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Franklin Anariba

ANARIBA Franklin

Senior Lecturer

Materials, Design Thinking

EMAIL
franklin_anariba
sutd.edu.sg
OFFICE
1.502-30
CONTACT
+65 6499 4605
RESEARCH AREAS
Chemistry
Pedagogy Innovation
Technology and Design
Biomedical & Healthcare

Biography

Franklin obtained his BA in chemistry at Rutgers University in New Jersey. As an undergraduate he carried out electropolymerisation research under the supervision of Prof Alexander Yacynych at Rutgers University, and in biosensors under the supervision of Prof Alexander Scheeline at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. After a short stint at Merck & Co. in Rawah, New Jersey, he pursued graduate studies at the Ohio State University, where he obtained a MSc in analytical chemistry and a PhD in molecular device fabrication under the supervision of Prof Richard McCreery at the Chemistry Department.

Subsequently, Franklin joined Prof David Bocian for post-doctoral studies at the University of California, Riverside, where he studied molecular memory devices and metal/molecule/semiconductor interfaces. Subsequently, he worked as a research scientist at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN, Singapore) where he worked on integrating microfabrication techniques amenable to surface chemistry modification processes, bioimaging organic probes, and localised surface Plasmon resonance for DNA amplification. Then, he taught full-time chemistry courses for engineering and architect students at the California Polytechnic State University, and in 2012, he joined SUTD.
Education
  • PhD, Molecular Device Fabrication, The Ohio State University (2005).
  • MS, Analytical Chemistry, The Ohio State University (2002).
  • BA, Chemistry, Rutgers University (1999).
Teaching experience
  • Senior Lecturer – Singapore University of Technology and Design (2023 – Present)
  • Lecturer – Singapore University of Technology and Design (2012 – 2023)
  • Senior Researcher – Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (2011 – 2012)
  • Lecturer – California Polytechnic State University, CA, USA (2010 – 2011)
  • Adjunct Professor – San Bernardino Valley College, CA, USA (2006 – 2008)
Current research interests (2026)

Pedagogy innovation
  • Development of designettes at the interface of design thinking and chemistry.
  • Building experiential learning experiences through transdisciplinary design.

Innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship (ICE)
  • AI fluency in the education space.
  • Mapping STEAM + Design competencies.
  • AI tools for measuring creativity.
  • Creating technology solution in the education space.

Materials
  • Novel materials.
Publication

Pedagogy innovation
  • Truong, K. T.; Phan, L. H.; Kahar, R.; Anariba, F.  “Using the STEAMxD Framework for Transdisciplinary Design Training of University Students Through the Freshmore Asian Co-Curriculum Trip (FACT) Programme.”  Proceeding of the 27th International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education (EPDE2025/1220), 2025, pp 367-372.
  • Chan Kok Hui, J.; Lee Ming Jun, M.; Zimou, Z.; Soon, K. M. Y.; Tan, M. X.; Wang, Y.; Lee, C. H.; Chatterjee, C.; Moller, Y.; Agus, N.; Khan, S.; Thathir, I.; Elara, M. R.; Ang, L. K., Anariba, F.  “A Transdisciplinary STEAMxD Workshop on AI Rescue Robotics for Pre-University Students.”  Proceedings of the 26th International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education (EPDE2024/1233), 2024, pp 402-407.
  •  Foong, S.; Lyle, F.; Sudhindra, S. T.; Lee, C.H.; Cheah, C. W.; Wong, W. P.; Yokohama, S.; Tan, M. X.; Tan, D. Y.; Ang, L. K.; Anariba, F.   A STEAMxD Workshop for Pre-University Students: Preparing Students for Transdisciplinary Applications.  DS 123: Proceedings of the 25th International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education (E&PDE2023/1273), 2023.
  • Chia, V. Y. Y., Anariba, F., Lauff, C., & Blessing, L. T. M. “Identifying Prototyping Competencies and Roles in Education.” In Proceedings of the 24th International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education (E&PDE). London, UK; The Design Society, EPDE2022/1256, 2022.
  • Chia, V. Y. Y., Hölttä-Otto, K.; Anariba, F.  “Using the Electrochemistry Designette to Visualize Students’ Competence and Misconceptions on Electrochemical Principles.” J. Chem. Educ., 2022, 99, 1533-1538.
  • Tan, S. Y.; Chia, Y. Y. V.; Hölttä-Otto, K.; Anariba, F.  “Teaching the Nernst Equation and Faradaic Current through the Use of a Designette: An Opportunity to Strengthen Key Electrochemical Concepts and Clarify Misconceptions.” J. Chem. Educ. 2020, 97(8), 2238.
  • Tan, S. Y.; Hölttä-Otto, K.; Anariba, F.  “Development and Implementation of Design-Based Learning Opportunities for Students to Apply Electrochemical Principles in a Designette.”  J. Chem. Educ., 2019, 96(2), 256.
  • Lu, X.; Anariba, F. “Fostering Innovation through an Active Learning Activity Inspired by the Baghdad Battery.” J. of Chem. Educ., 2014, 91, 1929.

Innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship (ICE)
  • Anariba, F. “Mapping Design Competencies and Building Rubrics.”  AI Fluency in the Education Space workshop, Singapore, March 2026. (Workshop)
  • Anariba, F. “Revolutionizing Learning with Design Competency Mapping.”  Edutech Asia Conference, Singapore, 06 November 2025. (Speaker)
  • Anariba, F.  “Innovation and Creativity in STEAMxD.”  The International Forum on Transdisciplinary Higher Education (IFTHE) 2024, 01-02 December 2024, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China. (Invited Speaker).
  • Sudhindra, S. T.; Blessing, L.; Anariba, F. “Nurturing Design Competencies.” 25th International Conference on Engineering & Product Design Education (E&PDE2023), Elisava School of Design and Engineering, 6-8 September 2023, Barcelona, Spain. (Workshop).
  • Sudhindra, S. T.; Blessing, L.; Anariba, F. “Nurturing Design Competencies.”  9th International Research Symposium on Problem-based Learning 2023 and Transforming Engineering Education 2023 (PBL-TEE2023).  21-23 June 2023 at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University. (Workshop).

