LAUNCH PAD
to Exciting Possibilities
Division of Physics & Applied Physics
Direct B.Sc. (Hons) in Physics
School of Physical & Mathematical Sciences
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what some of our graduates are doing now
excitingpossibilities
Physics and Applied Physics | NTU
“My time spent in Physics and Applied
“My favourite part in Physics and Applied
Physics (PAP) was the most character
shaping chapter of my life. This was a period
of time I can now look back upon and
conclude that it was the best time of my life
thus far. I toiled at the rigorous academic
workload, trained up my experimental
dexterity, built rapport with batch-mates,
befriended the administrative staff, had
tea-breaks with professors, guided many
juniors, gritted my teeth through the final
year project, and finally here I stand, a proud
graduate. I would not trade my time spent
here for anything else.”
Physics (PAP) was that I was involved in
undergraduate research projects since my
early second year. This allowed me to learn
while doing - manipulating ultrafast laser
systems; building optical setups; configuring
the electronics and programming interfaces
from scratch. The involvement in cutting edge
physics projects and the dedicated
mentorship of three professors over the years
played an important part in my learning and
shaping of my perspectives.”
Edbert Jarvis SIE
Class of 2008 | SMUK I BPK PENABUR,
Jakarta Alumnus | pursuing PhD at MIT researching on strongly correlated electron
systems in condensed matter
/////////////////////////// Launching
to Postgraduate Studies in Top Universities
“I like that in PAP, students are given
ample opportunities to engage in research
work from their early undergraduate years.
For those planning to pursue a postgraduate
degree or research career, these experiences
are extremely useful. The most memorable
times I had in PAP was while doing my final
year project. I later went on to present the
results at the International Conference on
Materials for Advanced Technologies and
had a journal publication on it as well.”
PANG Ai Lin Christina
Class of 2009 | Hwa Chong Junior College
Alumna | pursuing joint A*STAR - Imperial
College PhD - researching on photovoltaics.
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NGIAM Song Wee
Class of 2011 | Raffles Junior College
Alumnus | Physics Teacher (MOE)
Launching to an Exciting Career ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
“I work on sensor image processing aiming
to give our soldiers the best eyes in the
battlefield. Although there was a lot to learn
on the job, my four years in PAP has given
me a good foundation in terms of knowledge
and problem solving techniques. Typically,
professors in PAP would warmly open their
labs to undergraduates interested to join
them for research projects. This allowed
me to explore research as a career and
Physics became more interesting as we
saw concepts learnt in class put to
use in real life.”
SEOW Kai Ling Cheryl
Class of 2010 | Meridian Junior College
Alumna | Member of Technical Staff at
DSO National Laboratories
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what some of our graduates are doing now
excitingpossibilities
“At Physics and Applied Physics (PAP),
I enjoyed the freedom to learn and was
fortunate to be closely supervised by a few
professors. My most memorable moments
include the countless number of lunch time
chit-chats with many different professors,
who invariably talk about their fascinating
stories and never fail to impress us or impart
a lesson in life.”
WANG Shengtao
Class of 2011 | Hwa Chong Junior College
Alumnus | pursuing PhD at University of
Michigan Ann-Arbor
/////////////////////////// Launching
“At Physics and Applied Physics, I have
been exposed to mainstream scientific
research. The approachable and friendly
faculties created an environment conducive
for learning and building intellectual
confidence. At Physics and Applied
Physics, I built my first laser.”
Purnawirman HUANG
Class of 2009/2011 (Masters) |
SMAN 1 Pekanbaru, Indonesia Alumnus |
pursuing PhD at MIT working on
photonics microsystems
to Postgraduate Studies in Top Universities
Other NTU Physics Graduates currently pursuing PhD
Ma Rui Chao (Harvard University) Ali Sucipto Tan (UC Berkeley)
Gao Jing (Rochester University) Wu Xing (Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics)
Tan Zhi Yong (Rice University) Chong You Quan (Stony Brook University)
Goh Boon Chong (University of Illinois Urbana Champaign)
Jeremy Hadidjojo (University of Michigan Ann-Arbor)
Mridula Damodaran (Purdue University)
NTU: Ho Hui Wen | Tan Lihao | Huynh Hoai Nguyen | Michael Adrian |
Tee Xian Yang | Xia Bin | Chan Chon U | Azat Sulaev | Indra Purnama |
Kwan Yue Chau | Tai Kong Fai | Wong Wan Chap | Zhang Zhifeng
NUS: Teguh Citra Asmara | Li Suchun | Lim Ci Ji | Ricksen Surya Winardhi |
Teo Yon Shin
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Physics and Applied Physics | NTU
“My four years at Physics and Applied
Physics (PAP) prepared me well for my role
as a research engineer in Robert Bosch
SEA and though the time spent studying
physics was difficult, tiring and frustrating,
it has developed my perseverance and
this helps me in solving scientific problems
that I encounter in my work.”
