Zhi Kuang Tan

Associate Professor Zhi Kuang Tan is born and raised in Singapore. He studied Chemistry and Technology Entrepreneurship at the National University of Singapore (NUS), and received his Bachelor of Science with a first class Honours in 2010. He earned his PhD in Physics at the University of Cambridge through the support of the prestigious Singapore National Research Foundation (NRF) scholarship. During his PhD, Prof. Tan investigated the physics of optoelectronic devices, with a focus on the heterojunction energetics of organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) and solar cells. In 2014, he invented the first perovskite-based light-emitting diode, which possesses remarkable color performance and efficiencies, and has since attracted significant academic and commercial interest. His research has been published in reputable scientific journals, including Nature Nanotechnology, Nature Photonics and Advanced Materials, and has received an aggregate of 6,000 academic citations. His research inventions have also led to multiple licensed patents and two deep-tech startup companies in the advanced display technologies domain. In 2017, he won the National University of Singapore Early Career Research Award. Prof. Tan currently leads a research group in the Department of Chemistry at the National University of Singapore. His group aims to investigate the rich photo-physics of perovskite semiconductors and quantum dots, and seeks to develop advanced photonic devices for color displays and wearable electronics applications.

Awards and Recognition:

• Department Outstanding Educator Award
• Faculty Teaching Excellence Award
• NUS Early Career Research Award
• Singapore National Institute of Chemistry Merit Service Award
• National Research Foundation Overseas Scholarship
• University of Cambridge Fitzwilliam College Senior Scholarship

Companies

• Associate Professor National University of Singapore (2021)
• Co-Founder Nanolumi (2018)
• Assistant Professor National University of Singapore (2015 — 2021)
• Postdoctoral Research Associate University of Cambridge (2014 — 2015)
• Graduate Student University of Cambridge (2010 — 2014)
• Research Assistant National University of Singapore (2010 — 2010)
• Teaching Assistant National University of Singapore (2009 — 2009)
• Product Development Analyst NanoGram Corporation (Subsidiary of Teijin Japan) (2008 — 2008)

Education

• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) University of Cambridge (2010 — 2014)
• Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) National University of Singapore (2005 — 2010)
• Stanford University (2008 — 2008)
• University of California, Berkeley (2007 — 2007)
• Summer Program Peking University (2009 — 2009)
• NUS Overseas Colleges (2008 — 2008)