What draws global academic leaders to NTU Singapore
They are acclaimed academics from ETH Zurich, King’s College London and Indiana University who have recently joined Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) as new members of the University’s leadership team.
Here’s what they say about the pull of the University’s bold vision and the strength of its people.
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Deputy President and Provost
Prof Christian Wolfrum
Biomedical scientist Prof Wolfrum left ETH Zurich in Switzerland for Singapore, attracted by NTU’s strengths in science and engineering, and its interdisciplinary approach to education and innovation.
“I believe that research and education in a university are deeply intertwined,” says Prof Wolfrum who was Vice President for Research and a member of the Executive Board at ETH Zurich, prior to joining NTU.
“I’m excited to help sustain an environment where discoveries in the lab inform classroom teaching, and where questions raised by students inspire new research.”
A firm believer in translating ideas into real-world impact, Prof Wolfrum founded two start-ups and works closely with pharmaceutical industries. At NTU, he’s eager to guide students and researchers in turning their innovations into patents and spin-offs.
“NTU and Singapore are vibrant, agile and dedicated to excellence. People here want to move forward, to develop something novel to advance their fields. I look forward to helping shape the next generation of researchers and graduates,” he adds.
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Dean, College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences
Prof Jon Wilson
For Prof Wilson, what led him to NTU was the opportunity to be part of an institution where cross-disciplinary collaboration is more than a catchphrase.
“Lots of universities talk about ‘one institution’. It is a reality at NTU, with many possibilities for cross-college, cross- disciplinary, maybe even whole university collaboration,” he says.
“At NTU, scholars think about connections between fields and places in a way I’ve not seen elsewhere.”
A historian of Asia and the post-colonial world, Prof Wilson brings over 16 years of academic leadership from King’s College London, where he led one of the UK’s most globally engaged history departments.
Now at the helm of NTU’s humanities, arts and social sciences college, he draws on his expertise in the history of Asia and global politics, along with his passion for connecting ideas across disciplines, to shape the college’s next phase of growth.
A priority is strengthening the faculty through targeted recruitment and talent development initiatives.
“I also want to promote innovative research, foster cross-college programmes and connect scholarship with broader audiences,” he says.
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Dean, Nanyang Business School
Prof Jun Yang
An expert in corporate governance and fintech, Prof Yang spent over 20 years at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business before joining the Nanyang Business School (NBS) as Dean.
What drew her to NTU was its strong foundation in technology, its global standing and NBS’s unique role as a business school embedded within a leading technological university. The University’s commitment to interdisciplinary research, international collaboration and sustainability closely aligns with her vision for business education that drives meaningful, real-world impact.
“I’m fortunate to work with a talented team here, and my goal is to harness that talent to shape the future of business education and research through innovation and purpose,” she says.
Holding dual PhDs in finance and engineering management, she brings a multidisciplinary lens to leadership.
Since arriving, she has engaged broadly across the community, led outreach to top global institutions, and focused on recruiting world-class faculty to strengthen NBS’s international reputation in education and research.
