Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering

26/08/2026

Congrats Dr Kristy Chang, Dr Frederick Reinhart Tanoto and Dr Nguyen Hoang Yen Nhi on attaining their PhDs!

Their achievements strengthen SCELSE’s microbial science expertise in:
🧫 Microbial metabolic modelling and model-organism development
🦠 Host–pathogen interactions of Enterococcus faecalis
🌊 Host-microbe systems in the ocean

We are proud to celebrate our newest PhD graduates! 👏

25/08/2026

Congratulations to SCELSE PI, A/Prof Rebecca Case on being elected to the ISME Board and appointed an ISME Ambassador for Singapore. In these roles, she joins ISME’s global network of scientific leaders who help foster collaboration and engagement across the microbial ecology community.



NTU School of Biological Sciences

06/08/2026

Hot off the press! Find out how NTU-SCELSE is helping Singapore boost its defences against animal-borne disease.

Straits Times excerpt:
"Another project will assess and quantify the risk of diseases spreading from local wild mammals to humans through shared environments.

Led by Janelle Thompson, an associate professor from NTU’s Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), the team will focus on otters, civets, plantain squirrels and fruit bats, as these are commonly found in urban spaces.

Thompson said the team will cast a wide net by measuring biomaterials shed in both nature reserves and high-traffic human-animal interfaces, such as housing estates and parks.

She added: “The point of our project is not to pick one pathogen and focus on it, but to use an approach that could handle any pathogen.”

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/singapore-to-boost-defences-against-animal-borne-diseases-with-six-new-research-projects?utm_campaign=stfb&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawTg6bVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEetQwAAns38G21KRWCo6DE9cTxwqHZ2NxpsfHE1w1sQqx4xHEk6OC5D7U_ZVw_aem_N3wcqeM_SJCc1g2i4tTypQ

Discover how six new research projects in Singapore are set to enhance defences against animal-borne diseases and protect public health. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

30/07/2026

Congrats SCELSE Principal Investigator & NTU School of Biological Sciences A/Prof Rebecca Case, and SCELSE Research Fellow Dr Joao Pereyra on this exciting breakthrough in coral microbiome research, covered in The Straits Times (ST).

Together with National Marine Laboratory, St John's Island (SJINML), the team identified a naturally occurring probiotic bacterium from the Roseobacteraceae family that helps improve coral resilience to heat stress.

This discovery highlights how microbiome science can contribute to protecting coral reefs in a warming world. See ST for story - https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/good-bacteria-and-hiit-could-train-singapore-corals-to-withstand-hotter-seas

How can "good" bacteria help corals survive warmer seas?

SBS Associate Professor Rebecca Case and Principal Investigator at Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering is part of a team investigating how beneficial microbes can strengthen coral resilience against rising sea temperatures and reduce the impacts of coral bleaching.

Featured in The Straits Times, the study explores the use of naturally occurring bacteria and heat-conditioning techniques to help corals withstand marine heatwaves, an important step towards safeguarding Singapore's marine ecosystems in a changing climate.

Read more on the Straits Times: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/good-bacteria-and-hiit-could-train-singapore-corals-to-withstand-hotter-seas

15/07/2026

That's a wrap on the 14th SCELSE Summer Course! From 22 Jun - 3 Jul 2026, SCELSE welcomed 13 PhD students & postdoctoral researchers from the UK, US, India, the Philippines and Singapore for two weeks of immersive learning and scientific exchange.

Hosted by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and National University of Singapore, participants explored microbiomes, biofilms and their real-world applications through expert-led lectures, hands-on lab sessions and an unforgettable research trip to the St. John's Island Marine Laboratory (SJINML).

"Perfect for all researcher levels, the SCELSE summer course offers expert-led, in-depth insights into microbial communities and interactions through highly interactive lectures, discussions, and productive hands-on learning, " said participant Carl Medriano, Research Fellow at NUS.

A huge thank you to our faculty, SCELSE researchers, partners and participants for making this year's programme such a rewarding experience. We look forward to welcoming the next cohort in 2028!

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15/07/2026

That's a wrap on the 14th SCELSE Summer Course! Over two weeks, 13 PhD students & postdoctoral researchers from five countries came to explore microbiomes, biofilms and their real-world applications through expert lectures, hands-on learning and a research trip to St John's Island. Thanks to everyone who made this unforgettable experience possible. See you in 2028!

03/07/2026

How do dangerous bacteria arm themselves before attack? Scientists from SCELSE, NTU Singapore and Imperial College London have uncovered a previously unknown mechanism showing how the dangerous bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa loads toxins into the Type VI Secretion System (T6SS) — a microscopic molecular weapon used to attack rival microbes and host cells.

Published in Nature Microbiology, the discovery could pave the way for future strategies to disarm harmful bacteria by disrupting their weapon systems rather than killing them directly with antibiotics.

▶️ Watch the video below or read the full story: https://lnkd.in/gVrcS2Pz

01/07/2026

Congratulations to SCELSE Principal Investigator Prof Joachim Loo on his appointment as Associate Vice Provost (Admissions), Undergraduate Education at NTU, with effect today, 1 Jul 2026.

An NTU alumnus and Professor at the NTU School of Materials Science and Engineering, Prof Loo is a recognised expert in biomaterials and nanotechnology. At SCELSE, he leads innovative research on sustainable aquaculture, including advanced functional fish feeds to improve fish health and resilience.

Prof Loo said: "I am honoured to take on this new role and contribute to NTU's mission of attracting and nurturing talented students from Singapore and around the world. NTU has played a defining role in my own journey, and I look forward to working with colleagues across the University to support the next generation of learners, innovators and leaders."

Please join us in congratulating Prof Loo!

📍Photo: Beyond his research and leadership roles, Prof Joachim Loo enjoys horse riding. Here he is in Margaret River, Perth, Australia.

26/06/2026

A big thank you to the participants of the NTU Science Discovery Camp for visiting SCELSE, an interdisciplinary biofilm and microbiome research centre.

Kudos to SCELSE PI Assoc Prof Rebecca Case and SCELSE Research Fellow Dr Clarence Wei Hung Sim for introducing participants to SCELSE's research and inspiring the next generation of scientists. Participants also enjoyed playing Lockdown!, the COVID-19 educational card game developed by SCELSE PI Assoc Prof Yann Boucher.

Thank you for visiting us—we hope to inspire the next generation of scientists!