KWAN Yue Chau Garen
Class of 2011 | Anderson Junior College
Alumnus | Research Engineer at Robert
Bosch SEA and con-currently pursuing
PhD At NTU
“My job involves sourcing, compiling and
analysing fiscal, social and economic data used
by MOF in formulating government policies.
I also help monitor local and international
developments that may impact Singapore.
At Physics and Applied Physics, solving mind
twisting problems in relativity and the abstract
quantum mechanics help developed in-depth
analytical thinking. The freedom to take electives
in business and mathematics also broaden my
perspectives – learning cross disciplinary
applications.”
CHOI Wen Ting | Class of 2011
Class of 2011 | Jurong Junior College Alumnus |
Associate (Economics) at Ministry of Finance
Launching to an Exciting Career ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Some examples of career options for physics graduates
Technology
DSO National Laboratories, Hewlett-Packard, Sony, Seagate, Samsung, A*STAR,
Applied Materials etc.
Education
Ministry of Education, Nanyang Technological University etc.
Professionals
British Petroleum, Singapore General Hospital, National Cancer Center (Singapore),
National Environment Agency etc.
Commerce and Finance
Ernst & Young, Standard Chartered, Singapore Exchange, Bank of America, Ministry of Finance etc.
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Quality Teaching and Undergraduate Research Opportunities
empoweringourstudents
Physics and Applied Physics | NTU
Assistant Prof
SUM Tze Chien
Nanyang Award
for Excellence
in Teaching 2006
SPMS Teaching
Excellence Award
2006, 2007, 2008, 2009:
Honour Roll 2010
Koh Boon Hwee
Scholars Award 2011
(honoured by student
Ngiam Song Wee)
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/////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Nanyang Assistant Prof XIONG Qihua
(Right) (National Research Foundation Fellow)
with Muhammad Iqbal Bakti Utama
(Physics and Applied Physics 4th year)
“I joined Prof Xiong’s research group in
///////////////////////////////////////////////////
Assistant Prof Elbert CHIA Ee Min
Nanyang Award for Excellence
in Teaching 2011
SPMS Teaching Excellence Award
2010, 2011
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Nanyang Assistant Prof Rainer DUMKE
(Left) with OON Fong En (NTU 2011)
and exchange Masters student
Mussie BEIAN (from Darmstadt, Germany)
in the ultra-cold physics laboratory.
my second year and was exposed to the
frontier of nanoscience and nanotechnology.
I developed a novel methodology to prepare
nano-sized structures called semiconductor
nanowires and studied their unique physical
properties where quantum effects become
increasingly apparent. Thus far, I have
co-authored three publications: Nano Lett.
2011, 11, 3051, (where I was the first author
and the article was featured on the cover of
August 2011 Nano Lett.); Adv. Mater. 2011,
23, 1404; and Nano Lett. 2010, 10, 3940.”
- Iqbal
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Visiting Prof Maria-Elisabeth MICHELBEYERLE and Gagik G GURZADYAN
having a discussion on the application of
ultrafast laser spectroscopy to study the
dynamics of biomolecules.
I
n PAP, we host renowned visiting
professors, including Nobel Laureate
Prof Rudolph A. Marcus.
Our proximity to the Institute of
Advanced Studies (NTU), which
regularly hosts international
conferences and Nobel laureates,
also allows our students to have
opportunities to interact with
these distinguished researchers.
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Physics and Applied Physics | NTU
Physics Research at Different Frontiers
SMALL THINGS
BIG FUTURE
NANOSCIENCE &
NANOELECTRONICS
(H. J. FAN, W. S. LEW, Y. MA,
Z. X. SHEN, C. SOCI, T. WU,
Q. H. XIONG, T. YU)
Contributed by T. Yu and Q. H. Xiong
(Left) Electron micrographs of
ZnO flower (~ 1 µm across)
(Right) ZnO nanowires surrounding a
30 nm thick cross-shaped gold film
OPTICS & LASER
SPECTROSCOPY
(C. H. HUAN,
G. G. GURZADYAN,
T. C. SUM, H. D. SUN,
B. L. ZHANG)
Study of physics through
various kind of
spectroscopic methods
including use of
femtosecond laser.
