Before joining NUS, he was a post-doctoral researcher in the Chemical and Biomolecular Department at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. He received his PhD degree from Georgia Institute of Technology in 2002. He is the recipient of Defense Innovation Research Program Award in 2009, A*Star Research Awards in 2006, 2008 and 2015 for his work on microfluidic – liquid crystal sensors. His present research interests are focused on analytical chemistry, microfluidics, sensors and liquid crystals.