Hamzah KamaruddinA*STAR Research Internship Award & A*STAR Graduate Scholarship

From Junior College to University, A*STAR Research Internship Award (ARIA) awardee (2021) and A*STAR Graduate Scholarship (AGS) Scholar (2022) Hamzah Kamaruddin has always striven to explore new ways to improve people’s lives through science and innovation.

That was why the first-class Hons. student embarked on the ARIA research attachment programme, which changed his impression about research—it is not a rigid endeavour but one that can be fun, exciting and meaningful at the same time.

Find out about Hamzah’s insightful experience with A*STAR:

1. Why did you choose to a research attachment?
   I joined A*STAR to explore what research is really like in Singapore. Through ARIA, I found that research at A*STAR Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre (A*STAR ARTC) is actually about learning and mastering new skills that I could apply to many projects. I was able to take on a specific project in A*STAR ARTC and was given the chance to lead the project under the exceptional supervision of my mentors.
   
   My ARIA project was titled “Heating Assisted Laser Metal Deposition of Metal Matrix Composites”. It was a study of how the incorporation of novel heating strategies can help reduce the cracking of composite materials using a relatively new additive manufacturing technique called laser metal deposition. My mentors guided me on progressing the project effectively and they continuously spurred me on despite a few setbacks along the way.

1. What was your impression about research prior to joining the A*STAR Research Internship Award?
   Prior to joining ARIA, I used to think that research was an inflexible and linear journey. However, through my attachment I’ve seen that A*STAR researchers can make research really fun while they figured out solutions for complex problems.
   
   Helping each other out in the lab was also a great way to get to know people and forge friendships that last beyond the lab walls.

1. What have your experiences been like as an ARIA Awardee?
   I was given many opportunities to grow as a researcher through continuous rounds of planning, experiments and learning from failures. These experiences are a steppingstone for me in my journey as a researcher. I was also able to independently ideate, manage, and execute my ARIA project to reduce cracking for composite materials.
   
   I see this project as a significant contribution to global sustainability efforts in reducing metal waste. From my project findings, cracking in remanufactured industrial parts can be avoided, therefore preventing the eventual scrapping of parts. These findings can help A*STAR ARTC in developing technologies that support industry partners’ net-zero manufacturing efforts. I was also able to actively collaborate and build relationships with industry partners through the A*STAR ARTC consortium, even before I joined the workforce. Along the way, I also garnered both technical and soft skills that are crucial for my career.

1. How has ARIA benefited you, and what has been your favourite aspect of this award?
   The ARIA experience has made me confident in tackling difficult challenges. As a project leader, I was aware of the dos and don’ts of running a project. My mentors also instilled in me a mindset to be constantly thinking about scalability and throughput considerations to better translate my research into industry solutions in the future.