Dr Raj Thampuran

Managing director of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star)

Public Administration Medal (Silver)

In the field of materials science that Dr Raj Thampuran is trained in, scientists study the properties of materials and how to shape them.

He has not done that in a while as managing director of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star), but for the past 16 years, he has been growing the agency and shaping it.

He joined A*Star in 2000 as head of its technology planning unit and was appointed managing director in 2012. He also served as executive director of A*Star's Science and Engineering Research Council, which promotes public sector research and development in physical sciences and engineering.

He was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Bronze) in 2007.

He said he is proud of how the agency's work and dedicated team have "grown the organisation to one of international standing".

Being at A*Star has also allowed him to watch others grow. He said: "I am also very privileged to see young officers I had worked with over a decade ago grow professionally to become leaders in A*Star and other organisations."

Janice Heng