Fong Tian WONG

Synthetic Biology, Molecular Engineering, Biocatalysis

PhD - Chemical Engineering, Stanford University

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fong-tian-wong/

SUMMARY

Dr. Fong Tian WONG is a Principal Investigator in IMCB. She started her career in Chemical Engineering through studies at Imperial College London (M.Eng) and Stanford University (PhD and M.Sc). She did her graduate research under the supervision of Professor Chaitan Khosla, specializing in biosynthetic engineering. She further developed her skills in the Molecular Engineering Lab at A*STAR under the guidance of the late Nobel laureate Sydney Brenner. Her academic journey has equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of biology from a chemical engineering perspective, with a focus on biocatalysis and biosynthetic engineering.

Dr. Wong’s research focuses on leveraging microbial factories to drive innovation in biotechnology and drug discovery. She aims to develop scalable and sustainable solutions for efficient biosynthesis of complex molecules and critical enzymes for health and biomanufacturing, while integrating cutting-edge technologies and interdisciplinary expertise.

AWARDS & GRANTS

2023: CSP Functional Genomics award

RESEARCH

Synthetic Biology
Our laboratory explores the intersection of biology and engineering, harnessing biology and natural diversity to drive innovation in biotechnology and drug discovery. We leverage expertise in biochemistry, bioinformatics, enzyme engineering, and genetic engineering, integrating AI-mediated designs with rational engineering approaches to develop novel technologies. We are interested in examining and applying correlations from genes to proteins to products, with a focus on applications in sustainability, natural product discovery, and human health. By leveraging data-driven strategies, automated workflows, and diverse expertise, we strive to fully harness nature’s potential and address critical challenges in these areas.

PUBLICATIONS

Exploring a general multi-pronged activation strategy for natural product discovery in Actinomycetes.
Tay DWP, Tan LL, Heng E, Zulkarnain N, Ching KC, Wibowo M, Chin EJ, Tan ZYQ, Leong CY, Ng VWP, Yang LK, Seow DCS, Lim YW, Koh W, Koduru L, Kanagasundaram Y, Ng SB, Lim YH, Wong FT. (2024).
Communications Biology, 7(1), 50.
Site-selective chlorination of pyrrolic heterocycles by flavin dependent enzyme PrnC.
Peh G, Tay T, Tan LL, Tiong E, Bi J, Goh YL, Ye S, Lin F, Tan CJX, Tan YZ, Wong J, Zhao H, Wong FT, Ang EL, Lim YH. Commun Chem. 2024 Jan 5;7(1):7.
Expression and engineering of PET-degrading enzymes from Microbispora, Nonomuraea, and Micromonospora.
Tiong, E., Koo, Y. S., Bi, J., Koduru, L., Koh, W., Lim, Y. H., & Wong, F. T. (2023).
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 89(11), e00632-23.
A sweeter future: Using protein language models for exploring sweeter brazzein homologs.
Nicholas Chua B, Mei Guo W, Teng Wong H, Siak-Wei Ow D, Leng Ho P, Koh W, Koay A, Wong, F. T. (2023).
Food Chemistry, 136580.
Characterization of Cas proteins for CRISPR‐Cas editing in streptomycetes.
Yeo WL, Heng E, Tan LL, Lim YW, Lim YH, Hoon S, Zhao H, Zhang MM, Wong FT. (2019).
Biotechnology and bioengineering, 116(9), 2330-2338.
CRISPR–Cas9 strategy for activation of silent Streptomyces biosynthetic gene clusters
Zhang, Mingzi M.*, Fong Tian Wong*, Yajie Wang, Shangwen Luo, Yee Hwee Lim, Elena Heng, Wan Lin Yeo et al. (2017)
Nature chemical biology 13, no. 6 (2017): 607-609.
*co-authors

Fong Tian WONG

A*STAR celebrates International Women's Day