Dr. Jennifer Young has been awarded the Robert Brown Promising Researcher Award as part of the Ministry of Education (MOE) Academic Research Fund (AcRF) Tier 2 Grant Call in August 2025. This prestigious recognition underscores the her research potential and contributions to advancing academic excellence.

Established to support junior faculty in strengthening their research capabilities, the Robert Brown Promising Researcher Award provides critical funding to enhance their competitiveness for larger research grants. Named in honor of Dr. Robert Brown, the founding Chairman of MOE’s Academic Research Council (ARC), the award reflects the council’s ongoing efforts since 2006 to guide Singapore’s research strategy and develop its Autonomous Universities (AUs) into world-class research institutions.

As part of this award, the Young Lab will receive a S$100,000 top-up grant to supplement their AcRF Tier 2 project titled “New tools for understanding extracellular matrix-based mechanisms for cardiac aging dysfunction”. The research aims to test whether restoring youthful ECM properties can rejuvenate heart cells, informing new strategies against cardiovascular disease in ageing populations like Singapore. Funding is also allocated to support research both within and beyond the original project scope. This additional investment aims to drive innovation, and further contribute to the academic research ecosystem.

This recognition reaffirms NUS’s commitment to fostering pioneering research and nurturing the next generation of academic leaders. Congratulations to Dr. Jennifer Young on this distinguished achievement!