Undergrad Hb

SChool oF BiologiCal SCiEnCESSChool oF PhySiCal and MaThEMaTiCal SCiEnCES

Biological Sciences | Biomedical Sciences and Chinese MedicineChemistry and Biological Chemistry

Mathematical Sciences | Mathematics and EconomicsPhysics and Applied Physics

www.cos.ntu.edu.sg

diSCoVERSCiEnCE

@nTU

SCiEnCE Without Limits

ConTEnTS

SCiEnCE Without Limits

02 Dean’s message

04 Associate Dean’s message

05 What’s so special about studying science @ NTU?

06 School of Biological Sciences

10 School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences

14 How will a good student be challenged?

16 Are there any opportunities for global exposure?

18 How will I learn?

19 Learn from the best faculty members

20 Admission requirements for Bachelor of Science programmes

College of Science 01

The College of Science in Nanyang Technological University (NTU), comprising the School of Biological Sciences (SBS) established in 2002 and the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (SPMS) founded in 2005, is a young and dynamic institution that has grown phenomenally in its relatively short history. Today, the College is home to about 170 faculty members, 390 research staff, 120 admin and technical staff, about 3,600 undergraduates and more than 600 graduate students. The College of Science family includes, of course, also our alumni, of whom about 3,300 graduated from the two Schools in the last few years.

Science is the cornerstone of modern technological innovations and medical advances. The College is firmly committed to its dual mission of excellence in education and research in the sciences, to contribute to the progress of mankind and Singapore through new discoveries and cutting-edge inventions, and to educate young minds for the world of tomorrow.

Through both SBS and SPMS, the College offers innovative undergraduate and graduate programmes in a diversity of scientific disciplines. At the undergraduate level, through broad-based curricula and modern facilities, students are equipped with broad perspectives and multifaceted skills beyond their major disciplines, preparing them for the workplace and further studies. For graduate students, the state-of-the-art infrastructure and presence of outstanding faculty as their mentors provide for a world-class environment for learning. The energy and passion of our students, staff and faculty

dEan’S MESSagE

02 College of Science

Young and dynamicinstitution that hasgrown phenomenallyin its relatively shorthistory.

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members make the College a wonderfully vibrant and stimulating community where knowledge is constantly created, imparted and exchanged.

Talent is key for any institution. I am extremely proud of the richness and diversity of talent we have in the College of Science. Our graduates have secured jobs with much sought-after employers such as Bloomberg, Citibank, Ernst and Young, GlaxoSmithKline, Singapore Airlines, Caltech, MIT and Yale, while some have moved on to top institutions, like Cambridge, Harvard and Berkeley, to pursue further studies. Our undergraduate students have done Singapore and NTU proud by excelling in international competitions like the International Mathematics Competition for university students and Queen’s Entrepreneurs’ Competition, while our graduate students have won the World Future Foundation PhD Prizes in Environmental and Sustainability Research.

I also think of those who have demonstrated highly-valued qualities, such as leadership, courage and compassion, in activities they organized, e.g., Youth Expedition Projects to help the less fortunate in some neighbouring countries and the annual NTU Life Sciences Symposia to network with the life science community in Singapore. Numerous accolades, international and national, have been won by faculty members of the College of Science, including the Singapore Young Scientist Award, ProSPER.net-Scopus Young Scientist Awards, the TR35 Global and TR35@Singapore lists. The College is also the choice of 22 recipients of the Singapore National Research Foundation Fellowship as

their academic base. The College of Science also won the first and only MOE AcRF Tier 3 research grant in 2012.

The coming years are exciting ones for NTU as we scale the Peaks of Excellence in areas such as Sustainable Earth, Future Healthcare and New Media. The College of Science is a key player in these initiatives, which open up opportunities for stimulating inter-disciplinary interaction for students, faculty and staff. The establishment of the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine will also see scientists in the College working closely alongside their medical counterparts. The College already enjoys an intimate relationship with the two Research Centres of Excellence based in NTU – the Earth Observatory of Singapore and the Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering – where many of their key investigators hold concurrent appointments in the College.

I invite you to join us on this energizing journey to continue to build our heritage and blaze new trails!

