Celebrating the 2017 ASPIRE nominees

1. Celebrating the 2017 ASPIRE nominees
www.apec.org/aspire
Valuing International
Collaboration in Research

2. The APEC Science Prize for Innovation,
Research and Education (“ASPIRE”) is an
annual award sponsored by Wiley which
recognizes young scientists who have
demonstrated a commitment to excellence
in scientific research and collaboration with
scientists in the region. These young scientists
nominated by 17 APEC economies this year have
impressive backgrounds and research in a wide range
of disciplines that contribute to the ASPIRE theme of new
material technologies.
Here we take the opportunity to celebrate each nominee’s achievement, and they
share their thoughts on the importance of international collaboration in research.
Group photo at the 2017 ASPIRE Award Ceremony in Hanoi. L-R: Brad Fenwick, Elsevier, ASPIRE Co-Sponsor; Lisa Brodey, Acting
Chair of PPSTI, US State Department; H.E. Tran Quic Khanh, Deputy Minister of the Vietnam Ministry of Science and Technology;
2017 ASPIRE Winner Dr Yanwu Zhu; Chen Linhao, co-chair of PPSTI, China Ministry of Science and Technology; Susan Sutton,
Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy in Vietnam; Andrew Tein, Wiley, ASPIRE Co-Sponsor; Lê Thị Việt Lâm, co-chair of PPSTI,
Vietnam Ministry of Science and Technology; and Dr. Teatulohi Mataina, Papua New Guinea Science & Technology Council.

3. Dr. Dayong Jin
AUSTRALIA
Affiliation: ARC Future Fellow, Director, ARC Industry Transformational Research Hub
for Integrated Device for End-user Analysis at Low-levels; Distinguished Professor,
Institute of Biomedical Materials & Devices, the University of Technology Sydney
Field of Research: Photonics materials, biomedical materials, chemical and mechanical
engineering, solid-state physics nanotechnology, sensing technologies based on novel
materials, anti-counterfeiting materials and technology, biomedical device engineering,
fluorescent materials for super resolution bio-imaging.
Trained as an optoelectronics engineer, Dr. Jin develops new materials into high value
molecular sensors that enable time-resolved optical instruments to find disease cells earlier,
quicker and with better resolution. His approaches, co-developed with his U.S. based
collaborators, have become the international standard for background-free imaging
By translating materials into device technologies
for biomedical applications, I enjoy international
collaboration across interdisciplinary fields,
because I do not need to be the expert in everything
but simply work with people with the required skills
and avoid ‘reinventing the wheels’. This accelerates
my daily efforts in directly improving our quality
of life. Such a global challenge should be jointly
overcome by a team of international collaborators.

4. Dr. Ying Woan (Yvonne) Soon
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
Affiliation: Doctor (PhD), Universiti Brunei Darussalam
Field of Research: Organic Solar Cells, Conjugated Polymers, Nanomaterials,
Renewable Energy, Photostability
Dr. Soon works in the field of organic solar cells, which is a promising
low cost technology for solar energy conversion. Her study mainly uses
a novel donor-acceptor type of conjugated polymers as the light absorbing
nano layer thin film. The aim of her study is to establish relationships
between material design and device performance as well as stability,
since these polymers have great synthesis flexibility to tune optical
and electrical properties.
As an early researcher, international collaboration is the way to build up our academic
career. For example, it is important for us photochemists / physicists to collaborate
with synthetic chemists in order to gain access to novel materials. In addition, cross-
disciplinary collaboration with international research groups can complement our
research work with their knowledge expertise and sophisticated technique.

5. Dr. Zachary Hudson
CANADA
Affiliation: Assistant Professor and Tier II Canada Research Chair in Sustainable
Chemistry, University of British Columbia
Field of Research: Materials science, organic and organometallic synthesis, organic
electronics, polymer chemistry, nanonscience
Dr. Hudson’s research focuses on the development of photonic and electronic materials
to address issues of sustainability in chemistry and materials science. His research team
synthesizes new molecular and polymeric materials for applications in sensing, printed
electronics, and efficient solid-state lighting. The group also explores the synthesis
of functional nanostructures from soft materials, their self-assembly into complex
architectures, and their emerging applications in nanoscale electronics.
By working with colleagues from around the world,
our research is enriched with new perspectives,
ideas, and techniques. Furthermore, these
international collaborations not only create
scientific ties, but can help to build greater
economic, political, and cultural bridges between
nations. I am excited to begin my career at a time
when global scientific cooperation has never been
more widespread.

