Dr.ing. S.Y. Wong | People Pages: Find employees & contact details

I am fascinated with the idea that networks of chemical reactions operate in harmony to govern living system. I obtained my PhD degree cum laude from Radboud University under supervision of prof. Huck in 2017. The excellence of my PhD is underlined with the Backer-KNCV prize for the best thesis in organic chemistry in the Netherlands. In the same year, I received a NWO Rubicon grant, which provided me with the opportunity to work with prof. Whitesides at Harvard University. This postdoctoral experience enabled me to deepen my knowledge in chemical origin of lifeand strengthen my expertise in out-of-equilibrium reaction networks before starting my tenure track in the Molecular Nanofabrication group at University of Twente in 2020. Here, I aim to create an environment that fosters enthusiasm for science: Besides my efforts in establishing my research group, I take my responsibility to build and shape a thriving academic community and support future generations of students and researchers in their development.

PERSONAL DETAILS

Current position

2024 – Associate Professor (Tenure track). Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Molecules and Materials, University of Twente, the Netherlands.

Education and key qualifications

2013 – 2017 PhD. Institute of Molecular Materials, Department of Organic Chemistry, Radboud University Nijmegen, the Netherlands, Supervisor: Prof. W. T. S. Huck.

2011 – 2013 Master. Institute of Molecular Materials, Department of Organic Chemistry, Radboud University Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

Previous position(s)

2020– 2024 Assistant Professor. Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Molecules and Materials, University of Twente, the Netherlands.

2017 – 2020 Postdoctoral research. Faculty of Science and Arts, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, U.S.A., Advisor: Prof. G. M. Whitesides.

ACADEMIC DISTINCITONS

2023 TKI Green Chemistry & Circularity PPP Grant (178 kEUR, award rate N/A, rank N/A), funded by the ChemistryNL. Co-applicant: Dr. S. Sekula-Neuner, Dr. M. Hirtz.

2023 KMNFi facility grant (facility access) to Karlsruhe Micro Nano Facilities, funded by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, KIT. Co-applicant: Dr. S. Sekula-Neuner

2022 NWO Open Competition-M Grant (670 kEUR). Grant for curiosity-driven, fundamental research, funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research, NWO. Co-applicant: Dr. Clara Stegehuis.

2020 Veni Research Grant (250 kEUR). Personal grant funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research, NWO.

2018 Rubicon Research Grant (137 kEUR). Personal grant funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research, NWO.

2018 IMM Award (1 kEUR). Best Ph. D. thesis in chemistry at Radboud University, the Netherlands. IMM abbreviates Institute of Molecular Materials.

2017 Backer-KNCV Prize (2.5 kEUR), best Ph.D. thesis in the Netherlands in the field of organic chemistry.

2017 PhD cum laude(top 5% of all Dutch theses; the highest possible grade in NL).

Organisations

I foresee a completely new direction emerging in chemical sciences wherein we use chemical reaction networks (CRNs) to challenge the fundamental concepts of computing. My group aims to design programmable CRNs capable of functions akin artificial intelligence. Together, we work on developing a crucial experimental stepping stone to create future brain-inspired computing strategies, guided by the questions: “how do chemical reactions become intelligent?” and “how can molecules compute?”.

see CRN (utwente.nl)

Research profiles

Teaching involves lecturing as well as mentoring and engaging. My aim is to create an environment that fosters enthusiasm for science: I take it as my responsibility to build and shape a thriving teaching community and to support future generations of students and researchers in their development.

My focus in teaching centered around transferring fundamental knowledge in chemistry (and mathematics) to students, which is why I lectured 15 courses (since 2015) and assisted in teaching 30 courses (between 2011-2020). (for full list, see website)

To facilitate learning, I designed two new courses “Conceptual modelling” and “Systems chemistry”. Conceptual modeling was embedded in a first-year bachelor project (in 2022 and 2023) to establish an evidenced-informed learning environment for conceptualizing new ideas. Systems chemistry was embedded in the first-year master program (in 2023) to provide students with a fundamental understanding in what makes chemistry in a living systems so very different from the chemistry we use in the laboratory. Both courses aim to equip students with a systems’ perspective to address compelling 21st-Century challenges in chemistry and chemical engineering.

Affiliated study programs

Courses academic year 2025/2026

Courses in the current academic year are added at the moment they are finalised in the Osiris system. Therefore it is possible that the list is not yet complete for the whole academic year.