Professor ling SanDean, College of Science


You will have the opportunity to be a globally engaged student.

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Welcome, all students, to the College of Science at NTU! If you have a passion for the natural world and for analytical thinking, pursuing a degree programme at the College of Science will inspire your quest for inquiry and creativity. Our Science education programmes will develop critical thinking and problem solving ability that will equip you for careers in a wide range of areas of society, locally or overseas. There is no better foundation for further studies in science or other disciplines than a degree in science.

aSSoCiaTEdEan’S

MESSagE

As a student in the College of Science, at the School of Biological Sciences or the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, you will be part of a close-knit community of dedicated individuals who all share a common passion for science and education. Professors, research staff and graduate students provide students with ample research attachment opportunities and internship programmes outside the normal curriculum. Our large network of contacts with partners in industry, at research institutes and government agencies is available for students to tap into for external attachment opportunities.

Student life at the College of Science will enrich your personal character and develop friendship for life. As an NTU student, you are encouraged to develop your communication and leadership skills through participation in Club and Hall activities as well as a range of activities in sports at the beautiful NTU Garden Campus. We encourage all students to participate in overseas exchange programmes with several of the best universities in the world. As a student in the College of Science, you will have the opportunity to be a globally engaged student experiencing overseas academic cultures.

Professor lars nordenskiöldAssociate Dean, College of Science


oUTSTanding FaCUlTy MEMBERS

Students are taught by a team of top-notch, internationally qualified faculty from over 29 nations; bringing unique perspectives, teaching methods and extensive contact networks from all corners of the globe. The College of Science has renowned Nanyang Professors and National Research Foundation Fellows among its ranks.

WoRld ClaSS CURRiCUlUM

The curricula and standards for the various disciplines in the College of Science are modelled after those of the best universities in the world such as Caltech, Yale, UCLA, Cornell.

diRECT honoURS PRogRaMMES

The College of Science offers direct Honours programmes in Biological Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Mathematical Sciences, Mathematics and Economics, and Physics and Applied Physics. This system gives all students, regardless of academic standing, exposure to advanced coursework and project work.

inTEgRaTEd BaChEloR oF SCiEnCE (honS) and MaSTER oF SCiEnCE PRogRaMMES

The College of Science offers an exclusive fast-track programme which allows preselected top students to complete both the Bachelor’s

WhaT’S So SPECial aBoUT

STUdying SCiEnCE @ nTU?

and Master’s degrees at an accelerated pace of 4 to 4.5 years, instead of the usual 5 to 6 years.

Cn yang SCholaRS PRogRaMME

Outstanding undergraduate students may be selected to join the prestigious CN Yang Scholars Programme. This programme empowers students not only with a core degree in science or mathematics, additionally there are many enrichment opportunities woven into the programme.

SCholaRShiP aWaRdS

NTU offers a variety of scholarships to top students in recognition of their academic excellence and leadership qualities.

STUdy and WoRK oVERSEaS

Students have the opportunity to gain cross cultural experience in reputable overseas universities. The NTU’s overseas programmes allow students to study and work abroad.

EXCEllEnT CaREER PRoSPECTS

Science and Mathematics graduates have a wide range of careers to choose from in a variety of industrial sectors such as the Life Sciences, Healthcare, Finance and Engineering sectors. Career prospects include, but are certainly not limited to: research, research support, business, management, administration, banking, IT and education.


SCHOOL OF

BiologiCal SCiEnCES

The School of Biological Sciences provides each and every student with a truly international education in cutting edge Biomedical and Life Sciences. With faculty originating from over 20 different countries, students are immersed in an enriching culture of knowledge. Students can look forward to stimulating and challenging curricula that meets the discerning demands of both the Life Sciences and Biomedical industries worldwide.


Bachelor of Science (honours) in Biological Sciences

In the first year, students receive strong grounding in the principles and practice of Chemical Biology, Structural and Computational Biology, Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics. After completing the foundational units, students will choose their specialisations and focus on topics, such as Genomics, Neurobiology, Cancer Biology, Immunology, infectious diseases, stem cell biology and drug discovery. In the final year, students will undertake full-time project work for an entire semester before entering into either laboratory-based research or other key areas within the Life Sciences industry.