6. Dr. Juan Escrig Murúa
CHILE
Affiliation: Associate Professor, Universidad de Santiago
de Chile (Usach) and Center for the Development
of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (Cedenna).
Field of Research: Nanomagnetism
Dr. Escrig is a leading figure on the subject of magnetic nanotubes.
His research has focused on the synthesis, characterization
and modeling of magnetic nanostructures for emerging
applications in nanoscale electronics. His theory
on the processes of magnetization reversal
of magnetic nanowires and nanotubes
are used by several groups around the world.
What I enjoy most about working with international scientists is the possibility of
knowing other places, their cultures, their meals, etc. I love having conversations
about the different educational, health, and retirement systems in each country.
My idea is to learn about good things, to try to replicate them, and about bad
things, to try to avoid repeating the same mistakes. In particular, I enjoy the
exchange of students, because students from different places exhibit
different experiences and strengths that enhance my lab.

7. Dr. Yanwu Zhu
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
Affiliation: Professor, University of Science and Technology of China
Field of Research: New carbon materials
Dr. Zhu’s research is in the fields of nanomaterials and specifically new carbon materials.
His research has included such topics as hotplate growth and field emission properties
of metal oxide nanostructures, large-scale preparation of graphene materials for energy
conversion and storage, and the synthesis of novel three-dimensional (3D) carbons.
Scientific research is a process which
demands creativity and demonstrates novelty.
Collaboration between researchers from
significantly different backgrounds and
cultures often brings new ideas by sharing the
understanding on the same research topic. I have
enjoyed the essentially infinite possibilities which
come from the interaction with my international
collaborators. That is an amazing experience.
To some extent, my current research style has
been shaped by my international collaborators,
from different training and cultural backgrounds.

8. Dr. Anderson Shum
HONG KONG, CHINA
Affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering & Medical
Engineering Program, The University of Hong Kong
Field of Research: Soft Materials, Microfluidics, Bio-Materials
Dr. Anderson Shum’s research in new material development technologies has had
significant impacts in biomedical, food and other applications. His works have led to
commercial success in cosmetic industries and his inventions are licensed to companies
working on materials. Examples of his work include developing the next-generation
diagnostics-on-a-chip system using microfluidics with Shenzhen University and studying
formation of mesoscaled particles with Sichuan University.
Most scientists have an international mindset,
probably due to the research education, assessment
and funding systems; therefore, we have a common
language on which we can harness local and
technical expertise. Initially microfluidics research
was pioneered by US scientists; as the field grew,
scientists across the globe provided innovative
ideas and concepts, resulting in new solutions and
functionalities. Now, the research is translated to
spur new industries, driven by where the market
demands and manufacturing capabilities are.

9. Dr. Shuhei Furukawa
JAPAN
Affiliation: Associate Professor, Institute for Integrated
Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS), Kyoto University
Field of Research: Materials Chemistry
Dr. Shuhei Furukawa’s research in the last decade has established the so-called “Mesoscopic
Coordination Chemistry” research field, in particular, using porous coordination polymers/
metal-organic frameworks (PCPs/MOFs), a new class of porous materials, in which metal ions/
clusters are coordinately linked by organic spokes to form crystalline framework structures
with intrinsic permanent porosity. His research focuses on the development of new synthetic
technologies of PCPs/MOFs in the meso-scale (5-1000 nm) and the understanding of their unique
properties. The resulting new porous materials are further considered for microenvironmental
applications, such as electronics for molecular sensing and delivering molecules to cells.
It seems that cultural backgrounds influence the
way of construing science and of doing research. I
really love to learn these differences and to discuss
how we can make the research better by combining
different scientific mindsets. I feel happy to be a
scientist when my great international collaborators
suggest a viewpoint or logic that I’ve never had
before, and hopefully vice versa.

10. Dr. Min-Wook Oh
REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Advanced Materials Engineering,
Hanbat National University
Field of Research: Thermoelectric Materials and Devices, Computational Materials
Simulations
Dr. Oh’s research in the past decade has developed new thermoelectric and
energy-related materials and improved the world’s understanding of electrical,
thermal, and thermoelectric properties at the level of materials, devices, and whole
system. His main scientific research focuses on thermoelectric materials which has
potential in waste heat recovery to produce electricity. He has developed novel
thermoelectric materials: silicides, chalcogenides, skutterudites, half heusler alloys,
and clathlates compounds, and thermoelectric devices with new architecture
in shape, properties, and function.
Working with international scientists is important because international
collaboration can get rid of the potential limitations of my own research
perspective and help me to identify the latest research trends.
The collaboration can help to establish a standard and improve
fidelity in emergent scientific issues. I participated in
the international round-robin test to develop a testing
procedure for assessment of thermoelectric properties,
from which substantial improvements were achieved
to report reliable properties by relevant communities.

