HEAD of Singapore's Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) Jackie Ying has been named one of the '100 Engineers of the Modern Era' by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.

The American grouping drew up this list to mark its 100th anniversary this year. The list honours 100 engineers who have made significant contributions to the profession after World War II. They were divided into three areas: achievement, leadership and new frontiers.

For the selection committee, one of the things that made Professor Ying stand out in the new frontiers category was her groundbreaking work on nano structures, particles and materials.

Prof Ying, 42, has been leading the research institute under the Agency for Science, Technology and Research since 2003. She came from the United States' Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) chemical engineering faculty, where she is now an adjunct professor.

Prof Ying, a Singapore Permanent Resident, said the award was an honour, since 'some of the world's greatest inventions and scientific breakthroughs that will transform lives are being made possible by the work of chemical engineers'.

Under her charge, the IBN has filed 637 patent applications, 32 of which have already been granted on inventions such as drug-loaded contact lenses and implantable bone scaffolds.

Read the full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times