Associate Professor Matthew Chang, 40, is a synthetic biologist at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

He heads the NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI) as programme leader, and teaches in the Department of Biochemistry at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine.

Prof Chang obtained his doctorate at the University of Maryland in the United States. His research focuses on studying engineering biology, and developing a pioneering approach in reprogramming cells for clinical and industrial applications.

Prof Chang has published numerous studies in international journals and registered patents, based on his research in synthetic biology. His scientific contributions have been recognised with international honours and awards, and featured worldwide in the public media.

He is a strong advocate of promoting interdisciplinary science that marries engineering, biological, medical and social sciences through primary, secondary and tertiary education, and public science outreach.

Associate Professor Yew Wen Shan, 41, is a synthetic enzymologist at NUS.

He works at SynCTI, in the Department of Biochemistry at NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, and is a supervisor of the NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering.

Prof Yew obtained his doctorate in biochemistry at the University of Illinois, at Urbana-Champaign in the US. He graduated with first-class honours in biochemistry from NUS, and was a Herbert E. Carter Fellow at the University of Illinois, and an A*Star International Fellow.

A recipient of the NUS Annual Teaching Excellence Award and the NUS Medical Faculty Teaching Excellence Award, he is passionate about training the next generation of doctors, scientists and engineers, and encouraging them to work together for the betterment of humanity.