Research Proposals arising from NUSNNI YOUNG INVESTIGATORS CLUB meeting under NUSNNI YOUNG INVESTIGATORS’ RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS (2002)

Application for graduate research is now open. Prospective graduate students can download application forms from the Faculty of Engineering or the Faculty of Science websites.

Students will need to register with either the Faculty of Engineering or the Faculty of Science. To apply for NUSNNI scholarships, send the completed application forms to:

**********************************************************************************
Engineering                                                     Science
Ms Jasmin Lee                                                    Ms Amanda Lee
NUS Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Initiative,      NUS Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Initiative           
c/o Faculty of Engineering,                                   c/o Faculty of Science,   
E3-05-29, 2 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore 117576.  S13-02-12A, 2 Science Drive 3, Singapore 117542.
Email: nnilsf@nus.edu.sg                                      Email: nnilml@nus.edu.sg

More details on Programme available in:
Faculty of Engineering: http://www.gse.nus.edu.sg/
Faculty of Science: http://www.science.nus.edu.sg/graduates/researchprog/

********************************************************************************************

The following list of research projects are now available for graduate students:-

Electron Transport in Single Molecule Investigated by Mixed Self-Assembly & Conducting AFM
Enzyme immobilization for biocatalysis and biosensor applications
Fabrication of 3D Micro/Nano Template
Fabrication of Molecular Motors & Components using Surface Modified Polymer Spheres
Growth of Nanocrystalline Diamond Films & Boron Nitride/Carbon Nanotubes Using Microwave Plasma 
     Enhanced Chemical Vapore Deposition
Interaction Between Polymeric Nanoparticles & Biological Cell Membrane
      (Experimental & Theoretical, suitable for PhD students ONLY)
Luminescent Nanoprobes for Multiplexed Analysis of Biomolecules
Magnetic & Semiconductor Nanostructures for Spintronic Applications
Nano Filters
Nano Sensors
Nano-Scale Electron Microscopy

Main supervisor: A/Prof Anjam Kursheed (Dept of Electrical & Computing Engrg, FOE)

Co-supervisor(s): A/Prof Andrew Wee T S (Dept of Physics, FOS)

Due to recent interest in nano-technology, electron microscopy techniques have received greater attention. This is because electron microscopy not only provides a way of imaging surface features on the nano-scale, it can also obtain structural and chemical information through the use of energy spectral techniques. In the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the NUS, there are a variety of graduate research projects aimed at developing electron microscopy analytical instrumentation to improve the study of nano-structures. These projects typically aim to combine the high resolution imaging capability of electron microscopy to energy spectroscopic methods.

Students will receive the chance to work on challenging areas relating to electron microscopy and surface science. They will also gain experience in operating various electron optical columns such as the scanning electron microscope and designing novel columns of their own. Candidates applying for these projects should have a good grasp of the fundamental principles of electricity and magnetism.

Please use the application forms of the Faculty of Engineering.

Main supervisor: Prof Seeram Ramakrishna (Department of Mechanical Engineering, FOE)

Co-supervisor(s): To be assigned

Our main goal is to fabricate and develop rapid, sensitive and less expensive nanofiber based sensors to detect biomolecules, gases and to trace chemical compounds. As we are know, sensors comprises of two elements, a detection element coupled to a physical element, converting the sensed signal into meaningful information. The project is still in the initial planning and conceptualization stage; we have successfully spun nanofibers and also functionalized their surface. Investigation is now on study of the binding properties of these polymer nanofibers with biological molecules like proteins and enzymes.

Please use the application forms of the Faculty of Engineering.

Main supervisor: Prof Seeram Ramakrishna (Department of Mechanical Engineering, FOE)

Co-supervisor(s): To be assigned

We are developing a new kind of affinity membrane using electrospun polymeric nanofibers. Affinity membrane is also called molecular filtration membrane or adsorptive membrane and is widely used for affinity separation. The rationale of our idea is that the 2-D non-woven polymer nanofiber sheet has properties necessary for affinity membrane such as high surface area to volume ratio, micro scaled interstitial space with high interconnectivity, good morphology stability, and easily controllable fiber diameter and the sheet thickness. These properties make the electrospun polymer nanofiber sheet a potential candidate material for affinity membrane.

