{"id":53667,"date":"2025-10-21T10:09:24","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T02:09:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tum-asia.edu.sg\/?p=53667"},"modified":"2025-10-21T10:16:58","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T02:16:58","slug":"from-lab-bench-to-breakthroughs-a-singaporeans-journey-through-industrial-chemistry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tum-asia.edu.sg\/cn\/stories\/from-lab-bench-to-breakthroughs-a-singaporeans-journey-through-industrial-chemistry\/","title":{"rendered":"From Lab Bench to Breakthroughs: A Singaporean\u2019s Journey Through Industrial Chemistry"},"content":{"rendered":"
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For Singaporean student Wynn, curiosity has always been her compass. A proud lifelong learner, she turned her passion for chemistry into a powerful force for industrial innovation, beginning her Master of Science in Industrial Chemistry at TUM Asia during one of the most turbulent periods in recent memory.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Pandemic-Proof Passion<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

While COVID-19 brought many students\u2019 plans to a halt, Wynn saw an opportunity. She chose to study at TUM Asia, drawn not just by its academic reputation, but also its supportive and accessible environment. \u201cI was comfortable with the teaching style,\u201d she explains. \u201cAnd it was easier to communicate with the local administration if I had any doubts, which is especially important during the pandemic.\u201d<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Adapting to online learning wasn\u2019t easy. \u201cIt was harder to understand and focus during lectures,\u201d Wynn admits. But it turned into a growth opportunity. \u201cThat experience helped me improve in meetings. I can now catch the main points more quickly.\u201d<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

One memorable moment came when TUM Asia mailed chemistry kits to students’ homes. \u201cIt may have been a simple mixing and moulding project, but it was the effort that mattered,\u201d she says. \u201cIt allowed us to have fun with chemistry, even though we were stuck at home.\u201d<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Ready for Industry<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Today, Wynn works as a Research <\/span>Engineer at Malacca Sourcing Pte Ltd, part of a sportswear retail group which is one of the largest international retailers of sporting apparel, footwear and equipment globally.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u201cI plan and perform experiments, analyse results, and then plan next steps. With several projects running simultaneously, it\u2019s important to schedule time for reading papers, writing reports, and discussions too.\u201d She also addresses a common misconception about her field. \u201cPeople think R&D is just lab analysis, often only in petrochemical industries. But it\u2019s much broader. The exciting part is that every idea can spark more ideas, leading to progress in different directions.\u201d<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Wynn credits her time at TUM Asia with smoothing her transition into working life. \u201cI\u2019d already covered some of the topics, so reading papers has become easier. I can offer suggestions and even find the right references to explain scenarios clearly.\u201d<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Hands-on experiences, from lab experiences to her internship and thesis played a key role in building her confidence. \u201cI\u2019ve had experience across different areas: chemistry, analytical instruments, even some microbiology. That variety gave me a head start, and I wasn\u2019t intimidated by unfamiliar tools or processes.\u201d<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Still, the transition wasn\u2019t without its challenges. \u201cI was used to professors guiding every step,\u201d she recalls. \u201cSuddenly I had to make decisions on my own. It was tough at first, but I learnt that as long as I base decisions on research and take small, calculated steps, even failures become valuable learning experiences.\u201d <\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Photo credit: Wynn Koo<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u00a0<\/span>Building Tomorrow\u2019s Materials<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Wynn is especially excited about how technology is transforming industry. \u201cAI is being integrated into more aspects of life and work. Robots in production lines can now troubleshoot too, which means fewer faults and less waste.\u201d<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Looking ahead, she sees automation and digitalisation becoming the norm. \u201cIt\u2019s happening across every industry. And with global warming, clean and green technologies will become a basic requirement.\u201d<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Her personal aspiration aligns closely with Singapore\u2019s sustainability agenda: \u201cI don\u2019t have big dreams. But if I can help develop a green material with excellent properties that\u2019s simple and scalable to implement, that would be amazing.\u201d<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Beyond technical skills, Wynn values the multicultural exposure she had during her studies. \u201cMy classmates came from different countries and backgrounds, some with work experience. We had to do group projects, sometimes entirely online. That helped me get comfortable working with diverse teams.\u201d Today, those soft skills are just as crucial as her technical ones. <\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Looking Back, Moving Forward<\/span><\/b>\u202f<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Her advice as a senior to future students? \u201cGo for it. Ask questions, even the ones you think are silly. Sometimes those questions spark a new way of thinking.\u201d<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

To her younger self, she\u2019d say: \u201cSocialise more.\u201d Casual conversations today might become career-changing connections in the future.<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

As a member of the TUM and TUM Asia alumni network, Wynn appreciates the access to peers across various industries. \u201cEveryone has different expertise now. Their experience and advice are valuable.\u201d<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Wynn\u2019s story is a reflection of how resilience, curiosity, and a solid education can shape a meaningful career. Wynn’s journey reflects not only her<\/span>\u202f<\/span>resilience and adaptability, but also the transformative power of applied, cross-cultural education. Graduates like Wynn are showing how TUM Asia<\/span>\u202f<\/span>graduates can lead global change – one molecule, one experiment, one breakthrough at a time.<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Explore our BEng<\/strong><\/a> and MSc<\/a><\/strong> programmes to join this growing network of changemakers.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A lifelong learner, Wynn turned her passion for chemistry into innovation through the MSc in Industrial Chemistry at TUM Asia.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":53679,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-53667","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nTUM Asia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A lifelong learner, she turned her passion for chemistry into innovation through the MSc in Industrial Chemistry at TUM Asia.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/tum-asia.edu.sg\/cn\/stories\/from-lab-bench-to-breakthroughs-a-singaporeans-journey-through-industrial-chemistry\/\" \/>\n<meta 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