Engineering Across Boundaries: NTU MSE PhD Graduate Recognised for Interdisciplinary Innovation
We are proud to celebrate the achievements of Dr Sherwin Escayo, a PhD graduate from the School of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, who has been named a winner of the Graduate College Innovation & Entrepreneurship Award 2025.
The Graduate College Awards recognise outstanding graduating PhD and Master by Research students for their academic excellence and impact beyond the laboratory. Dr Escayo was recognised for his work at the intersection of materials science, environmental engineering, and sustainable agriculture — exemplifying the spirit of interdisciplinary innovation that this award seeks to honour.
From Research to Real-World Impact
Dr Escayo’s research addresses a challenge with global implications: transforming non-arable land into fertile ground for sustainable agriculture. His work in designing green microgels—advanced water-retaining materials—has opened up new pathways for tackling food insecurity and land degradation, especially in arid environments.
Building on his background in Chemistry, Sherwin mastered complex materials science principles to develop a spray-dried, swellable microgel capable of retaining soil moisture and improving plant viability. His solution does not stop at the lab bench — he co-developed a novel osmotic tensiometer in collaboration with the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering to measure soil suction with precision, ensuring the material’s effectiveness in the field.
These efforts led to a patent filing, a successful NTUitive GAP Fund award (2022), and more recently, the NTU Sustainability Grant (2025). His work has garnered international interest from organisations in Morocco and Philippines, with ongoing tests across multiple sites.
Growing as a Technopreneur
Beyond his scientific innovations, Sherwin exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit. He has actively honed his venture-building skills through programs such as HARVEST: Startup Bootcamp in Perth (2023), NTU’s Deep Tech Venture Builder Workshop (2024), and Understanding Deep-Tech Venture Investment (2025).
Sherwin’s journey reflects a unique blend of creativity, technical rigour, and resilience — qualities deeply rooted in the discipline of materials science, where breakthroughs often emerge at the interface of theory and application. His unwavering determination and problem-solving mindset set him apart as a technopreneur in the making. His work exemplifies how innovation in materials science can be translated into scalable, market-ready solutions for real-world challenges.
