of engineering and biological structures, from nanomechanical devices to reversible adhesion in biology.
"Being elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society is a huge honour for me – it’s a scientist’s dream! The society is one of the oldest scholarly societies in the world, with legendary scientists among its members like Isaac Newton", says Prof Gao.
Read more about the Royal Society and other recipients.
2023 SES Fellow / A*STAR's Highly Cited Researchers of 2022
Our heartiest congratulations to Prof Yong-Wei Zhang, Distinguished Institute Fellow at A*STAR Institute of High Performance Computing (A*STAR IHPC) for being elected as the 2023 Society of Engineering Science (SES) Fellow, the first and only researcher in Singapore. He has also made it into Clarivate's list of Highly Cited Researchers 2022. This is his 5th consecutive year receiving this accreditation.
"Perform research with Passion, Persistence and Collaboration", says Prof Zhang.
Congratulations to all recipients: SES Fellow
2020 Outstanding Computing Alumni Award
Congratulations to Dr Yang Yinping, Principal Investigator, Senior Scientist & Group Manager, Social & Cognitive Computing at A*STAR's Institute of High Performance Computing in receiving the 2020 Outstanding Computing Alumni Award (OCAA) - Young Alumni Award from NUS Computing.
In selecting the award winners, the selection committee has considered the following criteria:
(a) contribution/leadership in profession, industry or discipline;
(b) service to NUS/SoC, community, or the nation;
(c) entrepreneurship; and (d) any other area of human endeavour deemed worthy.
Read more on the 2020 Outstanding Computing Alumni Award (OCAA).
NRF Fellowship
Congratulations to Dr Fernando Basura, Scientist from Social & Cognitive Computing at A*STAR's Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC) in receiving the Singapore National Research Foundation (NRF) Fellowship Award, Class of 2022.
The NRF Fellowship support potential breakthrough projects led by young investigators of the highest calibre. Read more about NRF Fellowship.
A*STAR's Highly Cited Researchers of 2021
Congratulations to Prof Zhang Yong-Wei for making into Clarivate's list of Highly Cited Researchers 2021. This is his 4th consecutive year in receiving this accreditation. His work at A*STAR's IHPC employs and develops theories and modelling and simulation tools to investigate the structural, mechanical, electronic, thermal and chemical properties of materials, with a focus on new material design, additive manufacturing, nanoelectronics, and green energy.
Prof Zhang Yong-Wei is Principal Scientist II and Deputy Executive Director (Research) at IHPC. He is an Adjunct Professor at the National University of Singapore and Singapore University of Technology and Design. He has published more than 500 peer reviewed international journal papers and was listed as a Highly Cited Researcher in 2018, 2019 and 2020 by Clarivate. He is an Editorial Board Member for Advanced Theory and Simulation (Wiley), Modelling and Simulation in Materials Science and Engineering (IOP), and International Journal of Applied Mechanics (World Scientific).
IET Fellowship
The prestigious IET Fellowship is the highest membership level by IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology) awarded to individuals who have demonstrated recent significant achievement(s) sustained at high levels for a period of at least five years or more in engineering, technology or related disciplines relevant to the IET.
Read more about Fellow (FIET) membership.
IOP Fellowship
Dr Gang Zhang, Senior Scientist, Electronics & Mechanics Department at A*STAR's Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC) has been awarded the IOP Fellowship.
More about Dr Zhang:
- Obtained B. Sci and Ph. D. at Tsinghua University in 1998 and 2002 respectively
- Focused research on nanoscale heat conduction
- Published more than 260 referred papers, with citations over 18,500 and an h-index of 70
- Loves cooking and hiking
- Might become an archaeologist due to a strong interest in history if not a scientist
Find out more on IOP Fellowship.
Vebleo Recognitions
Dr Jason Png, Department Director of Electronics & Photonics at A*STAR's Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC), has been honoured the Vebleo Fellow and the Vebleo Scientist Award for his notable contributions to the progression in the field of materials science, engineering, and technology.
Vebleo Fellow honours and acknowledges researcher or scientist who has prominence and leadership in the field of science, engineering, and technology.
Vebleo Scientist Award is a tribute to the researchers/scientists who have contributed to the progress of humanity through their dedication to science and help to raise the accomplished individual's profile.
Read more on Vebleo.
Most Read Article in 2020
The Journal of Chemical Physics recently released an update on Most Read Articles from 2020. The article - WIEN2k: An APW+lo Program for Calculating the Properties of Solids has garnered the highest record of over 10,000 downloads.
Congratulations to all the researchers, including Dr. Robert Laskowski, Senior Scientist, Materials Science & Chemistry department from IHPC.
Read the full article here.
A*STAR's Highly Cited Researchers of 2020
The highly anticipated list of Highly Cited Researchers™ 2020 identifies researchers who demonstrated significant influence in their chosen field or fields through the publication of multiple highly cited papers during the last decade. Their names are drawn from the publications that rank in the top 1% by citations for field and publication year in the Web of Science™ citation index.
A*STAR's Highly Cited Researchers of 2019
Prof Zhang Yong-Wei
"I am truly humbled and motivated to receive this recognition as a highly-cited researcher for the second consecutive year.
The work I do at A*STAR is multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary in nature, and aims to reveal new insights and understandings across fields such as materials, mechanics, physics, chemistry and biology.
A*STAR provides me the opportunity to partner with local and international ecosystem players such as NUS, Nanjing University, China, Northwestern University and Rice University, USA, and my colleagues from other A*STAR research institutes, including IMRE and SIMTech.
