TWO years into his four-year scholarship bond with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star), scientist Ho Han Kiat decided he wanted to teach full-time at the National University of Singapore (NUS). He got his wish and started work at the university's pharmacy department this month.
A*Star chairman Lim Chuan Poh yesterday cited Dr Ho as the trigger for a new programme to be launched, giving the agency's PhD scholarship holders the option of teaching at NUS or the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), while doing research, as they serve out their bonds.
From next month, after working at A*Star's research institutes for two years upon completing their PhDs, the agency's scholarship holders can apply for positions at the institutions.
Scholarship holders can choose to work full-time at A*Star and hold adjunct positions at the universities; they can be seconded full-time to the universities; or they can hold joint appointments, spending about three- quarters of their time at A*Star and the rest with NUS or NTU.
At yesterday's launch at science research and development (R&D) complex Fusionopolis in Buona Vista, Mr Lim said that the new programme, on top of creating more pathways for A*Star's scholarship holders, also creates more research links between A*Star and the universities.
A*Star, which charts the direction of scientific R&D in Singapore, is also in talks with the Economic Development Board on a similar arrangement, where PhD scholarship holders can spend time working in drug companies in the course of serving out their bonds.
The agency currently has 700 students pursuing PhDs under its scholarships. Some 150 have already returned. A*Star has the goal of training 1,000 PhD holders by next year.
LIAW WY-CIN
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