Novel materials
  • Agarwal, A.; Senevirathna, H. L.; Koo, S. H.; Wong, C. S. L.; Lim, T. S. K.; Ng, F. C.; Anariba, F.; Wu, P.  “Bionspired Bi-Phasic 3D Nanoflowers of MgO/Mg(OH2) Coated Melamine Sponge as a Novel Bactericidal Agent.”  Scientific Reports, 2023, 13 (1), 13290.
  • Lee, W. P. C.; Wu, S.; Anariba, F.; Wu, P. “Breaking New Ground in Mica Exfoliation: Harnessing, Biaxial Straining Principles Through H2 and N2 Intercalation for Enhanced Layer separation.  Mater. Today Adv., 2023, 19, 100406.
  • Weerasinghe, P. V. T.; Wu, S.; Lee, W. P. C.; Lin, M.; Anariba, F.; Li, X.; Leng, D. S. H.; Sim, J. Y.; Ping, W.  “Efficient Synthesis of 2D Mica Nanosheets by Solvothermal and Microwave-Assisted Techniques for CO2 Capture Applications.”  Materials, 2023, 16(7), 2921.
  • Tulaphol, S.; Grisdanurak, Anariba, F.; Tongcumpou, C.; Khamdahsag, P.  “Batch and Continuous Flow Treatment Studies of Trichlorethylene Contaminated in Water by Silver and Cerium Doped Zinc Oxide Adsorption and Photocatalysis.”  Sains Malaysiana, 2023, 52(2), 533.
  • Lebedev, A.; Weerasinghe, P. V. T.; Anariba, F.; Li, X.; Leng, D. S. H.; Ping, W. “Urea-Assisted Synthesis of Carbon-Doped BiNbO4 with Oxygen Vacancies and Visible Light Photocatalytic Applications.” Mater. Adv., 2022, 3, 7072.
  • Tan, B. T.; Ping, W.; Anariba, F. “Modeling Stress-Strain Nonlinear Mechanics Via Entropy Changes on Surface Wetting Using the Born-Oppenheimer Approximation.” Results in Engineering, 2022, 100349.
  • Abedi, S. A. A.; Chi, W.; Tan, D.; Shen, T.; Wang, C.; Ang, E. C. X.; Tan, C,-H.; Anariba, F.; Liu, X. “Restrictions of Twisted Intramolecular Charge Transfer Enables the Aggregation-Induced Emission of 1-(N,N-Dialkylamino)-naphthalene Derivatives.” J. Phys. Chem. A. 2021, 125, 38, 8397-8403.
  • Ping, W.; Tan, B. T.; Jeong, J-I.; Yang, J-H.; Wu, S.; Anariba, F.  “Entropy of Resilience: Formulism and Validation Using Strained-Induced Surface Wettability Study on Thin Films Alloys.” J of Alloys and Compounds, 2020, 846, 156357.
  • Lebedev, A.; Anariba, F.; Li, X.; Ping, W.  “Rational Design of Visible-Light-Sensitive Ag-BiVO4 Oxides by Matching Redox potentials of Catalyst, Dyes, and Reactive Oxygen Species Towards More Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation.  J. Environmental Chem. Engineering, 2020, 8(3), 103748.
  • Lebedev, A.; Anariba, F.; Li, X.; Leng, H. S. D.; Ping, W. “Rational Design of Visible-Light-Driven Pd-loaded a/b-Bi2O3 Nanorods with Exceptional Cationic and Anionic dye Degradation Properties.” Solar Energy, 2019, 190, 531.
  • Lebedev, A.; Anariba, F.; Li, X.; Leng, H. S. D.; Ping, W. “Ag/Ag2O/BiNbO4 Structure for Simultaneous Photocatalytic Degradation of Mixed Cationic and Anionic Dyes. Solar Energy, 2019, 178, 257.
  • Li, Y.; Gora, A.; Anariba, F.; Baji, A.  “Enhanced Tensile Strength and Electrical Conductivity of Electrospun Polyacrylonitrile Yarns via Post-treatment.”  Polymer. Composites, 2019, 40(5), 1702.
  • Sobhan, M.: Lebedev, A.; Chng, L. L.; Anariba, F. “Rapid Fabrication of Photoluminescent Electrospun Nanofibers without the Need of Chemical Polymeric Backbone Modifications.”  J. of Nanomaterials, 2018, Vol 2018, 7 pages.
  • Lebedev, A.; Anariba, F.; Tan, J. C.; Li, X.; Wu, P.  “A Review of Physiochemical and Photocatalytic Properties of Metal Oxides Against Escherichia Coli.” J. Photochem. Photobio. A: Chem. 2018, 360, 306.
  • Lebedev, A.; Ma, G. H-H.; Anariba, F.; Li, X.; Lim, T. S. K.; Ng, F. C.; Wu, P.  “Design and Fabrication of BiV(O, N) 4 p-n Homojunction Solid Solutions for Enhanced Methylene Blue Degradation via LED Light Irradiation.”  Solar Energy, 2018, 160, 298.
  • Xu, Q.; Sopiha, K..; Sobhan, M.; Anariba, F.; Ong, K. P.; Zheng, J. W.; Wu, P. “Tunable Electronic and Magnetism of SrTiO3/BiFeO3 (001) Superlattice: For Electrochemical Applications.”  Appl. Phys. Lett., 2016, 108(1), 011602.