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Low Hong Yee

Prof LOW Hong Yee

Head of Pillar (Engineering Product Development)
Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Chair Professor
Co-advisor (Dyson-SUTD Innovation Studios)
Deputy Director (CHEERS)
EMAIL
hongyee_low
sutd.edu.sg
OFFICE
1.302.16
CONTACT
+65 6499 4612
RESEARCH AREAS
Biomedical & Healthcare
Energy & Sustainability
Knitting and Textiles

Biography

Professor Low earned her PhD, MSc, and BSc in Macromolecular Science from Case Western Reserve University, USA. Her career experiences include 2 years at Motorola Semiconductor Sector and 13 years at the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science Technology and Research. She joined SUTD in 2013, served as the director of the Digital Manufacturing and Design (DManD) research centre from 2018-2022. Currently, she is the Head of Pillar for Engineering Product Development at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). She also serves as Co-Advisor for the Dyson SUTD Innovation Studio and Deputy Director for the Centre for Healthcare Education, Entrepreneurship and Research. Her research focuses on multi-material and multi-textural design and fabrication, polymer nanofabrication for functional surfaces, and the integration of micro- and nano-surfaces for sustainability and healthcare applications. Her recent research includes digital knitting of electrical and mechanical functional textiles. Professor Low has co-authored >150 peer reviewed publications and is a co-inventor of 30 granted patents. She was a co-founder of Enlitho Private Limited (2016-2028), and is a co-founder of Carbon1010 Private Limited (2024-current). She is also an active board member of Singapore Science Centre, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, as panel reviewer for scientific proposals and projects, and jury member for L’Oréal for Women in Science Fellowship.

Research funding: Total research funding secured: ~SGD 30 million as PI
Research interests
  • Multi-material and multi-scale design and fabrication
  • Polymer nanofabrication for functional surfaces
  • Nanoimprinting for functional and biomimetic surfaces
  • Machine learning-assisted design of micro- and nano-surfaces
  • Integration of micro- and nano-surfaces and materials with applications in sustainability and healthcare
  • Digital knitting of electrical and mechanical functional textiles
Entrepreneurship