Bachelor of Science (honours) in Biological Sciences with Business Minor

This is a new programme jointly offered by the School of Biological Sciences and the Nanyang Business School. Apart from an independent understanding of core business disciplines, skills, and practices, the added exposure to Business will complement the Biological Sciences student’s core training by providing alternative paradigms for problem solving, an understanding of the applications of process within the framework of the business environment, and preparation for a management position within industry.

CaREER PRoSPECTWith the eternal quest for understanding the processes of l i fe , development, prevention and cure of disease and increasing quality of life comes a wide array of career prospects for science graduates. You, too, can become part of the exciting and high-growth Life Sciences industry. Our programmes will nurture your aspirations and upon graduation you will be equipped with practical and cutting-edge knowledge. Graduates can look forward to positions in: research and development, administrationand management, scientific journalism and communication, medical sales and support services, diagnostic services, and marketing to name just a few.


Bachelor of Science (honours) in Biological Sciences with Psychology Major

This is a prestigious new programme offered by the School of Biological Sciences in partnership with the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. In fast-paced Singapore with its population encountering increasing levels of stress, there is a growing emphasis on awareness of mental health, and a demand for professionals with interdisciplinary training in Psychology. Students who have a curiosity about human emotions, behaviours and thoughts will greatly benefit from this curriculum, developing interests in fields of psychology such as Human Memory, Human Motivation, Cognitive Development, Trauma Psychology and even Forensic Psychology of Crime.

CaREER PRoSPECTFor graduates with an additional Psychology Major, more career opportunities are available. Graduates can further look forward to fields such as the sales/service sector, public affairs, education, business, advertising, health, and the media.


Double Degree:Bachelor of Science (honours) in Biomedical SciencesBachelor of Chinese Medicine (中医学学士学位)

This unique five-year double degree programme is an amalgamation of the western approach to Biomedical Sciences with Traditional Chinese Medicine. The Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biomedical Sciences is conferred by NTU and the Bachelor of Medicine (Chinese Medicine) is conferred by the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM). The first three years of the double degree are taught at NTU, while the final two years are taught at the BUCM in the People’s Republic of China. This is a bilingual course with English and Mandarin as the languages of instruction.

CaREER PRoSPECTGraduates with Double Degree in Biomedical Sciences & Chinese Medicine are well positioned to consider careers in both Life Sciences/Biomedical Sciences and the Chinese Medicine industry. The majority are employed as Chinese Medicine Physicians (subject to passing the Singapore Chinese Medicine Practitioners’ Board Exam) as well as Management & Administration positions in Healthcare organizations and clinics, just to name a few. Some of our graduates are currently pursuing higher degree (Masters) in Chinese Medicine or research as PhD students at local universities.


SPMS recognises that the most exciting sciences and challenging problems of the 21st century will shift from the traditional disciplines to the interfaces of disciplines. The School offers seven rigorous 3 to 4 year Bachelor of Science (Honours) programmes, and students are taught and mentored by faculty doing cutting-edge research. The state-of-the-art facilities of the School provide an excellent environment for teaching, research and learning.

SCHOOL OF

PhySiCal andMaThEMaTiCal

SCiEnCES


Bachelor of Science (honours) in Chemistry and Biological Chemistry

Students are offered a direct honours programme that satisfies the American Chemical Society curricular guidelines for a rigorous professional education in chemistry. In addition to the core contents, students may also opt for concentrations in areas of Food Science and Technology, Green Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry. Plenty of enrichment courses are available, such as Forensic Science, Impact of Chemistry on Society and many more.

CaREER PRoSPECTChemistry graduates can find ready employment in a wide range of chemical related industries in Singapore. These include the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries, the petrochemical industries, Polymer/Paint/Semiconductor industries and the food and beverage industry. A*STAR research institutes and other public sector agencies such as Health Science Authority and DSO National Labs are also eager employers. Being a teacher and shaping the minds of the next generation is also a popular career path among many chemistry graduates.


Bachelor of Science (honours) in Mathematical Sciences

This programme offers a good mix of fundamental, as well as the applied, computational, and the industrial aspects of Mathematics and Statistics. Students undergo 18 months of foundational courses; thereafter they will choose their specialisations either in the Statistics stream, the Pure Mathematics stream, the Applied Mathematics stream or the Business Analytics stream. The emphasis of this degree lies in breadth, flexibility and relevance.

