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Honorary Fellowships 2022

July 04, 2022

The Faculty of Science congratulates Associate Professor Lai Yee Hing, Department of Chemistry, and Associate Professor Go Mei Lin, Department of Pharmacy, who are awarded the Honorary Fellowship in July 2022.

The Honorary Fellowship recognises Associate Professors on retirement for their positive contributions to the University and its community at the Faculty level.  

Associate Prof Lai Yee Hing, Department of Chemistry

Associate Professor Lai obtained his BSc in Chemistry from the former Nanyang University (1976) and his PhD from the University of Victoria, Canada (1980).

Associate Professor Lai is known for his dedication in teaching, and he is the recipient of multiple teaching excellence awards at University- and Faculty-levels. He has published widely in various journals on the design, synthesis and study of novel aromatic compounds and conjugated materials. 

He contributed to numerous successful programmes including Singapore’s inaugural participation in the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) and led the first Singapore team for the 20th IChO (1998). When Associate Professor Lai was Graduate Advisor, then Chairman of the Graduate Committee in the Department of Chemistry in the mid-1990s, the department witnessed the rapid expansion of its graduate programme. In the late 1990s to early 2000s, as Director of the Special Programme in Science (SPS), Associate Professor Lai introduced focused interdisciplinary courses and Independent Study Modules (ISMs). As the first Principal of the NUS High School of Math and Science (2004 to 2007), Associate Professor Lai set the foundational design of the school; its well-rounded curriculum and unique talent recruitment initiative helped to place it amongst the best in Singapore, especially in science and mathematics education. As the Faculty’s Associate Dean (Education and International Programmes) (2016 to 2020), Associate Professor Lai worked on joint curriculum design and pedagogical teaching innovations with partner universities.

Dean of Science Professor Sun Yeneng said, “Over a distinguished 40-year career, Yee Hing made valuable contributions to teaching, research and administration practices at the Faculty and University. In particular, I would like to express my gratitude for Yee Hing’s administrative leadership and excellence.”

Associate Professor Lai said, “I would like to thank my students, colleagues and senior management for their understanding, support and collaboration, which made my contributions to NUS possible. While leaving is a difficult moment, I am nonetheless honoured to receive this Fellowship that enables me to continue contributing back to my alma mater.” 

Associate Professor Go Mei Lin, Department of Pharmacy

Associate Professor Go obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy (1976) and PhD from NUS (1980) and joined NUS’ Department of Pharmacy in 1981.

Her research focuses on medicinal chemistry, in the areas of designing and synthesising bioactive small drugs with drug-like properties to optimise biological activity and understand their modes of action, by structure-activity relationship studies as well as biochemical and pharmacological approaches. Her research has been published widely in various journals and she has also filed several patents on biologically active entities. She was a member of NUS’ Drug Development Unit (2011 to 2020), which was set up to advance early stage drug discovery efforts and translate them into therapeutic relevance. 

As Acting Head of Pharmacy (1997 to 2000), Associate Professor Go played a central role in steering the transition of the undergraduate pharmacy curriculum from a three-year (+ an optional Honours year) to a four-year programme. This transformation was a timely initiative, even as the pharmacy practice was undergoing paradigmatic shifts in the 1990s and several leading pharmacy schools were adjusting their curricula to meet the higher professional standards required of pharmacists. With the extra year, NUS Pharmacy students gain practical exposure to real-life pharmacy practice. 

Dean of Science Professor Sun Yeneng said, “I would like to extend my appreciation to Mei Lin for her scientific contributions to the field of medicinal chemistry, as well as her work in professionalising the pharmacy curriculum. Thank you, Mei Lin!”

Associate Professor Go said, “I am humbled and grateful to receive this award and I look forward to continue contributing back to the University and Faculty in the years ahead.”