Wilson Tan Lek Wen
Nationality: Malaysia
Faculty & Year of Study: Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Year 4
Undergraduate: National University of Singapore, Singapore
"Follow your passion, and be fearless about your decision."
Why Did You Choose To Pursue A PhD?
I have always been interested in science and research. PhD provides a unique opportunity and training for me to pursue my interest in epigenetics research.
Why Did You Choose To Pursue Your PhD At NUS?
My PhD supervisor, Prof Roger Foo, is the world leading expert in cardiac epigenetics and genomics. I was drawn by his research interest and projects. This was the main reason why I have decided to pursue my PhD in Foo-lab. Besides that, Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI) provides a vibrant collaborative environment for graduate students to interact and learn from each other, which is vital for career development and personal growth.
Can you tell us briefly about your research topic?
My research focuses on epigenetics and 3-D chromatin architecture in the hearts. We discovered many genetic variations in human genome that turn on/off gene activity, and have the potential to increase the risk of developing cardiac dysfunction.
What do you like most about graduate school?
I enjoyed the graduate-level modules a lot. The classes were conducted in such a way that students were encouraged to present their ideas, and ask question. Besides that, I get to discuss and gain insights on bottlenecks that I faced in my research with graduate students with expertise from the other domains. It was an enriching experience.
Any highlights you'd like to share with us about your PhD life?
It is always fulfilling to see our Ph.D. work getting recognized by the international community. Recently, one of my research work was featured on the cover of a journal (“Circulation Research”), and that was the moment where I felt that our hard work, late nights, and sweats have paid off.
Any other words of wisdom to share?
Follow your passion, and be fearless about your decision.