Bachelor of Science (honours) in Mathematical Sciences with Finance Minor

The use of mathematical methods has now become widespread in all areas of finance and economics, and the Minor in Finance in addition to a Major in Mathematical Sciences is designed to respond to this demand and to give an edge to the mathematics student. This Minor is offered by the Nanyang Business School, exclusively to selected Mathematical Sciences students who will be taking additional courses in Banking and Finance.

Bachelor of Science (honours) in Mathematics and Economics

This programme shapes our students into individuals with the skills most sought after by the financial services industry in reading both Mathematics and Economics. Other than the common foundational courses, the emphasis in the later study of Mathematics will be the numerical, computational and statistical methods. For Economics, it will be on the both quantitative techniques and the fundamental economic concepts.

CaREER PRoSPECTPeople who often lead in fields as diverse as finance, IT, biotechnology, and many others, often started their careers with a degree in mathematics. Mathematicians do not usually work in jobs titled “Mathematician”. More typically, the job titles will be like “Epidemiologist”, “Risk Analyst”, “Actuary”, “Clinical Trials Manager”, and countless others. Mathematics gives you a superb foundation for later specialisation, and a set of analytical skills that would be valued by virtually any employer. Strong mathematicians are highly sought after by industry.


Bachelor of Science (honours) in Physics

The Physics degree is designed to equip students with solid analytical and computational skills, while recognizing the needs to prepare them with strong experimental training. Emphasis is placed on the core content of the course, which focuses on conceptual and fundamental knowledge as well as lab based trainings and experiments. Students may also opt to concentrate in Nanotechnology.

Bachelor of Science (honours) in Physics with Mathematical Sciences Major

Alongside a first major in Physics, outstanding students may apply for admission to the degree programme which allows them to pursue a second major in Mathematical Sciences. This second major allows students to acquire a strong mathematical foundation to prep them for graduate studies in theoretical and computational physics.

Bachelor of Science (honours) in applied Physics

After undergoing the foundational courses, students majoring in Applied Physics will undergo courses that emphasize the physical principles that are critical in driving frontier technology and applied research. The Applied Physics majors also enjoy the opportunity to opt for a concentration in areas of Nanotechnology, Optical Technology, Semiconductor Technology and Biophysics.

CaREER PRoSPECTGraduates will be rewarded with a wide choice of potential careers. The key objectives of our educational programme, ‘creativity, active collaboration and effective communication’, supplemented by exposure to research and work attachments, ensures employability of our graduates. Critical analysis, quantitative reasoning, and problem solving skills acquired in the programme are coveted by a variety of employers (e.g., research organisations, semiconductor industries, optics and displays, equipment manufacturers and many more).


This programme offers a tough but rewarding experience, which created an interest in other sciences besides my own major. This researchprogramme also provides good experience for future pursuit of higher degrees.

yeo Xiong Wei JonathanYear 4, Mathematics and EconomicsRaffles JC Alumnus, Singapore

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hoW Will a good STUdEnT

BE ChallEngEd?

Cn yang SCholaRS PRogRaME

The CN Yang Scholars Programme is one of the premier undergraduate programmes at Nanyang Technological University for science and engineering students. The programme is named in honour of Professor CN Yang, Nobel Laureate in Physics (1957) and one of the greatest scientists of our era.

The programme shares the same philosophy as the Caltech Core Curriculum and the MIT General Institute Requirements in providing a strong and broad foundation in the basics of science and mathematics so as to empower the student to delve deeper into any discipline in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and to develop an interest in leading edge research. Students enrolled under the programme will receive a full scholarship and allowance. CN Yang Scholar graduates are given an option to pursue accelerated post-graduate study (PhD) with a top scholarship as well as overseas attachment. It is however not mandatory for students to pursue this option after graduating as a CN Yang Scholar with a Bachelor Degree.


Through this programme, I saw the dynamics between people in labs and how a research is done to discover and possibly break new grounds in making our lives better.