ULTRAFAST
10-10m
Ultracold
ULTRACOLD ATOM/
QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY
(R. DUMKE, D. WILKOWSKI)
Contributed by A T Phan
Picture shows the
structure of a new
DNA fold revealed
by Nuclear Magnetic
Resonance (NMR)
Cavitation within a droplet.
Featured in Wired and
National Geographic.
ORDER IN
COMPLEXITY
THEORETICAL PHYSICS
Nonlinear/Chaotic systems in Physics;
Condensed Matter Physics;
EconoPhysics etc.
SUPERCONDUCTORS,
QUANTUM MAGNETISM,
TOPOLOGICAL INSULATORS
(E. M. CHIA, C. PANAGOPOULOS,
L. WANG)
(L. Y. CHEW, S. A. CHEONG,
Y. D. CHONG, S. Y. HO,
P. SENGUPTA, I. SHELYKH)
Contributed by
E M Chia
The peak represents Bose-Einstein
condensate (BEC) at 10-9 K achieved
by a combination of laser cooling
and magnetic evaporative cooling.
Phase diagram of high-temperature
superconductors, showing proximity
of anti-ferromagnetism &
superconductivity. Featured on
cover page of Physica Status
Solidi: Rapid Research Letters
ATMOSPHERIC PHYSICS
(T. Y. KOH)
106 s
EXOTIC
STATES
OF MATTER
Contributed by R Dumke
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FLUID DYNAMICS
(C. D. OHL)
BIOPHYSICS
(A. T. PHAN,
S.-Y. TEE,
M-E. MICHELBEYERLE)
10-15 s
Contributed by L. Y. Chew
Poincare section of a chaotic
coupled pendulum system showing
KAM islands amidst a chaotic sea.
COAMPS simulation of typhoon Vamei hitting the
southern tip of the Malay Peninsula and Singapore
on 27 Dec 2001 at 0600 UTC (1400h Singapore
Time). Arrows denote 850mb-winds and shading
(with the zero contour in magenta) represent the
absolute vorticity (a measure of local rotation) in
the flow.
106 m
At NTU Physics and Applied Physics, our research
covers both the technological and the theoretical
realms of Physics; we construct tiny nanostructures by
manipulating atom by atom, probe ultrashort microscopic
processes in nature using ultrafast femtosecond lasers…
study organic solar cells…analyze vast atmospheric
systems…exploring the common themes encompassing
theoretical Physics, complex systems and the financial
markets; chilling to near absolute zero, we can generate
an `army’ of gaseous atoms moving in unison…in selected
solids, we experiment to find the right conditions to
produce exotic states of matter which may have
technological applications…we study the behaviour and
many applications of empty bubbles in liquids such as
fragmentation of kidney stones and non-invasive delivery
of medical drugs…we also research on the living dynamics and structure of the complex DNA; …the list
goes on....anyone interested in invisibility cloaks?
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Quality Teaching and Undergraduate Research Opportunities
empoweringourstudents
///////////////////////////////////////////////////
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Assistant Prof CHEONG Siew Ann
Assistant Prof CHEW Lock Yue
Nanyang Award for Excellence
in Teaching 2010
SPMS Teaching Excellence Award
2008, 2010, 2011
Science Mentorship Programme
Outstanding Mentor Award
2010
Nanyang Award for Excellence
in Teaching 2007
SPMS Teaching Excellence Award
2009
Assistant
Prof KOH Tieh Yong
SPMS Teaching
Excellence Award
2006, 2007, 2009
Koh Boon Hwee
Scholars Awards
2011 (separately
honoured by students
Aaron Chiang and
Wang Shengtao)
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Physics and Applied Physics | NTU
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Dr MA Yun
Physics lecturer at PAP
conducts fundamental Physics courses.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Yenny WIJAYA
building a laser system when she was in
undergraduate second year. After
graduation, she started working at
Intel-Micron as workforce development
engineer.
Nanyang Assistant
Prof Cesare SOCI
(winner of
ProSPER.NET-Scopus
Young Scientist Award)
and CHIN Xin Yu
(Physics and
Applied Physics 4th year)
discussing about the
properties of organic
polymers that are useful
for plastic solar cells.
