In this feature, we hear from Nanyang Assistant Professor Ye Chunchun as she shares the journey behind her research, the female mentor who influenced her path, and her advice for the next generation of women engineers and researchers.
Tell us more about yourself and your research area.
“I'm Chunchun Ye and I joined CEE in November 2025. I'm a chemist by training. I design very thin polymer membranes full of tiny, precisely shaped holes.
Think of them as incredibly fussy sieves. I use them as separators inside big batteries that store renewable energy for the grid, as a cleaner alternative to the heat-hungry distillation used to separate crude oil, and as filters that catch carbon dioxide before it reaches the atmosphere.”
What's one aspect of your research that excites you the most?
“The bit I love is that we can almost programme how a membrane behaves by tweaking the molecule it's built from. Rather than endless trial and error, you design the structure and the right properties follow.
It's a little like building a sieve atom by atom, and when it works you can separate two molecules that are barely a fraction of a nanometre apart. That still feels a bit like magic to me.”
Who is someone who inspires you?
“Prof Wang Rong. We first met at a conference in 2024. It turns out we're both Zhejiang University alumnae. My work focused on the upstream chemistry of the materials and Prof Wang showed me how that can travel all the way from the lab to industry, making a real difference.
She was the first to show me up close what a woman's quiet authority in this field looks like: steady, resilient, and so generous in lifting up the people coming after her. That's exactly the kind of researcher I hope to be.”
Describe your engineering journey as a tagline.
“Tiny pores, big dreams.”
What message would you like to share with the next generation of women engineers and researchers?
“Don't wait until you feel completely ready, because most of us never quite do, so much of it is learning as you go.
Never let anyone tell you something is off-limits because you're a woman. In science, what matters is the quality of your work and the impact it creates.
And find a sport you'll actually stick with, a clear head and stamina do wonders for your research. So ask the awkward questions, back yourself, and find people who'll champion you. The field needs you more than you think!”
This feature is part of commemorating the International Women in Engineering Day (INWED). Taking place annually on June 23, INWED is an international awareness campaign celebrating the work and achievements of women engineers.