11. Dr. Othman Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan
MALAYSIA
Affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Energy Engineering, Deputy Director of
the Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre at the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Field of Research: Membrane Technology
Dr. Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan Othman’s work lies in the field of sustainable ceramic/polymeric
membrane for energy generation, carbon capture, and water reclamation. His research
team has successfully developed a novel photcatalytic membrane for the treatment of
recalcitrant organic pollutants in water as well as an economical fuel cell for efficient
electricity generation.
In addition to scientific techniques and skills
transfer, and knowledge capacity enhancement,
international collaboration extends researchers’
access to collaborator’s laboratories, especially their
high-end facilities and equipment. My research
centre has strong collaboration with numerous
research groups around the world and, via co-
authorship in publication, the quality and visibility
of our research papers have been enhanced. I also
enjoy international collaboration to broaden my
perspectives and experience different cultures.

12. Dr. Justin Hodgkiss
NEW ZEALAND
Affiliation: Associate Professor, Deputy Director and Principal Investigator, MacDiarmid
Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Victoria University of Wellington
Field of Research: Ultrafast laser spectroscopy of materials for next generation solar
photovoltaics
Dr. Justin Hodgkiss is a leading figure in the development of next generation solar
photovoltaic technologies. These new organic polymer-based materials promise low-cost,
large-scale manufacturing, but their power conversion efficiency must be improved. Dr.
Hodgkiss has made decisive contributions to a large multidisciplinary research effort to
develop efficient organic solar photovoltaic materials, leading to doubling their efficiency in
the past eight years, rapidly approaching that of silicon.
Working in a multidisciplinary area of science,
it is very rare that all of the pieces of the puzzle
will exist in the same place, which makes global
collaboration an absolute necessity. In my lab,
we develop and apply specialized ultrafast
spectroscopy tools, which leads to natural
connections with groups around the world who
need to use those tools to study the novel solar
photovoltaic materials that they develop.

13. Dr. Betty Galarreta
PERU
Affiliation: Associate Professor, Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru
Field of Research: Nanotechnology and Vibrational Spectroscopy
Dr. Galarreta’s main research aspects include nanomaterials,
surface chemistry, plasmonics and molecular biology. Her work
focuses on developing optical nanosensors with applications in
the food industry, and novel vibrational spectroscopic methods
to characterize nanomolecular systems and Peruvian cultural
heritage materials.
International collaboration provides
synergy. Researchers from different
countries, with different facilities and
resources, when gathered together can
embrace a wider scientific problem and
provide novel solutions, faster and more
efficiently, than working on their own.

14. Dr. Andrey Enyashin
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Affiliation: Doctor, Institute of Solid State Chemistry, Ural Branch of Russian
Academy of Sciences
Field of Research: Computational materials science
The theoretical insight of Dr. Andrey Enyashin by means of quantum-chemistry
methods has explained many peculiarities in polymorphism, crystal structure and
electronic properties of the vanadate- and vanadia-based nanostructures, pushing
ahead the application of these new materials for advanced micro- and nanosensorics.
Steady population growth makes our Earth
feel so small, where problems of one country
can soon become global. A comprehensive and
quick solution can be achieved only using the
joint, yet independent, views from different
nations. Being a theoretician I am pleased to be
a part of the world’s community developing and
commercializing the advanced cost-effective
materials. International and interdisciplinary
collaboration gives me and my global colleagues
a great opportunity to strengthen both the
fundamental understanding of issues and the
efforts to improve people’s prosperity.

15. Dr. Yanli Zhao
SINGAPORE
Affiliation: Associate Professor, Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry,
Nanyang Technological University
Field of Research: Integrated Materials for Biomedicine
Dr. Yanli Zhao conducts research in an interdisciplinary area of chemistry and materials
with an emphasis on the design, synthesis, and applications of novel integrated
materials for targeted cancer imaging and therapy. He has outlined an independent
blueprint for the research program that leverages his experiences in synthetic
chemistry and advanced materials by using novel nanocarriers to enhance intracellular
concentration of anticancer drugs in cancer cells, while minimizing their toxicity in
normal cells. His discovery of innovative therapeutic platforms that can simultaneously
target diseased cells enable the location to be imaged by optical methods, and release
therapeutic drugs to the diseased cells by commands.
International collaborations significantly advance
my research. Collaborative research groups often
have complementary expertise and experiences in
the areas studied, and close collaborations could
benefit greatly from the combination of different
expertise. We conduct student visits, regular joint
group seminars, and formal meetings to give
research updates, solve problems, and discuss new
ideas. Such collaboration framework accelerates
the development of collaborative projects.