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workplayduality
Physics and Applied Physics | NTU
“IIn the Division of Physics and Applied Physics
students and professors share the joy in making
discoveries together.”
Associate Prof PHAN Anh Tuan (centre)
Acting Head of Division (with students
Christopher Lech and Pham Dang Khoa)
///////////////////////////////////////////////////
LEE Jun Hin, Kenneth
3rd year
TANG Chi Sin
Singapore
4th year
Polytechnic
St Andrew’s
Alumnus
Junior College
Alumnus
CHUA Xin Yi, Simon
2nd year
Ngee Ann
MA Ka Kui
Polytechnic
4th year
Alumnus
Meridian Junior
College Alumnus
QUEK Wei Liang
3rd year
Jurong Junior
College Alumnus
LEUNG
Ho Fai
4th year
National
Junior
College
Alumnus
Felicia Fibiani
PERMATASARI
4th year
EBTANAS/SMA
UAN – SMA
Kristen Petra 2,
Surabaya Alumna
LIN Qinghua
4th year
Hwa Chong
Junior
College
Alumnus
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TAM Qian Xin
3rd year
Sek Men J
Keb Nan
Hwa Almuna
CHOU
Kok Loong
4th year
Serangoon
Junior College
Alumnus
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“Physics is exciting and physics at
NTU is a great and rewarding adventure.”
Prof HUAN Cheng Hon, Alfred (left)
with student Quek Wei Liang at 2011 PAP nite.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////
PING PONG DAY
An opportunity to play a game of ping pong with
the professors. Here, we see Prof Shen Zexiang
in action.
Students
at Work
Learning about
interferometry
(Left to right:
Students Chou
Kok Loong, Lim
Hui Ping, Chan
Zi Yu and Tang
Chi Sin)
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workplayduality
T
here are many opportunities for
students to go abroad for exchange
programs, attend workshops and even
conferences.
Whei Yeap on an exchange program in
McMaster University in Canada – he also
had the chance to visit many US and
Canadian cities during the five months there.
SUEN Whei Yeap
Class of 2011
SMK St. Michael’s Institution, Ipoh Alumnus
///////////////////////////////////////////////////
Chern Han (right) having a discussion with
Physics and Applied Physics | NTU
“I enjoy studying in PAP ever since
I enter NTU. The courses are very
interesting and my passion towards
physics had been greatly increased.
The professors, lecturers and tutors I
had met are nice and approachable. I
can ask for advices whenever I need
them. At the end of my first year, I
had joined a research group under
one of my professors. Throughout the
research, I gained a lot of knowledge
and experience. After one year in PAP,
I know that I have chosen the right
path for my future.”
TAM Qian Xin (centre)
Prof Roy Glauber at the annual Lindau Nobel
Laureate Meeting in 2010. Chern Han is one
of the ten students selected from universities
in ASEAN to attend. That year, Singapore
universities had two representatives, both
from School of Physical and Mathematical
Sciences, NTU.
Physics and Applied Physics
3rd year
Sek Men J Keb Nan Hwa Almuna
(with Phua Jun Hao and Kenneth Lee)
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////
“My experience in PAP has been truly
ER Chern Han
Class of 2010
Foon Yew High School, Johor Bahru Alumnus
enriching. There are many knowledgeable
lecturers and tutors that constantly provide
guidance and enlightenment in not only
concepts about physics, but also about
concepts in life. Over the past one year, I’ve
gained a great deal of confidence in my own
abilities to adapt and succeed.”
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I
n 2011, Hugh Tay secured a three month
internship at CERN where the Large Hadron
Collider (LHC) is housed.
“In CERN, Physicists are on the quest of
understanding the most fundamental building
blocks of our universe – answering questions
such as why is there mass; are there higher
dimensions etc.”
ANG Yuen Siang
Physics and Applied Physics 3rd year
Victoria Junior College Alumnus
Hugh TAY Keng Liang
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Physics and Applied Physics 4th year
Tampines Junior College Alumnus
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CONTACT INFORMATION
Division of Physics & Applied Physics
School of Physical & Mathematical Sciences
Nanyang Technological University
SPMS-PAP-02-01, 21 Nanyang Link
Singapore 637371
Email juliettansp@ntu.edu.sg | laichun@ntu.edu.sg
Phone (65) 6316 8854 | (65) 6316 2962
Fax
(65) 6795 7981
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