Besides handling her research duties, ex-teacher Alice Tay also takes charge of the IMCB's facilities and heads its student outreach programme - the last role putting her in touch of young people again. -- ST PHOTO: CAROLINE CHIA

The 50-year-old principal coordinator at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research's (A*Star) Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) offers gene-sequencing services whenever they are needed, takes charge of the institute's facilities and heads its student outreach programme all at the same time.

Which means on any normal workday, she could be interacting with anyone ranging from accomplished scientists to enthusiastic secondary school students.

In fact, she debunks every possible stereotype that people may have of scientists. She speaks flawless English and casually quotes W.B.Yeats during conversations.

Bubbly and feisty, she is one of those who can speak about everything under the sun, including gene-sequencing a puffer fish, with enthusiasm.

A Google search on her name did not generate scientific reports but an online testimonial she wrote for a cycling instructor.

And for this scientist, dowdy lab coats are strictly worn in the labs.

When The Sunday Times met Dr Tay at her office last week, she had on a pair of diamante-studded jeans, diamante-studded heels, a black top embellished with ribbons and frills, and a casual jacket to make her entire outfit look more formal.

Even then, she regretted not dressing up nicer for the photo shoot.

This all-rounded scientist started off her career as a teacher.

A former Public Service Commission (PSC) scholarship holder, Dr Tay taught chemistry at her alma mater, Raffles Girls' School (RGS), after completing her chemistry degree at the National University of Singapore (NUS) in 1982.

Teaching has always been her first love. 'I've always enjoyed teaching. It is rewarding, especially when students learn something new from you,' she said.

After three years as a teacher, she applied to pursue her master's in education.

However, her application was rejected by the Ministry of Education, which felt that she was not yet ready.

Determined to further her studies, she took no-pay leave and did her master's in chemistry at NUS over 11/2 years.

Because of the move, she took a drastic pay cut - from her comfortable teacher's salary to a student's stipend. Said Dr Tay: 'That's why I'm envious of A*Star scholars. They are paid well even while they are studying.'

She was soon hauled back to the classroom to teach because of her unfinished PSC bond.

This time, she taught at St Andrew's Secondary. It was a 180-degree change. At RGS, she taught girls from the gifted programme while at St. Andrew's, some of the boys she taught were from the Normal stream.

Although they were naughty, many years later, her St Andrew's students still remember her and invite her to their weddings.

When asked about her RGS students, she said: 'Oh, they keep in touch with me, too. But I don't get invited to weddings because many of them are still single.'

Like them, Dr Tay is single, too, and happily so.

In 1987, she quit teaching after serving her bond to join IMCB as a research assistant.

She had to start from square one and, like any newbie, helped in the lab and performed general housekeeping.

After two years, her efforts were recognised and she was recommended for a PhD.

'I'm still grateful for the experience. Some scholars think housekeeping is beneath them. I disagree. You have to start somewhere,' she said.

Her mentor and PhD supervisor, Dr Louis Lim, described his former student as a quick learner who is very diligent.

'Often she had to work overnight, until very late in the morning. But she was never without a smile at all times,' he said.

And while he thinks her intelligence and hardworking nature are typical of most scientists, her personality makes her stand out from the rest.

'Whatever the results of her experiments at the moment, she is always cheerful and optimistic, never daunted, and amiable to her colleagues,' Dr Lim said.

After completing her PhD, Dr Tay was tempted to return to teaching and was even offered a teaching position at an elite boys' school.

But because IMCB desperately needed someone who could do gene-sequencing, she stayed on.

And when the institute put her in charge of its student outreach programme, it was like teaching all over again.

She still works closely with students, teaching them - albeit in smaller groups. Her students range from those in secondary school to A*Star scholarship holders who come back for attachments.

'I used to get along so well with my students. But as I grow older, I can feel the gap. When I brief the kids, I feel like I'm nagging them,' she said with a laugh.

She still enjoys a close relationship with some of her scholarship students. During her free time, she has dinner with them and exchanges e-mail messages with those studying abroad.

When alone, this scientist indulges in 'girly habits' such as going for manicures and pedicures, reading novels and hunting for cheap clothes at bazaars.

'I never buy expensive clothes from boutiques. The clothes I have are all good deals I got from bazaars,' she confessed unabashedly.

Dr Tay got her thrifty ways from her late father, who was from China. A clerk at a shipping company, he was self-educated and strongly believed in education. Home was a one-room flat in Margaret Drive for the family of five.

Despite his low pay, the late Mr Tay saved up enough to buy his three children a costly encyclopaedia set.

It turned out to be a great investment. Dr Tay and her two younger siblings learnt a lot from the encyclopaedias, which sparked off their thirst for knowledge.

Today, her sister, 48, is a paediatrician while her brother, 46, works as a copywriter. Dr Tay still lives with her elderly mother and sister. Home is now a spacious apartment in Pine Grove, off Holland Road.

Despite her achievements, she thinks she is not much different from everyone else. She even believes that she is not very smart.

But what about the PhD?

'A PhD is no big deal. It's just a training period where you do a lot of problem-solving. How many people with PhDs go on to win the Nobel Prize? I think it is more important to do what we can at different levels,' she said.

And then, she quoted a famous Yeats poem: 'Look up in the sun's eye and give/What the exultant heart calls good/That some new day may breed the best/Because you gave, not what they would/But the right twigs for an eagle's nest!'

ndianah@sph.com.sg

Modest achiever

'A PhD is no big deal. It's just a training period where you do a lot of problem-solving. How many people with PhDs go on to win the Nobel Prize? I think it is more important to do what we can at different levels.'

DR TAY, on her qualifications