March 24th, 2023

It has been (too long) a while, and we should probably be better at updating this page. We will try to do better next time! Here are some updates:

​1) We published 10 papers since the last update. This includes three databases (protist.guru,  bacteria.guru and FINder), three reviews (1: on transcriptomic databases, 2: on kingdom-wide analyses of expression data, 3: on using machine learning to redesigning specialized metabolism), one spotlight with Ally Fernie (on ancestral genome reconstruction) and several collaborative papers. I am super happy to see Qiao Wen's study on how Marchantia responds to combined stresses in Nature Communications, and Irene's work on Oldenlandia in Journal of Integrative Plant Biology. Congrats to all involved!

​2) Funding-wise, we managed to pull in Tier 1 (to study biosynthesis of antibacterial metabolites), Tier 2 (to produce and study gene expression and metabolic atlases in the plant kingdom) and Tier 3 grant (to design new nanomaterials from pollen). We are also happy to be part of a consortium Nanyang Biologics comprising cancer researchers, chemists and machine learning scientists that aims to develop new sesquiterpene lactone drugs (https://www.ntu.edu.sg/nbnjl)

3) We are joined by: 1) Dr. Jiayi Cao (working on organ-specific stress responses), 2) Dr. Yanlin Li (elucidating gametophyte-spotophyte transitions in ferns),  3) Li Hui Peh (Project Officer studying abiotic stress programs in algae, bryophytes, lycophytes and flowering plants). In the coming months, we will be also joined by 4) Dr. Jiamin Lee (analyzing abiotic stress responses in local crops), 5) Jhing Yein Tan (PO: plant kingdom expression atlases), 6) Sabrina Tan (PO: producing novel triterpenes in yeast) and 7) Olivia Agatha (PhD student working on producing sesquiterpene lactones in yeast). Qiao Wen will stay with us as a research fellow after graduating (Aug-Sep this year). We are still looking for a postdoc and a project officer to join the exciting Tier 3 project on pollen exine biosynthesis. Drop me an email if you are interested.
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4) How left: I am super happy that Jonathan (now Dr. Ng) graduated and landed a nice job in an AI startup even before graduation. After productive two years, Jong Ching Goh (seen below in the brown sweater) received multiple offers and decided to study AI. After a productive year, Syahirah (first person, left row) started a Masters degree in bioinformatics, while Wee Han (last person, left row) started at Lonza to work on bioreactors. Good luck to you all and let's stay in touch!