Daisy and Robert Pang Scholarship recipient
March 11, 2016
Celestine Cai, a recipient of the Daisy and Robert Pang Scholarship
Receiving the Daisy and Robert PANG Scholarship at NUS opened up a wide range of learning opportunities for Celestine CAI Xueting, a Year 2 Life Sciences student.
“With the award, I could afford many helpful and stimulating specialist textbooks that would have otherwise have been costly and unaffordable,” said Celestine.
Last summer, she was able to participate in a research programme working on a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnostic panel used for the detection and diagnosis of illnesses and diseases. This summer, she hopes to participate in research programmes overseas to gain exposure to the laboratory practices of international institutes.
“This valuable research experience would have been a pipe dream without the award,” Celestine said.
The Daisy and Robert Pang Scholarship was established in 1986 for undergraduate students with excellent academic results.
The aspiring scientist also finds time in her busy schedule to contribute to a charitable cause – the Artwards project by Artsolute, which brings art therapy to the sick. Professional artists do simple artwork with patients at the National University Hospital (NUH) while volunteers chat with them and guide them through the art therapy.
“Artwards has brought together my hobbies – art, and reaching out to the community. As much as I try to give, I always feel that I receive so much more. Interacting with patients from all walks of life has been a very enriching experience. Experiencing healthcare at the ground level has also strengthened my aspirations to improve diagnostic technologies through advancing research in the field,” she explains.
