A 34-year-old Physics lecturer from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) received the Young Scientist Award for his research on metal oxide nanostructures and graphene, which are used to develop nanodevices and harvest energy.

Dr Yu Ting won in the Physical, Information and Engineering Sciences category of the Young Scientist Award.

He has been studying and working in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology for the past decade.

Dr Yu's work on the assembly of nanowires using optical tweezers has attracted the attention of Harvard and Berkeley professors. Based on his method, a powerful probe has been developed for the study of nanophotonics (the study of the behaviour of light on the nanometre scale).

Aside from his recent award, the professor has gained international acclaim in the nanoscience and nanotechnology community, with 85 papers published in two top international journals. He has also contributed two book chapters and has been awarded one patent.

He has also received close to $3.5m worth of research grants over the past three years.

Aside from continuing his research work, he also hopes to inspire a future generation of scientists.

"I also look forward to continue educating the young, introducing them to the whole big world of new physics, and developing in them a love for exploring the possibilities of science," said Dr Yu. "Hopefully one of my students - several would be great - will one day win the Nobel Prize!"

Dr Yu and the other two Young Scientist Award recipients received their awards from the Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Lim Hng Kiang, at the President's Science and Technology Awards Ceremony held at the Istana on 28 September 2009.

Organised by the Singapore National Academy of Science and supported by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), the Young Scientist Award is presented to researchers aged 35 and below who are actively engaged in research and development (R&D) in Singapore, and who have shown great potential to be world-class researchers in their fields of expertise. Award winners receive a trophy, a certificate of commendation and a prize of S$10,000.