16. Dr. Yu-Lun Chueh
CHINESE TAIPEI
Affiliation: Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering,
National Tsing-Hua University
Field of Research: Nanomaterials, Energy Harvesting, ReRAM, 2D Materials, CIGS Solar Cells
Dr. Yu-Lun Chueh’s research explores unpredicted aspects of functional materials and enabling new
schemes for the manipulation, processing and engineering of nanomaterials in nanoelectronics and
energy harvesting applications. His extensive and impactful research includes the development of
a novel, non‐toxic plasma enhanced selenization process to achieve a 30x40 cm2
Cu(In, Ga)Se2 solar
panel with an efficiency of ~13.2 % and demonstrated light harvesting management by different
micro- and nano-structures, as well as the plasmonic effect by metal nanoparticles in Cu(In, Ga)Se2
solar cells. He has also developed a solar thermal energy storage scheme utilizing metal/alloy/SiOx
core-shell nanoparticles mixed with molten. He has developed a finely controllable synthesis
of variously novel low-dimensional materials and explored unique physical properties of these
low-dimensional nanowires toward industry applications, especially, a plasma-assisted chemical
vapor reaction (PA-CVR) to form TMDs at a temperature as low as 250 o
C.
International collaboration not only allows me to
become familiar with cutting edge technology,
but also helps me complete more challenging
aspects of my research projects. By working with
international scientists, I can uncover the reasons
behind unexpected results to enrich my knowledge.
Recently, during our work on the low-temperature
growth of 2D materials, I was able to identify all the
intrinsic physical properties of 2D materials through
global collaboration with two teams in the US.

17. Dr. Nuwong Chollacoop
THAILAND
Affiliation: Doctor; Head of Renewable Energy Laboratory. National Metal and
Materials Technology Center
Field of Research: Renewable energy, Sustainable biofuel for transportation, Biofuel
standardization
Dr. Chollacoop’s research has been applied to address the energy crisis in Thailand
especially in the transportation sector. His research network on sustainable biofuel
includes Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
(AIST) work on biodiesel quality to support initial stage of Thailand biodiesel program.
He has also led research in Thailand on “Innovation on Production and Automotive
Utilization of Biofuels from Non-food Biomass” funded by Japan Science and
Technology Agency (JST) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
With the complexity of the problems identified in
research nowadays, it is inevitable to seek research
collaboration not only from various disciplines
but also from various parts of the world, where
solutions may already exist or the discovered
solutions could work elsewhere. In my field of
renewable energy, especially biofuel for sustainable
transportation, I have leapfrogged in advancing my
research by innovating technology with my Japanese
collaborators to address local issues in Thailand.

18. Dr. Liangfang Zhang
THE UNITED STATES
Affiliation: Professor, Department of Nanoengineering and Moores Cancer Center, University
of California, San Diego
Field of Research: Nanomaterials and Nanomedicine
Dr. Zhang’s research focuses on creating biomimetic nanomaterials for medical uses. By
cloaking synthetic nanoparticles with natural cellular membranes, Dr. Zhang first invented
a red blood cell-membrane-camouflaged nanoparticle platform that can evade the body’s
immune system for prolonged and effective delivery of drugs. This work represents the first
attempt to combine natural cellular membranes with synthetic nanomaterials to develop
novel biomimetic systems. More recently he created the first ever cancer-cell-membrane
coated nanoparticles for whole tumor antigen vaccination. These findings open a whole new
set of opportunities for the society of nanotechnology and materials science.
I think international collaboration provides new
resources, both conceptually and materially, to
researchers, which can extend the possibility of
success. Through the exchange of ideas, results
and students, such collaboration is oftentimes
highly cost-effective, rewarding and productive.

19. Dr. Dinh Phong Tran
VIETNAM
Affiliation: Doctor; Lecturer and Principal Investigator University of Science and Technology
of Hanoi (Vietnam France University)
Field of Research: Functional Nanomaterials and Catalysis
Dr. Tran is actively involved in research for novel catalytic materials for solar water splitting
application. His approach is to learn the structure and function of enzymes to create novel
efficient and robust catalytic materials. His first important contribution was during his
postdoctoral stay at CEA Grenoble, France where he contributed to creating carbon nanotube
– nickel/cobalt composites which displayed outstanding catalytic activities for both generation
and uptake of H2 by mimicking the structure of hydrogenase enzyme. Dr. Tran also made
important contribution in development of hybrid photocatalysts for solar H2 generation from
water, and his method for loading catalyst onto surface of light harvester via a photoassisted
electrochemical deposition process is now used by several research groups worldwide.
In my opinion, international collaboration is
the best opportunity to scientists in countries/
regions like Vietnam achieving the highest level
of science. International collaboration is not only
about access to state of the art scientific facilities
but also about exchanging ideas with excellent
minds. Sometimes with just internal force we
can achieve nice science, but with international
collaboration we can do even better.

20. Thank you to all the 2017 ASPIRE
nominees for their contribution.
To find out more about the ASPIRE Prize,
visit http://www.apec.org/aspire