Winning a gold medal at the International Chemistry Olympiad when I was 16 only strengthened what I already knew as a teenager: that I loved chemistry and wanted to pursue a PhD in the US.

So when it came to choosing a university, NTU’s CN Yang Scholars Programme immediately stood out for its exceptional research opportunities and overseas experiences. 

Leo (top left) was thrilled to meet Nobel laureate Prof Moungi Bawendi (third from right) while doing his final-year project at MIT.

My time at NTU began soon after the COVID-19 lockdown ended. With fewer campus activities, I spent most of my days in the lab under Prof Tan Choon Hong, an eminent chemist in his field. He gave me room to experiment, make mistakes and learn – a level of trust that shaped the way I approached research.

By my third year, I was determined to embark on an overseas final-year project in the US. So I started cold emailing professors. I was surprised when Prof Stephen Buchwald responded. He is a legend in organic chemistry with chemical reactions named after him. He welcomed me into his lab at MIT, and the CN Yang Scholars Programme Scholarship provided the funding I needed to begin the journey of a lifetime.

At NTU, I gained confidence through numerous hands-on lab experiments. At MIT, I evolved further as a scientist.

Living and studying in Boston from May to December 2023 put me at the epicentre of modern chemistry. 

My dorm was surrounded by the headquarters of pharmaceutical giants like Pfizer, Moderna and Takeda. Talks by leading scientists happened almost weekly. Inspiration was everywhere.

Having studied under Prof Tan, I immediately noticed the difference. At NTU, I gained confidence through numerous hands-on lab experiments. At MIT, I evolved further as a scientist – diving deep into the literature, designing thoughtful experiments, and seeking out conversations with fellow chemists who challenged and expanded my thinking.

The moment that left me truly starstruck was when MIT professor Moungi Bawendi won the 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. I went to my usual lab session that morning and somehow ended the day at his celebratory party – talking to and taking photos with a Nobel laureate. 

Moments like that showed me just how close MIT is to the centre of major scientific breakthroughs and how lucky I was to experience it as an NTU undergraduate. I left Boston with lifelong friends, new perspectives and recommendation letters from top professors that helped me secure my PhD placement at Caltech.

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