Chung Min RuYear 4, Biomedical SciencesMeridian JC Alumna, Singapore

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UndERgRadUaTE RESEaRCh EXPERiEnCE on CaMPUS (URECa)

URECA (Undergraduate Research Experience on Campus) is a university-wide programme to cultivate a research culture among the most able undergraduates in NTU. Though young by international standards, it is a unique opportunity for NTU undergraduates to touch, feel and experience research at a level not available elsewhere. The opportunity to undertake URECA is by invitation and only to the most academically able second and third year undergraduates. These undergraduates will be given the coveted title of NTU President Research Scholar (NTU PRS). NTU PRSs are required to undertake a minimum of 160 hours of research over a 11-month period (August to June) in an academic year. NTU PRSs are eligible for Academic Units or Stipend and other monetary allowances. By the end of URECA, NTU PRSs will gain a good appreciation of the rigor and open-endedness of research, as well as the formulation of research problems. It is desired that, upon graduation, these NTU PRSs will seriously consider pursuing a higher degree by research and thereafter, choose research as a career.


Undergraduate students in the College of Science are offered the opportunity to learn, work and do research at some of the best international partner universities and organisations in Asia, Europe and North America. These help them develop global perspectives besides broadening their learning experience.

The Global Education and Mobility (GEM) programmes offer various outbound mobility opportunities that include the GEM Discoverer, GEM Explorer and the Overseas Attachment Programme. One of the strengths of these global programmes is the flexibility it allows – from deciding on the length of the term of study, to the type of programme chosen.

GEM Discoverer offers enriching, customised short-term overseas programmes (ranging from 2 to 22 weeks) that aim to enhance the student’s cross-cultural intelligence and

aRE ThERE any oPPoRTUniTiES

FoR gloBal EXPoSURE?

The exchange programme was by far one of the best undergraduate experiences I have had in my life. Not only has it broadened my perspective of life, but it also taught me the importance of treasuring the people around you and appreciation of God’s creation.

asyifah Mohamed Rashid Year 4, Chemistry and Biological ChemistrySt Andrew’s Junior College Alumna, Singapore

University of Ottawa, Canada

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global exposure. They can choose to embark on the popular summer studies arrangement or participate in specially designed thematic programmes during their vacation. GEM Discoverer also offers challenging internship/research opportunities for attachment with companies and institutions in emerging to advance economies.

GEM Explorer enables undergraduate students to take courses in an overseas partner institution for one full-semester while exploring a new country and culture. They can earn academic units while broadening their global network and perspective.

This programme consists of over 150 prestigious partner universities spanning across more than 25 countries thus allowing students to broaden their horizons.

The Overseas Attachment Programme is a unique learning experience for students to experience life outside Singapore. Based on a strong partnership between NTU and the industry, the programme allows students to widen their perspective of the working world, enhance their employability and career mobility worldwide upon graduation.

Participating in GEM Explorer has allowed me to meet people from many different countries and to travel to many awesome places in Europe like Edinburgh, Paris and London. This is definitely one of the highlights of my University journey in NTU and I encourage all undergraduates to participate in this programme if given the opportunity as I am sure it will be a wonderful and exceptional learning experience.

Xu WeiliYear 3, Biological Sciences Ngee Ann Polytechnic Alumnus, Singapore

Stockholm University, Sweden

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lECTURES and TUToRialS

Initial information is delivered in lectures to large groups of students within lecture theatres. Thereafter, students will break into smaller groups for tutorials to discuss material presented in lectures. During tutorials, which are mediated by faculty or senior postgraduate students, students have an opportunity to expand on concepts and theories introduced in the lecture, discuss the material presented and apply newfound knowledge to current issues. Tutorials act as a participation-based learning environment giving all students the chance to ask questions, express their views and debate over a particular topic.

laBoRaToRy PRaCTiCalS

To promote a broad-based education, undergraduate students regularly participate in laboratory work which exposes students to cutting edge equipment and techniques. Students are also given opportunities to carry out research under the supervision of staff members during the semester break as well as through a semester-long intensive research project.

gRoUP diSCUSSionS

In addition to formal lectures and tutorials, undergraduate students are encouraged to meet with faculty for further discussion and clarification of lecture material. The College of Science prides itself on the dedication and open-door policy of all faculty who are ready to share information and foster learning. It is certainly not unusual to see students having regular meetings with faculty over lunch or coffee.

indUSTRial inTERShiP

The internship provides an opportunity for students to get a taste of the working environment. Students will have the flexibility to choose to work with any of our industry partners. This is a good training ground for students to apply their knowledge in a real life situation. Working life provides the opportunity of enhancing one’s communication and interpersonal skills. Internship also helps students to make decisions about their career path.

