New senior leadership appointments for research and industry announced

NTU Singapore has announced two new senior leadership appointments that will help the University to deliver on the bold ambitions of its NTU 2025 strategic plan.

Prof Luke Ong an eminent computer scientist from the University of Oxford, will be appointed as a Distinguished University Professor at NTU from 1 August 2022 and as Vice President (Research) from 1 January 2023.

 

Prof Luke Ong

Prof Ong, a Singaporean and highly accomplished scholar, has spent almost three decades as a faculty member in the Department of Computer Science at Oxford.

A Singapore President’s Scholar, Prof Ong received his undergraduate degree from the University of Cambridge, achieving triple first-class honours in mathematics. He then strategically transitioned to the rapidly developing field of computer science and completed his postgraduate diploma and doctorate degree in Computer Science from the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London, respectively. He was recruited to the faculty at Oxford in 1994 and was promoted to Professor of Computer Science in 2004.

“We are delighted that Prof Ong has decided to return to serve Singapore and chosen to continue his academic career at NTU. In recognition of his outstanding scholarly record, he will be appointed as a Distinguished University Professor, the highest faculty appointment at NTU. We will also benefit from his significant experience in advising the Singapore government on research directions and funding for universities as he assumes the role of VP (Research) at NTU,” said NTU President Prof Subra Suresh.

Prof Ong will succeed Prof Lam Khin Yong, who will reach the end of his eight-year appointment leading NTU’s research portfolio, at the end of this year. Prof Lam will take up the newly created position of Vice President (Industry) on 1 January 2023.

Since 2013, Prof Ong has served as a Member of the Academic Research Council (ARC) that advises the Singapore Government on academic research policies and strategies in universities and on the allocation of research funding to Singaporean universities in line with international standards. 

On his new NTU appointment, Prof Ong said: “For several years, I have had the privilege of contributing to Singapore higher education and research ‘from outside’, through working with the Academic Research Council. It was amazing to witness the universities, especially NTU, growing from strength to strength. The NTU appointment gives me new opportunities to contribute ‘from within’.”

“It feels a little like coming home, as I grew up and spent many happy childhood years on the then Nantah campus! I am honoured to be asked to succeed Professor Lam Khin Yong as Vice President (Research). I am excited to start at NTU, and I look forward to working with him and all at NTU."

 

Prof Lam Khin Yong

Prof Lam Khin Yong brings to the newly-created position of Vice President (Industry) significant experience in leading numerous activities in the research ecosystem at NTU.

“Khin Yong has been at the helm of NTU’s research ecosystem for the last eight years and we are pleased that he will continue to lend his deep expertise and industry connections as a post-tenure faculty member through the role of Vice President (Industry),” said Prof Suresh.

Under Prof Lam’s leadership, NTU has seen a steady increase in research funding, as well as a significant increase in the number of university-wide research publications in top journals and in the intellectual property generated from cutting-edge research. During the last four years, NTU established a new research centre of excellence along with several new corporate laboratories with global industry leaders. 

“I am privileged to have had the opportunity to drive NTU’s research with my colleagues over the past years and now look forward to my appointment as Vice President (Industry),” said Prof Lam.

“I look forward to working with the NTU leadership team, faculty and staff to further strengthen and broaden the impact of NTU’s cutting-edge research. This work will contribute to NTU 2025 in many areas including sustainability, society and humanity. It is also important that NTU students are able to participate in our industry programmes including Corporate and Joint Labs, and this will become a valuable feature of the educational experience we offer.”

The new Vice President (Industry) position will be a key driver in strengthening NTU’s substantial and rapidly growing industry engagements to benefit research, education and innovation.

For his distinguished contribution to the development of Singapore through the promotion and management of R&D, Prof Lam received the President’s Science and Technology Medal in 2018.

He has also been recognised overseas for his achievements and contributions to relationships between Singapore and other countries. In 2017, Prof Lam was awarded the French National Order of the Legion of Honour (Chevalier). He has also received an Honorary Citizenship of Guangzhou, China.

To read Prof Suresh’s university-wide message, click here.