PhD student and Supermum
Meet Crystal Tang, the NTU PhD student who multitasks like a pro
by Tan Zi Jie
It’s not often that a mother and son both learn at the same university.
Last year, Theodore Kwan, 7, went viral for sitting in as a guest – and asking intelligent questions – in NTU chemistry lectures. His curiosity and passion made local headlines and captured hearts beyond Singapore.
Behind the young genius is his equally remarkable mother, NTU student Crystal Tang.
She’s not only a PhD candidate at NTU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine), but also homeschools Theodore and his four-year-old sister while teaching science enrichment classes at a learning centre.
Bubbly and humble, the 34-year-old laughs when asked how she manages it all. “I don’t really think about what I do every day. I’m just focused on surviving with the kids and juggling everything else,” Crystal says.
THE MEDICAL RESEARCHER WHO FEEDS KIDS, NOT CELLS
After getting her undergraduate and master’s degrees from Australia, Crystal continued her clinical research in education and child development while tutoring part time. She examined infant sleep and behavioural patterns at the Agency for Science, Technology & Research and the National University Health System.
Drawing on her counselling training, she later went into social work. Around then, she started a family with her husband, who runs a business.
To further her interest in medical research, Crystal joined a PhD programme at LKCMedicine in 2024, supported by an NTU scholarship.
Her PhD examines how data from non-invasive sources, such as information from smartwatches and ultrasound test results, can help doctors detect the early warning signs of heart disease in patients.
Crystal enjoys picking up new skills through her PhD research, such as coding in Python and building data analytics models to intepret medical datasets.
“I originally wanted to do hands-on lab research,” she says, “but it’s hard to keep a fixed lab schedule when you have young kids. Instead of feeding cells at specific hours, I need to feed my kids!”
Crystal has always dreamt of becoming a doctor, and hopes to study medicine after completing her PhD. NTU, she adds, feels like the right place to pursue this chapter of her life.
Besides the advanced research facilities and know-how, I find the people at NTU genuine, supportive and authentic.
One of them is Dr Sumod Pullarkat, the NTU lecturer who invited young Theodore to his foundational chemistry class. Crystal smiles as she recalls his warmth. “He didn’t see age as a barrier to Theodore learning about the advanced chemistry topics he’s so curious about.”
Photo: Crystal Tang
Crystal represented NTU as a doctoral researcher at a global fellows' programme on multidisciplinary climate solutions in Munich last year.
Photo: Crystal Tang
HOMESCHOOLING A GENIUS
Crystal and her husband realised early on that Theodore wasn’t a typical toddler.
“We joke that instead of a silver spoon, he was born with a periodic table,” she quips. “He had memorised it by the time he was three.”
When they tested his IQ, it came back at 154 – higher than 99.9% of the population. “He’s advanced in maths, sciences and languages. He’s very hungry for knowledge and loves to ask me probing questions about anything under the sun,” says Crystal.
Because he can grasp concepts quickly and is a picky eater, they decided to continue homeschooling Theodore when primary school beckoned last year. Their daughter, Agatha, is homeschooled as well.
The kids’ learning is flexible and play-based. “It’s all very child-led. For example, if Theodore suddenly asks about mynahs and biology, I’ll pull up relevant worksheets and YouTube videos,” Crystal explains.
The science enrichment teacher has even self-published science Olympiad and children’s activity books, and is her son’s “walking Google”.
Most nights, once the kids are asleep and the chores are done, Crystal finally switches on her laptop. “By the time I start work on my PhD, it’s usually 3am,” she says.
FAMILY LIFE, NTU EDITION
From August to November last year, their family life took on a new rhythm.
While looking for teaching assistant opportunities – she needs to complete 208 teaching hours as part of her PhD – Crystal emailed Dr Pullarkat. He didn’t have any roles for her but was intrigued by Theodore’s talent and invited the precocious child to his lectures.
It was a rare chance. “We’ve been trying to get Theodore into activities above his age group for years. Most places won’t reply or will simply turn us down,” she says.
Serendipitously, Crystal had cleared her PhD coursework and had time to bring Theodore to classes on campus.
“Theodore loves being in NTU. He wears my graduate college jacket at home and keeps asking to go to campus,” she says. “Once he’s with his friends in lecture, he doesn’t even want me around.”
This semester, Crystal will begin her teaching-assistant duties at NTU – among other responsibilities – while making sure Theodore attends second-year university organic chemistry lectures twice a week.
“Juggling our schedules will be tricky,” she admits with a smile. “But we’ll make it work. NTU has become a second home for all of us.”
This story was published in the Jan-Feb 2026 issue of HEY!. To read it and other stories from this issue in print, click here.
