“Do not be afraid to learn from your friends or seniors, because their journey can light the way for yours.”
Dr Yeo Zhen Yuan (SPS Batch 13)
Dr Yeo Zhen Yuan graduates this year as the Valedictorian for the PhD in Physics, Class of 2025. An alumnus of the SPS Batch of 2013, his academic journey has been defined by curiosity, resilience, and a commitment to applying physics across disciplines.
His time in SPS encouraged him to approach questions from multiple perspectives and to think beyond the boundaries of a single discipline. As an undergraduate, he broadened his horizons both academically and through service. In 2015, he spent a semester on exchange at the University of Leeds, where exposure to a different academic culture deepened his appreciation for diverse approaches to science. Back at NUS, he served in the Physics Society in 2016, contributing to the student community while pursuing his studies.
His undergraduate journey culminated in a Physics Honours Final Year Project, “Uncovering Hidden Transmission Routes in Dengue”, a project that reflected the SPS spirit of interdisciplinary research. In this work, he developed algorithms to identify hidden transmission links within viral networks, using epidemic and network models to examine how different factors influenced spread. The project demonstrated how physics-based and computational approaches could illuminate biological challenges, reinforcing his interest in bridging disciplines.
During his PhD, his research flourished at the interface of physics, biology, and data science. At the Environmental Health Institute, he worked on dengue virus evolution and dispersal, creating visualisations that highlighted viral diversity which were later published in PLOS Pathogens. He also developed machine learning tools at the Centre for Advanced 2D Materials to analyse spectroscopy data, enabling automated chemical mapping of materials and lowering barriers for researchers to use advanced techniques. These projects underscored his commitment to making science both rigorous and accessible. His doctoral journey further included contributions to statistical modelling of carbon allotropes and new algorithms for electron microscopy, resulting in publications in Advanced Materials and Nature.
Today, as a Research Fellow with the Department of Statistics and Data Science at NUS, he continues to push boundaries by applying machine learning to nanoparticle research, carrying forward the interdisciplinary spirit nurtured during his years in SPS and Physics.
Dr Yeo’s story is a testament to the value of curiosity, collaboration, and perseverance in scientific discovery. His achievements stand as an inspiration to the community, and we warmly congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition as Valedictorian for PhD in Physics, Class of 2025.
Adapted from Postgraduate valedictorian diaries