Please use the application forms of the Faculty of Engineering.

Main Supervisor: Dr Teo Kie Leong (Dept of Electrical & Computer Engineering, FOE)

Co-supervisor(s): Dr Mansoor Bin Abdul Jalil (Dept of Electrical & Computer Engrg, FOE),
                         Dr Liew Yun Fook Thomas (DSI),
                         Prof Chong Tow Chong (Dept of Electrical & Computer Engrg & DSI),
                        A/P Wu Yihong (Dept of Electrical & Computer Engineering & DSI),
                        A/P Shen Ze Xiang (Dept of Physics, FOS)

The recent success in spin injection from magnetic metals, from dilute magnetic semiconductors, and from non-magnetic semiconductor, and the transport of the spin-polarized current in semiconductors at room temperature promises the possibility of integrating spin transport devices (e.g. spin transistors, spin switches, and spin-based magnetic random access memory) in standard microelectronics at higher density, ultrafast speed, non-volatility, more logic and memory functionalities, and lower power consumption than the conventional charge-based microelectronic devices. The objectives of this research are (a) growth and characterization of ferromagnetic metals and semiconductor materials for spintronic application, (b) design and fabrication of thin films and spintronic prototype devices using different injector materials and nanostructures and (c) development of theoretical models and computation for magnetic and transport properties of magnetic semiconductors and hybrid ferromagnetic-semiconductor heterostructures. Techniques that will be employed include (a) the growth of materials using molecular beam epitaxy, (b) nanofabrication and nanolithography, (c) optical and structural characterization, (d) RKKY and tight-binding models for calculating magnetic properties, and (e) free-electron quantum model (ballistic and tunneling) and modified Boltzmann model (diffusive) for calculating transport properties.

Please use the application forms of the Faculty of Engineering.

Main supervisor: Dr Han Mingyong (Dept of Materials Science, FOS)

Co-supervisor(s): Dr Liu Wen-Tso (Dept of Civil Engineering, FOE)

Nano-biotechnology has emerged as one of the scientific and technological areas combining the innovative potential of nanotechnology and biotechnology, requiring close collaboration between researchers from different disciplines. As current research in genomics and proteomics produces more sequence data, there is a strong need for new technologies that can screen a large number of genes and proteins. Our research is to focus on developing luminescent nanomaterials as biological nano-probes and revolutionary biochips for the multiplexed bio-analysis. It will play an important role in solving biological and biomedical problems at molecular and cellular levels. Quantitatively multi-parameter analysis at single cell level will provide a direct way to identify sets of genes correlating with certain diseases, such as cancer.

Please use the application forms of the Faculty of Science.

Main supervisor: Dr Yu Liya (Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, FOE)

Co-supervisor(s): A/P Feng Si-Shen (Division of Bioengineering and Department of
                                                      Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, FOE)

Polymeric nanoparticles have great potentials in medical application such as cancer chemotherapy, gene delivery and tissue repair. However, our understanding of interactions between nanoparticles and biological cells are quite limited. This project proposes application of lipid monolayers at the air-water or oil-water interface and lipid bilayer vesicles (liposomes) as model cell membranes to conduct quantitative investigation on interactions between polymeric nanoparticles and the lipid membrane, which include nanoparticle adhesion to, penetration into, and interaction with the lipid membrane. Cell line experiment will also be conducted. Emphasis will be given to the effects of nanoparticles size, surface charge and surface coating on the amount and rate of nanoparticle penetration. Various state-of-the-art techniques will be employed for nanoparticle preparation, characterization and penetration/interaction investigation, which may include laser light scattering, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), tunnel electron microscopy (TEM), and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Molecular thermodynamics and mechanics will be applied to interpret the measured data. The information obtained can provide general guidance for nanoparticle technology to be applied in medicine.

