A fascination with forensics

If you told Jerika Ng as a child that she would grow up to become a Forensic Scientist at the Home Team Science & Technology Agency (HTX), she wouldn't have been entirely surprised. During her childhood years, her weekly fix of Crime Watch — thanks to a lack of a cartoon channel subscription — sparked an unexpected obsession with the field. "My sister and I ended up watching more mature programmes than most kids," she laughs. "Crime Watch was formative in my childhood. It was a contemporary docudrama that showed how our police cracked cases, and I was hooked!"

The chemistry of crime

Jerika's love for crime shows didn't stop there. The Flash, Sherlock and The Victims' Game fuelled her fascination with skills of sharp observation and meticulous deduction. "I was always in awe of how Sherlock Holmes could notice a minute detail that could be pivotal in the case, whilst others would dismiss it entirely," the 23-year-old enthuses.

But it wasn't just crime that captivated her; her first love was science. A Chemistry major, Jerika was drawn to the magic of molecules and reactions. "I'm passionate about how chemistry applies to everyday life in our material world – like the science behind luminescence or the chemicals that create the smell of bananas," she says. Forensics, with its diagnostic precision and societal impact, would later become the perfect marriage of her early interests in science and crime. "There's deep satisfaction in seeing my work make a real-world difference," the science aficionado elaborates.

Beyond the comfort zone

As part of the inaugural batch of NUS College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS) students, Jerika also learned to thrive in interdisciplinary spaces. When asked what kind of students would flourish in CHS, Jerika highlights three key traits: adaptability, resourcefulness and helpfulness. "The CHS culture is interactive and challenging, especially for those used to their comfort zones," she shared. Her advice? "Have fun in the Level 1000 courses and stay open-minded!"

Jerika speaks from experience. Courses from the CHS common curriculum such as IT1244: Artificial Intelligence: Technology and Impact and COS1000: Computational Thinking for Scientists pushed her into new territories beyond her comfort zone. "Coding and AI were completely foreign to me and I spent a lot of time learning the ropes," she admits. "But I gained an admiration for those who took these as subject majors. Along the way, I picked up foundational skills of logic and coding that could open doors for me in the digital sphere."

A mirror of complexities

The course FSC3101: Evidence in Forensic Science, gave Jerika (left) and her coursemates the opportunity to try their hand at examining mock crime scenes

It was at CHS that she discovered the multifaceted nature of Forensic Science, which she picked as her minor – an arena where chemistry meets biology, psychology, law, ethics, data analysis and more. "Forensics mirrored the breadth and complexity I see in the CHS Common Curriculum," the NUS Global Merit Scholar explains. "They prepared me to navigate any field in the fast-evolving career market today by modelling those same complexities." Receiving HTX's early job offer for her to join them as a Forensic Scientist, ahead of her graduation, is a testament to the unique edge that CHS offers to their students.

Jerika also credits her Forensics minor as a key factor that shaped her career path. "The courses were tailored to offer glimpses into the field that ultimately piqued my interest to consider this a viable career," she reflects. Classes like FSC3101: Evidence in Forensic Science, FSC4202: Forensic Human Identification, and HS2916: Love That Kills: A Criminal Justice Perspective deepened her passion and broadened her understanding of the field.

Citing FSC4201: Articulating Probability and Statistics in Court as a course that adroitly melded multiple fields of knowledge into one, Jerika was left with a great sense of accomplishment having to investigate a case, interview witnesses, and present findings with legal rhetoric in a moot court.

Jerika (first row, fourth from left) with Prof Stella Tan (first row, fifth from right) and her Forensic Science coursemates attended a lecture by the Singapore Police Force at the Police Cantonment Complex.

A pivotal moment came during an excursion to the Police Cantonment Complex as part of the course FSC4201: Articulating Probability and Statistics in Court, where she interacted with the officers from the Specialised Crime Branch and gained perspective into the profession. "I actually considered joining the police force," she recalls. "But then I thought – what if I could apply my scientific knowledge to support groundwork? That would be even more fulfilling!"