Prof. Low Hong Yee translates fundamental polymer nanofabrication research into real-world applications spanning healthcare, sustainability, and advanced manufacturing. Her innovation track record spans over two decades, anchored by a substantial intellectual property portfolio of 30 granted patents and multiple pending applications across the US, Singapore, Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, and Europe. Her patents cover a broad technology range  including lithography processes and tooling, biomimetic superhydrophobic and dry-adhesive surfaces, organic electronics and OLED sealing, nanotopography for drug and gene delivery, medical devices including blood-clotting substrates and surgical adhesives, carbon capture membranes, and smart knitted textiles for wearable sensing. Two patents have been commercially licensed to Nanovue Pte. Ltd. Her innovation work at the systems level includes leading the A*STAR Industrial Consortium on Nanoimprint Technology (ICON), a public-private consortium of 19 industry and academic members across 4 countries and co-founding two technology ventures: Enlitho Private Limited (2016–2018), which commercialised micro-nano fabrication services including nanoimprint-based fabrication processes for functional polymer films, and Carbon1010 Private Limited (2024–current), which is developing scalable indoor and urban carbon capture solutions based on IP co-invented at SUTD. Her innovation pipeline is supported by more than SGD 30 million in research funding secured as principal investigator.
  • Co-founder, technical advisor, Carbon1010 Private Limited, 2024 – current
    Carbon1010 is a deep-tech spin-off commercialising novel carbon capture materials and films developed at SUTD, targeting indoor and urban decarbonisation applications.
  • Co-founder, technical advisor, Enlitho Private Limited, 2016 – 2018 (exited)
    Enlitho commercialised nanoimprint-based fabrication processes for functional polymer films.
Selected recent publications
  • Wiwattanakul, P., Low, H.Y., “Light-Triggered Volumetric Shrinkage Enables Ambient-Condition Debonding in Nanocomposite Adhesives”, ACS Appl. Mater. Interf. 18(12): 18306–18321, 2026
  • Binedell, T., Chia, P.Z., Tan, Y.Y., Low, H.Y., “Toward a Digitally Informed Knitted Prosthetic Interface with Graded Stiffness to Enhance Comfort in Transtibial Amputees: Proof-of-Concept Case Study”, JMIR Rehabil Assist Technol., v.13, e91396, 2026
  • Tan, Y.Y., Gupta, U., Chia, P.Z., Pambudi, C.P., Lim, B.E.H., Soh, G.S., Low, H.Y., “Seamlessly Machine-Knitted Multi-Sensor Garment to Monitor and Quantify Dynamic Upper Body Movement”, Adv. Sensor Res., e00067, 2025
  • Li, H., Niu, J.B., L.G.Tao., Tan, M.C. and Low, H.Y, “Cascade Reactions for Enhanced CO2 capture: concurrent Optimization of Porosity and N-Doping”, Adv.Func.Mater,2115441, 2024
  • Li, H., Niu, J.B., Tay, K.J., Tan, M.C. and Low, H.Y. “Sustainable Dual-template Fabrication of Hierarchical Pore Structure for Enhanced and Stable CO2 Capture” ACS Sustainable Chem. &Eng. 12,7, 2911-2920, 2024
  • Gupta, U., Lau,J.L., Chia,P.Z., Tan, Y.Y., Ahmed, A., Tan N.C., Soh,G.S., Low, H.Y. “All Knitted and Integrated Soft Wearable of High Stretchability and Sensitivity for Continuous Monitoring of Human Joint Motion“, Adv. Healthcare Mater.2023, 12(21) e2202987 (highlighted by Science Daily 25 March 2023; hackster.io 28 May 2023; MED-TAC International 27 June 2023; Forbes June 28, 2023; smart textile & wearables, July 2023)
  • Wong, H.C., Ong, S.K., Birgersson B.E., Tan, M.C. and Low, H.Y., “Hierarchical Isoporous Membrane Filters for Simultaneous Reduction of Pressure Drop and Efficient Removal of Nanoscale Airborne Contaminants“, Appl.Mater.Today, 2023,33, 101856
  • Ramasamy,C. and Low, H.Y., “Triple and Quadruple Surface Pattern Memories in Nano-imprinted Polymer Blends”, ACS Appl.Mater.Interfaces, 2023, 15,1
  • Tan, H.W., Choong, Y.Y.C., Kuo, C.N., Low, H.Y. and Chua, C.K., “3D Printed Electronics:Process, Materials and Future Trends”, Progress in Mater.Sci., 127, 100945, 2022
  • J.L.Lau, U.Gupta, P.Z.Chia, A.Ahmad, G.S.Soh, H.Y.Low*, “Cyber physical systems for smart assistive healthcare devices”, 43rd Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Oct’21.
  • Wirawan, D., Kim, J.G.,Wong, H.C., Low, H.Y. and Tan, M.C., “Textured carbon capture composite films for distributed direct air capture in urban spaces”, Cleaner Eng. Techn.4, 100145, 2021
  • Ong, S.K., Low, H.Y. and Birgersson, E., “Tuning pressure drop in isoporous membranes: Design with fabrication variability”, Adv.Theo.Simul., 4(8), 2100088, 2021
  • S. Zhong, H.C. Wong, H.Y. Low*, R. Zhao*, “Photo-triggerable Transient Electronics via Fullerene-mediated degradation of Polymer: Fullerene Encapsulation Layer”, ACS Appl. Mater. Interf. 13(1), 904-011, 2021
  • B. Zhang, A. Serjouei, Y.F. Zhang, J. Wu, H.G. Li, D. Wang, H.Y. Low, Q. Ge, “Dual-stage thermosetting photopolymers for advanced manufacturing, Chem. Eng. J., 411 (1), 128466, 2021
  • S. Zhong, H.C. Wong, H.Y. Low*, R. Zhao*,” Photo-triggerable Transient Electronics via Fullerene-mediated degradation of Polymer:Fullerene Encapsulation Layer”, ACS Appl. Mater. Interf. 13(1), 904-011, 2021
  • W. Zhang.W., H. Wang, H.T. Wang, J. Chan, H.L. Liu, B. Zhang, Y.F. Zhang, K. Agarwal, X.L.Yang, A. Ranganath, H.Y. Low, Qi. Ge, and J. Yang*, “Structural Multi-Colour Invisible Inks with Submicron 4D Printing of Shape Memory Polymers“, Nature Communication, 12, 112, 2021
  • H. C. Wong, Q. Wang, E. M Speller, Z. Li, J. T Cabral, H. Y. Low*, “Photoswitchable solubility of fullerene-doped polymer thin films“, ACS Nano,14(9), 11352-11362, 2020
  • Y.Y. C. Choong, H. W. Tan, D. C.Patel, W. T. N. Choong, C.H. Chen, H. Y. Low, M. J. Tan, C. D.Patel, C. K. Chua, “The global rise of 3D printing during the COVID-19 pandemic”, Nature Rev. Mater., 5, 637-639, 2020
  • J.C.Tan and H.Y.Low*, “Embedded Electrical Tracks in 3D Printed Objects by Fused Filament Fabrication of High Conductive Composite,” Additive Manufacturing,  23, 294-302, 2018
  • Raut H.K., Baji, A., Hariri, H.H., Parveen, H., Soh, G.S., Low, H.Y.*, and Wood, K.L., “Gecko-inspired dry adhesive based on micro-nanoscale hierarchical arrays for application in climbing devices”, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces., 10, 1288-1296, 2018.  highlighted by Science Daily (Jan 2018)
Selected patents

