Published on 29 Apr 2025

Breaking Boundaries: Two NTU MSE Professors Named Among Asia’s Top 50 Women Tech Leaders 2025

We’re proud to celebrate Prof Yeng Ming Lam and Prof Madhavi Srinivasan, who have been named among the Top 50 Asia Women Tech Leaders 2025. The Asia Women Tech Leaders Award honours 50 accomplished women technologists working and based in Asia. These women are deeply involved in the research and development of emerging and nascent technologies, managing and operationalizing complex tech projects, and demonstrating leadership and operational excellence. The 2025 awardees represent a diverse array of roles and sectors, including software and hardware engineering, cybersecurity, and executive leadership positions such as CIOs and CTOs. Their contributions span from developing sustainable technologies to leading significant digital transformation initiatives.

Shaping Science with Purpose

Professor Yeng Ming Lam’s path into science was guided by a love for chemistry and physics. Today, she is a champion of sustainable materials innovation. Her research ranges from nanostructured functional materials for environmental remediation to solar cells that power a greener future. Notably, her team developed green microgels from plant waste to transform degraded land into fertile ground – a technology that has since been spun off into NTU AgriTech startup,
FytoSol Pte Ltd.

Professor Madhavi Srinivasan’s journey, rooted in a lifelong drive to help others, led her to revolutionise Sustainable battery technologies. As Executive Director of the Energy Research Institute at NTU (ERI@N), she leads over 200 researchers in sustainable energy innovation. Her team has pioneered safe, water-based batteries and eco-friendly recycling methods for lithium-ion batteries, with several patents already licensed for commercial use in Singapore. 

More Than Researchers: Role Models, Mentors, Changemakers

What unites these two trailblazers is a shared commitment to
equity, mentorship, and societal impact.
Prof Lam, during her term as Chair of NTU MSE, championed gender diversity—resulting in the highest number of female professors across NTU’s engineering schools. She co-chaired the G.L.O.W. (Global Conference for Women Leaders and Emerging Researchers in Materials Science), an initiative aimed at spotlighting the remarkable contributions of women leaders while providing a platform for emerging researchers to showcase their work and build meaningful connections within the global materials science community.

Prof Srinivasan is NTU’s only Indian woman Full Professor, holding the prestigious President’s Chair in Sustainability and serving in senior management leadership. Having risen through a landscape where women are traditionally underrepresented, she brings a conscious leadership style that fosters inclusivity and empowers the next generation of researchers. She also contributes her expertise to various national advisory boards.


Looking Ahead: Words of Encouragement and What’s Next

Both professors continue to push boundaries with new collaborations and innovations on the horizon.

Prof Lam is currently working with regional partners to scale the application of her plant-waste-derived microgels for degraded land restoration with field testing across NTU’s campus and in North Africa. She is also the recipient of the UL ASEAN–US Science Prize for Women 2024 (Senior Category).

Prof Srinivasan is leading a new initiative focused on accelerating closed-loop battery recycling, with industry trials underway in collaboration with local energy partners. Her team is also exploring the use of AI in sustainable materials discovery.

To young women aspiring to enter STEM and the Tech space, their message is clear:

"Choosing science and engineering isn’t just about building a career,” shares Prof Lam. “It’s about shaping the future. As women in STEM, we have the opportunity to create meaningful change and leave a lasting impact on the world for generations to come."

You don’t need to fit a mould to lead in STEM,” adds Prof Srinivasan. “Bring your whole self, stay grounded in what matters, and create impact your way.”