New Job I

This is my fourth day on the new job now, and it's pretty relaxing for now, since I've not been given that much to do yet.

The job scope looks very much like I'll be doing any number of things, including liaising with companies, bringing them in on collaborations and joint projects, and dealing with the necessary paperwork on the sharing of IP (intellectual property).

In addition to that, my department also seems to be an internal nerve center, in that people always seem to ask us who is doing what project, stuff like that. Since you can't go out to market without knowing your 'product', my first few tasks involve learning more about the research institute, through making lists or matters like that, which helps facilitate the 'nerve center' role while preparing me to go 'sell' the institute to external companies.

My colleagues in my department and beyond seem extremely nice and friendly, and in general it is a very cordial atmosphere where people joke around with each other. It's pretty "channel 8", in the words of a colleague, but nice.

It's early days yet, but I think for a first job, it does seem pretty nice, and challenging in its own way. We'll see how things develop.

New Job

I forgot to update that I got a job offer, working with the Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences ( ICES) as an Industrial Programme Development officer.

The job scope will primarily be as a liaison between industry and research groups at the institute. I would prefer to focus on the Environmental and Energy sectors, though that will depend to a large extent on what kind of research they are successfully doing there.

I'll be based off Jurong Island,which might potentially be boring. But, as I said before in my interview, there is also something familiar about it, since my father used to work off Pioneer Road, and I grew up in Bukit Batok and Jurong, so the whole area and its industrial feel is not necessarily a bad thing.

The remuneration is really not bad for a starting job, and there seems to be potential to learn and grow.

At the same time, I was advised by a friend in finance that if I actually am interested in going into finance, I really should get on the bandwagon very soon. One way to do that is to sign up for the CFA programme, and to sign up for the level 1 and 2 exams. I might actually start to do that as well.

Update: Experiences Singapore 2006

For anyone interested in studying in the US or Canada, I highly recommend attending the Experiences Singapore 2006 - US and Canadian Universities Fair. This year around 55 universities are taking part, and there are few better ways of getting to meet Singaporean students who studied or are studying in various American universities.

The fair will be held at the Marriott Hotel (at the junction between Scotts Road and Orchard Road) from 10am to 5pm, in the Grand Hall.

Lekh Thai

 

I went to Lekh Thai restaurant at Marina Square with some friends to eat, and the meal came to about S$38, for a pathethic amount of food: the pictures here make the servings look significantly bigger than they really were, in part because of the optical distortion from the cameraphone lens.

The food did not taste bad, but the pictures in the menu were absolutely misleading: for instance, the soft shell crab (center of picture) was depicted in the menu as a dish with about 4-5 crabs crammed on a plate.

As you can see for yourself, it was a very different thing in reality: we split up the little dead crab between ourselves, and while it tasted pretty good, it did leave something to be desired. 

Personal Inventory/Resume/CV (6th July 2006)

Note: The additions to the resume are in underlined, bold,and in italics.

LANGUAGES
Fluent in English and Mandarin (written and spoken). Working knowledge of German.

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HONORS
*President’s List Fall 2002, Spring 2006
* Rice University Dean Hugh Cameron Service Award. For service contributions to Rice's international student community.
* Chemical Sciences Honor Society, Phi Lambda Upsilon. Member since 2006

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EDUCATION
Rice University, Houston, TX, USA Aug ‘02 – May ’06
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Physics. Current GPA: 3.49
Coursework included: Multivariable Calculus, Classical Mechanics, Quantum Mechanics, Chemical Kinetics, Programming, Complex Variables, Leadership, Accounting and New Venture Creation.
Two courses done in University of California (Berkeley) in Summer 2003.
Exchange Student in International University Bremen (IUB) for 2004-2005.
* Senior-year Honors nanotechnology research project with Dr. Naomi Halas. Creating nano-sized sensor particles with potential applications as non-invasive sensors of salicylic acid and glucose in blood.
* GRE: 1400 (Verbal 680, Math 720, Analytical 5.0)
* GMAT (Unofficial): 730 (97th percentile)

Hwa Chong Junior College, Bukit Timah, Singapore Jan ‘98 – Dec ‘99
Cambridge GCE ‘A’ levels.
A’s for Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics ‘Core’, B for Economics and A1 for General Paper
SAT 1520 (Verbal 800, Math 720)
SAT II Physics 800, Math 750, Writing 750
TOEFL 293

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INTERNATIONAL AND WORK EXPERIENCE

INNOVATE Globalization Conference, Shanghai and Kyoto, China and Japan 10 – 19 Mar ’06
University Delegate. Selected from forty-six applicants to be one of twelve Rice University-subsidized delegates for an international symposium on globalization, technology and leadership in the global marketplace. Visited companies and educational institutions in both countries, including Toyota, Matsushita, and Fudan University. Participated in panel discussions with entrepreneurs, business leaders, government officials and student leaders. Personal research topic: renewable energy developments in China.