My primary projects focus on exploring 2D materials for energy and electronics applications, improving current additive manufacturing processes, and leveraging machine learning to guide design of high entropy alloys.
My research serves as stepping stones for mankind to advance science and develop new technologies, and I derive great satisfaction from addressing real-world problems such as the continuation of Moore’s law, the need for new materials, and the need for green energy."
Dr Liu Zhuangjian
“I am honoured to be recognised as a highly cited researcher, and it would not be possible without the team’s effort.
Using numerical simulations in our research on materials and micro-structure systems, we developed new approaches to design flexible electronics devices which have excellent mechanical flexibility and make them attractive as wearable devices.
We are collaborating with public hospitals and local universities to produce stretchable devices for health monitoring. This next-generation flexible and wearable electronics also offer a wide variety of applications ranging from energy harvesting devices to smart prosthetics and human–machine interfaces.
Together with my colleagues at A*STAR and beyond, we combine mechanics with innovative engineering to design devices with more functional capabilities to improve lives.
Outside work, I spend quality time with my family and friends, swim and read.”
Integrated Environmental Modeller (IEM) wins multiple awards in 2019
15 Sep 2019
The Integrated Environmental Modeller (IEM) developed by A*STAR’s Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC), Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R) and Housing & Development Board (HDB), has won multiple awards this year, including:
- President's Technology Award 2019
- Minister for National Development’s R&D Merits Awards 2019
- IES Prestigious Engineering Awards 2019
- ASEAN Outstanding Engineering Achievement Awards 2019
IEM is a first-of-its-kind high resolution modelling tool that allows users to project how various environmental factors such as solar, wind, temperature, noise; as well as their interrelationships and combined impact affects an urban setting. Other modellers currently available in the market are only able to assess each environmental factor in isolation.
IEM is a result of both in-house and open-sourced multi-physics environmental modelling code that captures the correlation of environmental factors. The IEM is the first integrated and scalable tool to couple all key environmental physics and their complex interactions into a single simulation platform using the latest high performance computing technology.
With IEM, users will be able to visualise environmental features such as natural ventilation, air temperature, solar irradiance, and noise levels on a virtual “Digital Twin” platform which allows for efficient refinement to urban plans. This reduces the risk of costly physical trial-and-error, and allows development plans to be tested computationally before actual implementation. It also provides quantitative and scientific assessments that let planners understand the different trade-offs involved to aid decision-making.
The IEM was also adopted in the urban design plan for Tengah New Town, and could be scaled up for the whole island, e.g. island-wide wind map enables the identification of wind corridors to minimise impact of new developments on existing estates.
To know more about IEM, view the video here.
President's Technology Award 2019
From the left: Mr. Fachmin Folianto (I2R), Mr. Tan Sze Tiong (Director, Centre of Excellence for Environmental Sustainability Research, Building & Research Institute, HDB), President Halimah Yacob, Dr. Poh Hee Joo (IHPC) and Dr. Koh Wee Shing (IHPC)
Minister for National Development’s R&D Merits Awards 2019
From the left: Lawrence Wong (Minister for National Development) and Dr. Lim Keng Hui (Executive Director, IHPC)
IES Prestigious Engineering Awards 2019
From the left: Prof. Yeoh Lean Weng (President, IES), Dr. Poh Hee Joo (IHPC), Prof Tan Sze Wee (ACE, SERC A*STAR), Dr. Lye Kin Mun (Executive Director, I2R), Dr. Lim Keng Hui (Executive Director, IHPC), Mr Fong Chun Wah (Deputy CEO, Building, HDB), Dr. Cheong Koon Hean (CEO, HDB), Dr. Amy Khor (Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources), Dr. Wong Liang Heng Johnny (Group Director, Building & Research Institute, HDB) and Mr. Tan Sze Tiong (Director, Centre of Excellence for Environmental Sustainability Research, Building & Research Institute, HDB)
ASEAN Outstanding Engineering Achievement Awards 2019
From the left: Mr. Mervyn Sirisena (Vice President, Education Group, IES Council), Dr. Ir. Heru Dewanto (Chairman, AFEO), Dr. Lim Keng Hui, (Executive Director, IHPC) and Dr. Wong Liang Heng Johnny (Group Director, Building & Research Institute, HDB)
President's Technology Award 2019
The President's Science and Technology Awards (PSTA) are the highest honours bestowed on exceptional research scientists and engineers and underpin Singapore's efforts to raise the level of excellence in research and strengthen the growing community of scientific talent in Singapore.
Minister for National Development’s R&D Merits Awards 2019
The biennial Minister for National Development’s R&D Awards seek to recognise and encourage outstanding R&D efforts from the MND Family and partners which contribute towards MND’s vision of making Singapore “An Endearing Home, A Distinctive Global City”.
IES Prestigious Engineering Awards 2019
The Prestigious Engineering Achievement Awards are to recognise and demonstrate the outstanding engineering skills which have made a significant contribution to the engineering progress and the quality of life in Singapore.
ASEAN Outstanding Engineering Achievement Awards 2019
The ASEAN Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award seeks to confer recognition to outstanding engineers’ achievements which has made a significant contribution to the engineering progress and the quality of life in ASEAN.
A*STAR celebrates International Women's Day
From groundbreaking discoveries to cutting-edge research, our researchers are empowering the next generation of female science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) leaders.
Get inspired by our #WomeninSTEM