Deep diving into biomedical research

Research in biology could potentially lead to clinical treatments that save lives. This understanding inspired Year 4’s NG Hong Xiang to take up a Double Major in Life Sciences and Public Health, where he specialises in biomedical sciences with a focus on infectious diseases and immunology.

Hong Xiang plans to pursue a career in research and has curated his learning pathways with this end in mind.

His Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme in Science (UROPS) experience in conducting independent scientific research was the decisive factor to pursue a PhD after graduation. 

His internship at AMILI, a startup that specialises in gut health, was yet another “remarkable opportunity” to practice integrating knowledge and skills from his courses. He says, “This shows the powerful impact that can be achieved when these two disciplines intersect and collaborate to address pressing health issues.”

For instance, he put laboratory techniques to practical use when dealing with faecal sample processing, as part of his work on microorganisms residing in the human gut. He also gained insights into the application of public health methodologies to improve population health – specifically in conducting cohort studies to explore the link between the gut microbiome and diseases in Singapore.  

As much as academics are important, Hong Xiang believes in balance. He says, “You do not want to look back and regret not making the most of university life.”

He therefore decided to stay in RC4, a decision he does not regret. This experience enabled him to broaden his network, find his “support system” and discover new interests such as tennis, dodgeball and table tennis. He cites, as one of the learning highlights, a course where he applied systems thinking to a real-life project on the Singapore Green Plan 2030. He says, “I learned how to view an issue on a broader lens and take into account extrinsic factors whose impact on the problem may not be immediately clear.”

In the future, he will be pursuing his Final Year Project in the area of viral therapeutics.

Here, Hong Xiang shares his advice to freshmen.