The waiting is finally over...

On Wednesday 4:15PM, the Chair of the School sent me an email that will change the whole course of my stay in Singapore. It is a sharp turning point, if you will. This was a two-line email, but it was definitely the one that would make me excited for many days. After almost 8 months of screening and debate, the university management has agreed to grant me the inaugural Nanyang Assistant Professorship. It is not about the title, but it is about the amount of start-up grant that comes with it. In principal the university can fund up to S$1M for my work, subject to approval of the final budget. Too bad I do not have more details on this as the time of writing, but it can only be better than now!

I have in the past lamented how slow my research was and was having a second thought about taking up an academic position. With this award, I am all ready to undertake this new endeavor.

Early this year I was turned down for the NRF Research Fellowship when I faced with a group of high caliber and accomplished young researchers who have a long string of credentials to their credit (we are talking about paper in Science/Nature, Patents, Nobel Laureate's advisee, etc). Naturally I was upset and uncertain. With this new support, I am in a more comfortable position to take my research to another height, and hopefully this is a first step towards more grants.

By the way my laptop is in bad condition, I will need to ask for a new one from the school.

Saturday, May 31, 11:34AM

Best of Luck to Shian Ling

I met Shian Ling yesterday at Jurong Point. In less than 3 months, she will be returning to Duke in Durham, NC, to pursue doctoral study. So in a way this is farewell lunch, though she did not seem to like the idea of being away for the next 5 years (actually she perfers to look at it as being away for 1 year as she plans to visit home everyday year). She asked why hadn't I been updating my blog. Well, these past months have really been dull and I really do not anything interesting to write. All funding proposals were turned down and I am not any different one year ago:(

I paid respect in a nearby Temple before heading home. I got off a few stops ahead thinking that I should walk instead of letting bus 199 making a big loop around the campus. Not a wise decision I must tell. It started pouring as soon as I got off and I took shelter at the information booth. It got worse and there was no way I can escape so I waited. Twenty minutes passed and this kind gentleman pulled his car over and asked if he can give me ride. YES was my answer! I did not ask for his name, but he told me he was a former NTU student and he was back to study for external exam. Thanks dude, you were a great help or less I might have to wait for 1 more hour and risking myself of getting cold. The message? Never stop hoping!

I have just returned from Japan one week early and you want to know my biggest impression? The moment I sat on their toilet bowl, I knew this is a truly technological country. If you have been there, you know what I mean!

My laptop has been stalling on me, waiting to get it back from the IT people.

Monday, May 26, 2008, 4:12PM