18 Jan 2024

From Loss to Legacy: A Researcher's Path to Global Impact

His mother died when he was young and growing up, he did not attend Singapore’s conventional top schools. But today, NUS alumnus Dr Izzuddin Aris (Science ’10) is a Harvard-based academic and researcher of global renown. He sheds light on his journey to success.

When his mother died of cancer, Dr Izzuddin Aris, who was then nine years old, did not understand why.

But there and then, the youngest of three children became determined to set himself on a path to a career in science. He said, “My mother’s death fuelled my desire to learn more about health and disease.”

At Bedok View Secondary, Dr Izzuddin chose to study Biology. He went on to the Science stream in Temasek Junior College, where he aimed to enter medical school. Although he did not get in, he was offered a place in the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Biomedical Sciences programme, which transformed his life.

PASSION IN DOHaD

Dr Izzuddin has fond memories of his time at NUS. For the accomplished guitar player, he relished hanging out and jamming with friends at the Cultural Activities Club’s Guitar Club room at the Yusof Ishak House, and performing gigs at the University Cultural Centre.

But more importantly, NUS was where the window to the world of scientific research was opened for Dr Izzuddin. His fascination with the “Developmental Origins of Health and Disease,” propelled him through a PhD programme, where he found guidance from his mentor, Dr Michael S. Kramer, a visiting NUS professor from McGill University in Canada.  

This mentorship not only refined his research skills but also paved the way for his connection to Harvard Medical School, marking a significant turning point in his academic journey. Dr Izzuddin joined the institution in 2017.

GLOBAL RENOWN

Today, Dr Izzuddin stands as an Assistant Professor at the Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, and is widely recognised as an award-winning global expert in obesity. His contributions place him in the top 0.1 percent of published authors in his field worldwide, and he has won multiple local and global research awards.

For his achievements, Dr Izzuddin was bestowed the prestigious Outstanding Young Alumni Award at the NUS Alumni Awards in 2023.

Despite his global recognition, Dr Izzuddin remains committed to education. As a faculty instructor and Co-Director of the Clinical Epidemiology and Population Health course at Harvard Medical School, he actively works with colleagues to shape the course curriculum.  His commitment to teaching is further reflected in his receipt of the Young Mentor Award by Harvard Medical School in 2022.

When it comes to teaching, my approach is to always go in with an open mind. It’s not just me teaching them, my students are also teaching me, and I learn from them. In that sense, classes are a partnership. Dr Izzuddin at the Harvard Medical School

I am most grateful for my supportive family and friends, who are all back in Singapore, as I pursue my academic career thousands of miles away. Dr Izzuddin Aris (2nd from right) with his late father (in green shirt)