Please use the application forms of the Faculty of Engineering.

Main supervisor: Dr Loh Kian Ping (Dept of Chemistry, FOS)

Co-supervisor(s): A/Prof Andrew Wee T S (Dept of Physics, FOS),
                        A/Prof Thong, John (Dept of Electrical & Computer Engineering, FOE)

Attachment of biomolecules (eg. neural cells, DNA etc.) on polymer-functionalised diamond electrode for examining the suitability of diamond electrode for use as prosthetic devices in brain tissue study.

Please use the application forms of the Faculty of Science.

Main supervisor: Dr Suresh Valiyaveettil (Dept of Chemistry, FOS)

Co-supervisor(s): Dr Sow Chorng Haur (Dept of Physics, FOS),
                         A/P Lim Chwee Teck (Dept of Mechanical Engineering, FOE)

Developing molecular machines and components such as motors, valves etc. is an emerging area of research in nanotechnolgoy. Recently, Sow et. al developed a mechanism to control the rotation of polymeric spheres using lasers. Here, we are interested in using surface fucntionalized polymer spheres to control the rotation of the spheres as well as develop novel applications in microfluidics or other areas. The project will focus on optimization of the surface morphology of the spheres through chemical functionalization as well as to optimize the environmental conditions such as viscosity of the medium, temperature etc. to develop molecular components using such modified polymer spheres.

Please use the application forms of the Faculty of Science.

Main supervisor: Dr Sow Chorng Haur (Dept of Physics, FOS)

Co-supervisor(s): Dr Zhao XS, George (Dept of Chemical & Biomolecular Engrg, FOE)
                         Dr Liu Xiang-Yang (Dept of Physics, FOS)

The project will be involving the studies of the mechanism of the formation of 3D colloidal crystal. Project includes looking at the influence of external influences of the formation of the crystal and the feasibility of using the assembly as Micro/Nano Template.

Please use the application forms of the Faculty of Science.

Main supervisor: Dr Zhao X. S., George (Dept of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, FOE)

Co-supervisor: Dr Loh Kian Ping (Dept of Chemistry, FOS)

The application of an enzyme as a biocatalyst is greatly hampered by its reusability. This is because free enzyme lacks of long-term stability under process conditions and difficult to recover from the reaction mixture. Hence the idea of immobilizing the enzyme on a rigid solid support to enable easy separation and reuse, and the possibility of operation in a packed-bed has been of great industrial interest. This project aims to immobilize enzyme on porous solids. The immobilized enzymes will be evaluated in terms of their enzymatic activity. The use of immobilized enzyme for biosensor application will be explored as well.

Please use the application forms of the Faculty of Engineering.

Main supervisor: A/Prof Andew Wee T S (Dept of Physics, FOS)

Co-supervisor(s): Dr Xie Xianning (NUSNNI),
                        A/Prof Thong, John (Dept of Electrical & Computer Engineering, FOE)

Understanding electron transport through single molecule is of significant importance in molecular electronics. Metal-molecule-metal junctions formed by self-assembly can display useful electrical behavior such as rectification, negative differential resistance and electrochemical switching. This project addresses the fundamental science of electron transport properties in molecules. Basically, it has the following objectives:

1) To measure the conductivity for various molecules including saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbon chains, conjugated molecular rings.

2) To investigate the dependence of I-V curves on the number of molecules bridging the electrodes, extract the conductivity for a single molecule, and further examine the coupling effects among molecules.

The approach is based on mixed self-assembly and conducting atomic force microscopy (CAFM). The formation of homogeneous binary self-assembled monolayers is used to control the number of molecules contacting the electrodes. Conducting AFM is utilized to form metal-molecule-metal junctions, and perform the I-V curve measurements.

Please use the application forms of the Faculty of Science.