Camaraderie on campus grounds

The academic rigour of courses and the doors they opened were not all Jerika took away from her time at NUS. As a proud NUS alumna, Jerika looks back on the ups and downs of her university journey with fondness. Her lifeline during trying moments? A tight-knit trio of fellow Chemistry majors from CHS and the University Scholars Programme (USP), who all stayed in Cinnamon College with her in their first year. "They saw me at my worst, dragged me to 8am classes, accompanied me at study sessions, and shared notes selflessly with me," she recalls with warmth.

Jerika's (back row, second from left) first time participating in the Inter-College Games (ICG) with the USP Netball team in 2022 saw them bag bronze medals.

While living in NUS University Town (UTown) during her first few years in university, and navigating her first experience of being away from her family, Jerika found strength in her tight-knit community of fellow residents. "Together we went through this formative period as they taught me grit, perseverance, empathy, love and care," she smiles.

A former national athlete who has represented both Singapore and NUS Taekwondo overseas, Jerika also counts her vibrant residential life exploring various sports as a campus highlight, as she bonded with friends over taekwondo, netball and table tennis.

Jerika (first row, fourth from left) coached the NUS Taekwondo team for the Taekwondo Open Championships 2023, where they placed second overall for the Poomsae event.

Beyond unflagging peer support, two inspiring Chemistry lecturers, Senior Lecturer Dr Francis Chong Yuan Yi (CM1102: Chemistry - The Central Science) and Senior Lecturer Dr Hoang Truong Giang (CM3121: Advanced Organic Chemistry), also stood out for their enthusiasm and generosity. "They were approachable, deeply passionate about their domain subjects and always willing to teach students beyond the classroom," Jerika shares.

Wider horizons on foreign soil

Amongst the many global travel and exchange opportunities she has experienced at NUS, such as the NUS Summer Programme at Yonsei University, South Korea, Jerika counts her Student Exchange Programme (SEP) a transformative milestone that honed her sense of independence and broadened her worldview.

Her SEP at University College Utrecht in the Netherlands was a whirlwind of discovery: from cramped hostel bunk beds to overnight buses, travelling to the Bernese Alps in Grindelwald, Switzerland and catching the Northern Lights in Iceland, Jerika explored over eight countries and 25 cities. "SEP showed me just how small Singapore really is and taught me how to seize every opportunity to enjoy the small things in life. It broadened my view of the world and the people in it as I was immersed into different cultural experiences," she reflects.

Jerika (centre) with her friends Julia (left) from NUS Law and Anne (right) from NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, experiencing the Northern Lights for the first time in Iceland!

On the academic front, she deepened her understanding of science and society through a global lens with courses such as UCSCICHE31: Chemistry for Sustainability, UCSCIHIS11: History and Philosophy of Science, and UCDUTINT12: Discovering the Dutch. These localised courses gave the Singaporean a unique perspective and sparked fresh insights. "Studying abroad taught me to be adaptable and collaborative. Working with students from diverse cultural backgrounds pushed me to communicate my ideas clearly to negotiate different approaches to solve problems," she offers.

For the love of justice

Currently working at HTX, Jerika shares that what most appealed to her as a Forensic Scientist is being able to combine science and public service to solve problems in a meaningful and impactful way. "Being able to apply what I learnt in school to real-world problem statements, to support justice and protect communities I care about, strongly resonates with me. It is exactly the kind of work I've wanted to do since my early fascination with forensics," she affirms.

Ever dependable and detail-oriented, she shares her personal goal to continue building her skills in forensic science and related fields, in order to tackle more challenging problems in the future. "I hope to contribute to making forensic science faster, more accurate and more reliable, so that investigations can lead to better outcomes, ensuring that communities that matter the most to me are protected."