International University Bremen, Bremen, Germany Aug ’04 – Jun ‘05
Exchange Student. One of four selected exchange students from Rice to International University Bremen (IUB). Started a new club, participated in Student Think Tank (see Activities) and represented Rice University as student ambassador. Traveled extensively through Europe (Germany, Netherlands, Italy, UK, Portugal, Spain) and Asia.

* The Arlington Institute, Arlington, Virginia, USA Jun ‘04 – Aug ‘04
Research Intern. Selected as first representative of Leadership Rice Summer Mentorship Experience to The Arlington Institute, a futurist research institute. Created a presentation to the Pentagon for an alternative-energy competition to wean the US from dependence on oil to renewable energy sources. Wrote SWOT (Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats) analysis and an in-house executive summary of Singapore’s national security. Offered a job at the end of internship.

* 21st Battalion Singapore Artillery, Singapore Army, Singapore Jan ‘00 – May ‘02
Assistant Administrative Supervisor. Promoted to a regular-soldier’s position as a conscript because of demonstrated leadership ability. Led 6-man battalion administrative section with Battalion Manpower Officer to achieve full score in manpower administration component of battalion field evaluation exercise.

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ACTIVITIES

* International Undergraduate Society, Rice University Aug ’05 – May ’06
Co-secretary. Organized social activities, including first successful IUS Movie Night and social activities for international undergraduate students at Rice.

* Peer International Advisor Program, Rice University Aug ’05 – May ’06
Co-Head. Organized and advised participants in program, where existing Rice international undergraduate students advise incoming international freshmen, and help in adjusting to their new environment, softening their culture shock. Edited the Orientation booklet.

* Wine Society, Rice University Oct ‘02 – May ‘06
Co-founder and President (2003–2004, 2005–2006). Club founded to educate Rice community on wine. Successfully negotiated for club discounts of 10% with local wine merchant. Club membership expanded from 2 people to 30 within two years, including Houston Area young alumni. Currently negotiating with Houston Young Alumni Association to jointly create discount card for Houston area.

* Student Government Think Tank, International University Bremen (IUB) Sep ‘04 – Jan ‘05
Member. Authored Student Court reforms (including the creation of the Chief Justice position and the on-line publication of by-laws and procedures) to streamline decision-making and court administration. Implementation in Fall ’05 immediately resulted in improved efficiency in the Court’s administration with an estimated 50% decrease in response time.

PJ Program: Goals

Career

1. To find a job in a field that is interesting, stretches my capabilities and pays well, with a global outlook (and not just China-focused)
Fields to look at and consider: alternative energy and sustainable development funds, VC firms, management consulting, investment banking, financial services firms.

2. To improve my skills set, and to increase my flexibility of working anywhere in the world. This can be done in private through personal reading, but also through courses and additional degrees taken with recognized universities and institutions.

Play

Areas to explore: tango dancing (with partner), salsa-dancing, aikido, Hindi and German language classes, homebrewing.

Areas to improve:
German: to improve vocabulary and to write regularly to German friends as practice.
Mathematics: read and practice with existing Schaum's series, and through Boas.
Reading list: Warren Buffett Way, Jack Welch's "Winning", re-read "Getting Things Done", Corporate Finance textbook by Ross Westerfield ANd Jaffe, The Tipping Point, 李敖的《情书集》和《为自由招魂》

Sports and Physical health

Basketball: To work on teamplay with friends, and to work on individual skills.
Swimming: to improve stamina through practicing good swimming technique (learning through Total Immersion system book)
Overall fitness: to improve strength and stamina through swimming, weights and calisthetics.


Spirituality and Happiness


Meditation: to practice anapanasati (focusing on the breath) everyday as long as comfortable. Build up to an hour if possible.
To practice vipassana in between.

Personal Weaknesses

When arguing with someone or listening to someone say something about a matter of passion, to practice active listening skills and to listen to what others have to say, without expressing judgement or opinion.

Volunteer work

To look for volunteering opportunities in areas of interest: environmental and clean energy, racial relations, Buddhism, child care, helping the elderly.

If opportunities do not exist, to MAKE these opportunities.

The PJ Program: Mission, Scope and Goals

The PJ Program endeavours to cultivate a person who

- will live his dream through his work and play with passion and compassion
- will be constantly challenged to constantly improve (自强不息）
- will be skilled mentally, socially, and physically
- will gauge his progress in all three fields through the 'internal' performance criteria of mindfulness, concentration, wisdom, compassion and feeling
- benefits others around him, tangibly and otherwise.

Scope:
The PJ Program will touch on the following aspects of PJ Teh:

- Career
- Play
- Sports and Physical health
- Spirituality and Happiness
- Personality
- Volunteer work


Goals: to be decided in further detail at a later date