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Research Areas

Environmental Biotechnology, Environmental Microbiomes, Marine Microbiology

Research Interests

I am an environmental microbiologist at the National University of Singapore. My research broadly focuses on how microorganisms respond to extreme environmental stress and pollution. I am particularly interested in microbial ecology within tropical marine ecosystems, hydrothermal systems, deserts, and polar regions. In addition to fundamental scientific discovery, I explore the applied potential of microorganisms as tools for pollutant bioremediation and as biomarkers of environmental change.

Current Research Projects

1. Unravelling the mechanistic basis of microbial hydrocarbon degradation for oil spill bioremediation in Singapore

2. Biogeography and adaptation to environmental stress in hot spring photosynthetic microbial communities of Southeast Asia

3. Characterizing the role of the sea surface layer in regulating microbial dispersal, human exposure, and pollutant transformation

Research Outcomes

The Pointing Lab has published extensively on the microbiology of extreme and marine environments. A full list of our research publications is available on Google Scholar.

The research has also contributed to environmental conservation and regional citizen-science initiatives.

I am also a long-standing advocate for science communication, having contributed to over 200 features across television, radio, and news media in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Aotearoa New Zealand.