Biography
Dr Shireen Goh is an Associate Professor in the Engineering Product Development (EPD) Pillar at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). She earned her BS in Applied and Engineering Physics from Cornell University in 2005 and completed her PhD in Materials Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2013. With over a decade of research experience, Dr Goh specialises in microfluidics for high-density suspension cultures and the development of devices that miniaturise and automate long-term cell culture with real-time control and monitoring. Her work has led to multiple inventions in continuous biomanufacturing and cell therapy. Notable accolades include the A*STAR CRF ATR Award in 2020, the BMRC Young Investigator Grant in 2014, and the Paul Hartman Prize in Experimental Physics in 2005.
Dr Goh’s primary research focuses on innovative bioreactor technologies for drug manufacturing and space life sciences, leveraging microfluidics and biosensor technology. She is particularly interested in translational microfluidic technologies in biomanufacturing, grounded in her background in Applied Physics. Her group excels in developing microfluidics for high-density suspension cultures and creating devices that automate and miniaturise long-term cell culture with real-time monitoring capabilities. Recognising that disruptive innovations require a solid grasp of fundamental sciences, Dr Goh’s team emphasises both translational skills and foundational science. Her research is problem-driven, collaborating with industry partners to evaluate the commercialisation potential of their solutions in terms of economics and scalability. The group’s research spans from TRL 1 (basic research) to TRL 6, with a minimum viable product (MVP) already undergoing validation in industry.
Education
- PhD in Materials Science & Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA (2013)
- BS in Applied & Engineering Physics, Cornell University, USA (2005)
Professional activities
- 2015 – 2018 Honorary Auditor, American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) – Local Singapore Section
Institutional and professional services
- 2025 – 2028 Academic Director
SUTD Eco-City Research & Innovation Centre (SERIC),
Singapore University of Technology & Design (SUTD), Singapore
Steered research collaborations, sustainability technology initiatives, entrepreneurial partnerships, and scholarship programmes between SUTD and Tianjin Eco-City. - 2024 – 2025 Deputy Academic Director
SUTD Eco-City Research & Innovation Centre (SERIC),
Singapore University of Technology & Design (SUTD), Singapore - 2024 – Current External Evaluator Panel
Enterprise Development Grant (Co-Innovation Programme) [EDG(CIP)],
Enterprise SG, Singapore. - 2020 – 2022 BTI Representative
A*STAR Medtech Horizontal Technology Centre,
Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI), Singapore
Fostered cross-institute collaboration and strategic alignment in MedTech innovation. - 2019 Young Leader
STS Forum Kyoto 2019, Japan.
Selected to participate in the STS forum 2019 Young Leaders Program in Kyoto, engaging with global leaders and Nobel Laureates on the future of science, technology, and society. - 2017 Planning Committee
CREATE Symposium,
Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore - 2015 – 2018 Honorary Auditor
American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) – Local Section, Singapore - 2014 Planning Committee
International Science Competition of Science@50,
Agency for Science, Technology & Research (A*STAR), Singapore - 2013 – 2018 Outreach IC
Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI), Singapore
Awards
- 2021 – 2023: A*STAR CRF ATR Award, A*STAR, Singapore
- 2014: A*STAR Scientific Conference Best Poster Award, A*STAR, Singapore
- 2014 – 2017: BMRC Young Investigator Grant, A*STAR, Singapore
- 2012: AIChE Best Oral Presentation in Session, AIChE Annual Meeting, USA
- 2005: Paul Hartman Prize in Experimental Physics, Cornell University, USA
- 2005: Chairman’s Honour Roll, A*STAR, Singapore
- 2003 – 2005: Chairman’s Honour List, A*STAR, Singapore
- 2002 – 2011: National Science Scholarship (BS-PhD), A*STAR, Singapore
- 2000: Gold Medal, Singapore Chemistry Olympiad, Singapore
- 2000: Silver Medal, Singapore Physics Olympiad, Singapore
Selected patents
Granted
- S. Goh, R.J. Ram, M. Canzoneri and H. Blum (2014) Small Volume Bioreactors with Substantially Constant Working Volumes and Associated Systems and Methods International Patent Application No. PCT/US2014/052252, filed 22 August 2014.
- S. Goh, R.J. Ram, M. Canzoneri and H. Blum (2013) Control of Carbon Dioxide Levels and pH in Small Volume Reactors, U.S. Patent Application No. 14/063,907 and International Patent Application No. PCT/US2013/066832, filed October 2013.
- S. Goh, K.S. Lee, R.J. Ram, M. Canzoneri and H. Blum (2013), Humidity Control in Chemical Reactors, U.S. Patent Application No. 14/064,021 and International Patent Application No. PCT/US2013/066845, filed October 2013.
Technology disclosures
- S. Goh and J. Huang (2023) Clog-free Serpentine Channel for Perfusion Filter with Dead-cell Removal. Technology Disclosure No. BTI 23-033.
- S. Goh, R. Arayanarakool and J. Huang (2023) Inertial Microfluidics Device with Pillars for Rapid Post-Apheresis T-cell Purification and Neutrophil Removal in Autologous CAR-T Therapy. Technology Disclosure No. BTI 23-032.
- S. Goh , D.S.W. Lim, S. Smith and Y.H. Kee (2023) Computer simulation of inertial focusing behavior of cells/particles in microfluidic devices with high cell/particle densities. Technology Disclosure No. BTI 23-017.
- S. Goh , D.S.W. Lim, S. Smith and Y.H. Kee (2023) Hierarchical and Symmetrical Flow Splitting Stacked Architecture for Three-Dimensional Parallelization of Microfluidic Devices With Optimal Flow Distribution. Technology Disclosure No. BTI 23-016.
Selected key publications
- A. E. Lim & S. Goh (2023). Effect of microchannel diameter on electroosmotic flow hysteresis. Energies, 16(5), 2154
- G.P. Singh, S. Goh, M. Canzoneri and R.J. Ram, Raman Spectroscopy of Complex Defined Media: Biopharmaceutical Applications, Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, Vol. 46, 545-550, 2015
- W.Y. Ng, S. Goh, Y.C. Lam and I. Rodriguez, DC-biased AC-electroosmotic and AC-electrothermal flow mixing in microchannels, Lab On A Chip, Vol. 9, 802-809, 2009
- S. Shen, A. Narayanaswamy, S. Goh and G. Chen, Thermal Conductance of Bimaterial Cantilevers, Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 92, 063509, 2008
- S. Ghosh, A.R. Bhagwat, C.K. Renshaw, S. Goh, A.L. Gaeta & B.J. Kirby, Low-Light-Level Optical Interactions with Rubidium Vapor in a Photonic Band-gap Fiber, Physical Review Letters, Vol. 97, 023603, 2006