Yun Teng
Nationality: Singapore
Faculty & Year of Study: Faculty of Engineering, Year 2
Undergraduate: National University of Singapore, Singapore
"It will never be too late to learn and learning is a lifetime journey."
Why Did You Choose To Pursue A PhD?
I have worked in industry for five years before joining PhD program. During that five years, I realized that engineering work is more about experience, you may not have to know why the things is like that, you just need to know how to solve the problems based on experience. Besides, the works are quite similar from project to project. Once you have done several projects, the things that you can learn are very limited already. PhD study is totally different, you will always study new technologies and take different challenges, you have to keep on learning. This is basically why I chose to quit my job and join my PhD study.
Why Did You Choose To Pursue Your PhD At NUS?
I have taken my undergraduate study in NUS. I like the environment here, as in both physical and academic. Professors here are very professional, friendly and helpful also. Besides, NUS is a very good platform which can provide a lot of different opportunities for the students to explore. The research in NUS is also very flexible and you are encouraged to explore whatever fantastic idea you have and the professors will always try there best to provide you their knowledge, guidance and wisdom. What’s more, the school also provide a lot of resources for you to carry out the research, library, software, lab and classes.
Can you tell us briefly about your research topic?
To treat wastewater or seawater into drinking water, membrane has been greatly used in water and wastewater industry. however, membrane fouling is always the bottom-neck that has limited the further improvement of this technology. To better understand RO membrane fouling so that a better control can be provided for the plant operation, we are trying to combine the conventional mechanistic models with the new data analysis model to construct a hybrid model. the hybrid model is expected to provide better prediction on membrane fouling and to give fouling details as well.
Why did you choose to do this research for your PhD?
During my work, I have done control and membrane related projects, compared to those more conventional technology, membrane still has a lot of issues unsolved. Data analysis is also one of the hottest technology in modern society. It would greatly chance the way we control the current plants if we can adapt data analysis into our current control system.
How does PhD graduate education compare with your undergraduate experience?
PhD study is more about self study. You spend four years in a very specific topic, that means you shall go very deep in relevant area. In most of the time, you have to be very clear about what is your target and what are the challenges. Your professors and seniors can provide you help, but you still need to do a lot of study to solve the problems by yourself. while in undergraduate study, it is more passive, and you are more to follow teachers’ instruction.
What do you like most about graduate school?
You have the freedom to chose whatever you like (in a reasonable range) and you also have the resource to support you to explore.
What challenges have you faced during your stint as a PhD student?
My research is a cross-discipline one. I have never touched data analysis before I start my PhD study. I have to put in a lot of efforts to start from a zero.
Any highlights you'd like to share with us about your PhD life?
As what I said in the front, graduate study is more about self study. Professors can provide guidelines and monitor your progress, but you are the one who shall be responsible. You need to be very clear about your progress and you shall have your schedule and always push yourself to achieve your target.
Can you tell us something fun about your PhD journey in NUS?
It is challenge to learn something that I have never learnt before, but the sense of achievement is also doubled when I successfully run out my own program.
Any advice for someone who's considering a PhD in NUS?
PhD is challenge, but also a very meaningful and fruitful journey. You will feel struggle take your PhD at NUS, but also very unforgettable. You will learn a lot, get a lot, enjoy a lot and make a lot of friends here.
Any other words of wisdom to share?
It will never be too late to learn and learning is a lifetime journey.