Resume/CV (21 October 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

Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences, Singapore 25 Jul '06 - present
Industrial Programme Development Officer. Appointed as project manager for flagship project to commercialize oil-refining technology within eighteen-month timescale.

Dragon 100 Study Trip, Hong Kong and Xi'an (China), 23 - 30 Aug '06
Delegate. One out of 100 selected Chinese youth leaders from Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia and other Chinese diaspora communities around the world for a week long study trip in Hong Kong and China about Chinese culture and heritage.

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.

Golden Mile to KL

To reverse the order a little bit, in conclusion, KL was an excellent trip: I met a number of new people, had lots of fun, with a dramatic episode on the first night.

It all started when my mum dropped me off at Golden Mile Shopping Complex.

It is a surprisingly happening place, with a lot of activity that is visible even before stepping into the mall. The front is full of bus companies that offer cheap rides to Malaysia and even Thailand. There were a number of Westerners who were waiting with their bags. And the companies looked almost like they were full of dealers and brokers, with lots of yelling, phonecalls, gestures and animated conversations.

I walked past everyone and headed into the heart of the mall. As I dragged my wheeled bag past the Thai grocery shops and provisions stores, it felt like I had left modern Singapore behind, and entered Bangkok instead: the newstand was full of beautiful Thai models gracing their magazine covers, and almost every shop had huge Thai lettered-signs, with the English translation beneath the Thai version. There wasn't a single word of English spoken. Thai karaoke-type music was playing in the background, from the open door of a sleazy girlie bar. There were Thai shops, of every kind selling every single available item from Thailand.

This apparently includes their women as well. There was a "restaurant" that also had lots of spaghetti-strapped women walking around, and being QUITE intimate with their male restaurant clients: these women were resting their hands on the guy's chest, and flirting like hyperactive butterflies in search of open flowers. A lot of these women were also drinking and flirting with their male clients, who in turn let their hands do the roaming in ways that you wouldn't see in a Sing Tel or Yellow-pages advertisement.

Sleeze aside, there is some pretty awesome food to be had. I initially had some problems getting dinner, though. The mall was full of Thais who were sitting at tables filled with wonderful-looking dishes in these shops that seem to have no menus, no signs, no ambience, and very little English-speakers. As I walked to one such anonymous joint, where a woman was hacking at a piece of meat behind the counter, I thought, this is cool, a hole-in-the-wall experience in Singapore! There was a young chap there, so I asked him, "What do you guys have available?"

He replied, "Do you know what you want?"
Me: "No, not really"
Him: "Hmm, I think you should go to this other place with a menu" and proceeds to direct me out of HIS place, to another restaurant with a menu.

I think it's the first time that has happened to me at an ethnic place. "We don't want your business, go away". So I still don't know what's the deal with these menu-less eating joints at Golden Mile.Maybe there's a secret initiation rite that involves Singha beer or something.

While the food is great, the hygiene levels at Golden Mile are really atrocious: I went to the bathroom and it was a veritable full-production cockroach farm. 'Nuff said.

After a quick bite, I went to check-in my luggage. The "check-in" process of the bus-ride was a little bizarre: in the middle of a normal-looking travel office, there's a podium with a guy processing the "check-in" like a ground-crew of an airline. "Good evening, sir. How many bags are you checking in? May I see your passport? Please enjoy our First Class lounge behind" etc.

While we sat at the lounge, the guy came in to "announce" the boarding: "Ladies and gentlemen, we would like to announce the boarding of bus XXX XXX. Please take your luggage and proceed to the pickup point".

On the bus, we each settled into our seats. The seats were huge, and actually not very comfortable as they are a little unwieldily proportioned. Every seat had a controller and a pretty large LCD screen (about 9 inches diagonally across). They didn't begin the entertainment system until after we entered Malaysia, however.

Actually, right before they left, they made the safety announcements and introductions of the "captain of the cruise" (aka "bus uncle" in normal Singlish) a la passenger flights, which produced irrepressible smirks and chuckles all around.

The foood they served as a little plain and bad, but considering that we're on a freaking bus (this is not SIA), I was not complaining (I was glad that I filled up on some pad thai before leaving, though).

The bus ride was uneventful, by and large, with the only major event being that I'm a Donkey Kong retard.

By the time we got to KL, it was almost 12am. We hit the hotel, and then we headed out to Zouk Malaysia.... I'll tell more later.