From Research to Community Impact: CCDS PhD Researcher Alysa Tan Joins SG100 Women in Tech 2025
CCDS PhD researcher Alysa Tan has been recognised on the Singapore 100 Women in Tech (SG100WIT) list for 2025. Organised by the Singapore Computer Society in partnership with SG Women in Tech and IMDA, the list recognises women who are making significant contributions to Singapore’s technology landscape and serves as a source of inspiration for future generations.
For Alysa, this honour marks a meaningful milestone in her journey. “I’m honoured to be included in the SG100 Women in Tech list, among such a distinguished group of leaders, technologists, scientists, and professors. As someone still in the early stages of my journey compared to many of the other awardees, I’m deeply grateful and humbled by this recognition, and I’m thankful to my mentors, professors and collaborators who have supported me and been part of this journey.”
Alysa’s research at CCDS focuses on building responsible and trustworthy artificial intelligence. She specialises in federated and continual learning, approaches that make AI both adaptive and privacy-preserving. These methods are particularly important in sensitive areas such as healthcare and finance, where trust is vital. Her survey on Personalised Federated Learning, ranked among the top 1% of papers in computer science and engineering, has given the global research community a clearer framework to build on.
She believes the next big challenge in AI lies in governance, ensuring systems are not only technically sound but also socially accountable. Questions of fairness, transparency, and data use across borders will require researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders to work together.
Before embarking on her PhD, Alysa worked in AI and data science across manufacturing, finance, insurance, and supply chain. Those experiences taught her to bridge the gap between theory and real-world deployment, to manage sensitive data, and to focus on practical impact. These lessons now shape her approach to research at CCDS.
Beyond her academic work, Alysa contributes actively to the AI community through mentoring, reviewing, and organising. One of her most memorable experiences was mentoring a Secondary 1–2 student team at a national AI hackathon. The group, the youngest in the competition, went on to reach the finals against older students. For Alysa, the experience reinforced the importance of empowering young people to explore bold ideas early on.
Outside of her research, Alysa finds inspiration in art, culture, and travel. She enjoys visiting museums, attending musicals, and learning new languages, which broaden her perspective and give her space to recharge.
Looking back, she offers this advice to her younger self, and to students aspiring to build their own paths in technology: “Don’t worry about following a fixed path, and don’t be afraid of forging your own. Careers don’t have to be linear, and some of the most valuable lessons come from trying different things.”
Alysa’s recognition on the SG100 Women in Tech list is a celebration not only of her achievements but also of the values she represents: responsibility, curiosity, and a commitment to mentorship.