(out of 30 granted patents; 14 pending patents, 2 patents licensed to Nanovue Pte. Ltd)
  • “Carbon Capture Membrane”, M.C.Tan, H.Y,Low, Y.Y. Zhang, H.C.Wong, US 11,325,075 B2 (2022)
  • “Construct For Promoting Absorption Of Molecules By A Cell And Methods Of Using The Construct (Nanotopographical Modulation of Endocytosis for Drug and Gene Delivery)”, E.K.F.Yim, H.Y.Low, T.S.Kustandi, K.K.Teo, S.H.Goh, US 9815,921B2 (2017)
  • “Water Soluble Pouch Comprising an Embossed Area”
    E. M. Perez, A.M. Becares, F. L. Yap, S. R. Su, I. Rodriguez, H.Y. Low
    US  20150360837A1; EP2955219B1; (2015)
  • “Adhesive Structure with Stiff Protrusion on Adhesive Surface”
    S. Natarajan, J. Hammer, K. Cooper, M. Vyakarnam, H.Y. Low, I. Rodriguez, C.T. Lim and A.Y.Y. Ho
    US 9,211,176B2 (2015)
  • “Super-Hydrophobic Hierarchical Structures, Methods of Forming Them and Medical Devices Incorporating Them”
    A.Y.Y. Ho, I. Rodriguez, H. Y. Low, E. K Luong Van, S. Natarajan, N. Elmouelhi, K. Cooper, C.T.,
    US 8,926,881B2 (2015)
  • “Construct for Promoting Absorption of Molecules by A Cell and Methods of Using the Construct”
    E. Yim, T. Kustandi, H. Y. Low, K.K. Teo, S.H. Goh
    SG 188071A (2015), US9815921B2 (2017)
Professional activities
  • Board member, Singapore Science Centre, Feb 2025 – Jan 2027
  • Advisory member, Engineering Board, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Nov 2024 – current
  • Editorial board, Virtual and Physical Prototyping, 2023 – current
  • Panel reviewer, A*STAR Industry Alignment Fund – Industry Pre-positioning (IAF-ICP), 2020 – current
  • Advisory board member, Materials Horizon (RSC (London)) since 2013 – current
  • Jury Member, L’Oréal for Women in Science Fellowship, 2015 – 2025
Selected recently invited talks
  • “Functional micro and nano-scale patterning in 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional polymer substrates”, American Chemical Society, Falls National Meeting, Aug 2023
  • Plenary speaker, “Emergent Global Trends in Engineering Education, ASME MEED Conference, Online, Puerto Ricco, March 2023
  • Keynote: “Digital Manufacturing for a Circular Economy”, International Conference of Additive Manufacturing for a Better World, Aug-2022, Singapore.
  • “Digital Manufacturing and Design for Sustainable Development”, She Leads Tech. Singapore Oct 2022