RESEaRCh PRoJECTS

Students usually work independently on a full time research project during their final year of study. Such projects give all students a chance to put theoretical knowledge into practice and gain valuable research experience prior to graduation. Students will get to learn various experimental and problem solving techniques through research projects.

hoW Will i lEaRn?


lEaRn FRoM ThE BEST FaCUlTy MEMBERS

SChool oF BiologiCal SCiEnCES

3. Professor Peter Preiser Acting Chair, SBS

4. Professor gerhard grüber Associate Chair (Research)

5. assoc Professor Tan Suet Mien Associate Chair (Academic)

6. assoc Professor li hoi yeung Assistant Chair (Academic)

CollEgE oF SCiEnCE

1. Professor ling SanDean, CoS

2. Professor lars nordenskiöldAssociate Dean, CoS

SChool oF PhySiCal and MaThEMaTiCal SCiEnCES

7. assoc Professor Chee yeow Meng Chair, SPMS

8. assoc Professor Chen hongyu Associate Chair (Faculty Development & Research)

9. assoc Professor Wu guohua Associate Chair (Graduate Studies)

10. assoc Professor Tan Choon hong Associate Chair (Outreach & Undergraduate Admissions)

11. assoc Professor Claus-dieter ohl Associate Chair (Undergraduate Studies & Alumni Affairs)

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Programmes Minimum Subject Requirements

Biological Sciences / Biological Sciences with Psychology Major / Biological Sciences with Business Minor

At least H1/SL/equivalent pass in Mathematics and a good H2/HL/A level equivalent passes in one of the subjects - Physics or Chemistry or Biology

Biomedical Sciences /Chinese Medicine(中医学学士学位)

At least H1/SL/equivalent pass in Mathematics and a good H2/HL/A level or equivalent passes in one of the subjects - Physics or Chemistry or Biology. PLUS at least an O level/SL/equivalent pass in Chinese Language

SChool oF BiologiCal SCiEnCES

NTU Admission, Tuition Fees, Financial Assistance, visit: http://admissions.ntu.edu.sg

NTU administered scholarships, visit: http://admissions.ntu.edu.sg/UndergraduateAdmissions/Pages/Scholarships.aspx

Programmes Minimum Subject Requirements

Chemistry and Biological Chemistry

Good H2/HL/A level/equivalent passes in Chemistry and Mathematics or Physics

Mathematical Sciences / Mathematics and Economics / Mathematical Sciences with Finance Minor

Good H2/HL/A level/equivalent pass in Mathematics

Physics / Applied Physics / Physics with Mathematical Sciences Major

Good H2/HL/A level/equivalent passes in Physics and Mathematics

SChool oF PhySiCal and MaThEMaTiCal SCiEnCES

adMiSSion REQUiREMEnTS FoRBaChEloR oF SCiEnCE PRogRaMMES

oFFiCE oF adMiSSionS and FinanCial aidNanyang Technological UniversityStudent Services Centre, Level 2

42 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639815

FoR loCal STUdEnTSTel: (65) 6790 5972/5055Fax: (65) 6794 6510Email: [email protected]

FoR inTERnaTional STUdEnTSTel: (65) 6790 5806/5807

Fax: (65) 6794 6510Email: [email protected]


TaKing it to the new

Extreme

School of Biological SciencesNanyang Technological University60 Nanyang DriveSingapore 637551

Tel: (65) 6316 2988 | Fax: (65) 6791 3856Email: [email protected] School of Physical and Mathematical SciencesNanyang Technological UniversitySPMS-04-01, 21 Nanyang LinkSingapore 637371

Tel: (65) 6513 8459 | Fax: (65) 6515 9663Email: [email protected]

Reg. No. 20060 4393R

College of Science

Documents

Undergrad Hb