It takes determination to attain professional success, so when things get difficult, you have to grit your teeth and persevere.
”
Prof ONG Chong Kim
PhD, MSc (University of Manitoba); BSc (Nanyang University)
Department of Physics
- Electronics and nanostructures of oxide thin films
- Microwave measurement and materials characterisation
- Superconductivity, magnetism and ferroelectricity
- Electromagnetic materials and photonics
- Played a key role in fabricating the omnidirectional retroreflector – a device capable of reflecting all light rays to their original source once deemed impossible to create – which has opened up a world of practical applications, especially for radar tracking
- Demonstrated that crystalline yttrium-stabilised zirconium oxide is a viable alternative for silicon oxide in metal-oxide semiconductors, a discovery that has since been widely adopted in the semiconductor industry
- Pioneered a many body glue potential, an application widely used in computer simulation
- Invented a patterned ferroelectric thin films for microwave devices that received a US patent
- Developed a prototype dual-spiral filter that is among the most compact planar-circuit filters in miniature microwave devices operating in the frequency range of a few hundred megahertz
- Provided the first full-wave numerical evidence that evanescent waves could be amplified inside a metamaterial slab with finite absorption, contributing to the design of the perfect lens
- Won competitive research funding of over US$3 million from the University and government agencies
- Dedication and commitment to develop sophisticated facilities in NUS' physics laboratories designed in-house based on original research
- Outstanding ability to inspire and motivate young scientists in conducting basic research on functional materials, and exploring their applications in new devices
- Contributed more than 450 papers with a Hirsch index of 28, signifying high scientific productivity and impact
- Co-authored a book entitled Microwave Electronics: Measurement and Materials Characterization published by John Wiley and Sons, Inc
- Member, editorial boards of
- -International Journal of Modern Physics B (2002 – 2006)
- -Modern Physics Letters B (2000 – 2006)
- -Superconductor Science and Technology (2000 – 2004)
- Concurrent Professor, Nanjing University, China (2000 – 2003)
- Fellow and Chartered Physicist, Institute of Physics, London, UK (2002)
- Professor, Tohoku University, Japan (2000)
- Vice President, Singapore National Academy of Science (1998 – 2000)
- President, Institute of Physics Singapore (1996 – 2000)
- Visiting Scientist, National Bureau Standard, Gaithersburg, US (1997 – 1998)
- Fellow, Institute of Physics Singapore (1991)
- Associate Member, International Centre for Theoretical Physics and International School for Advanced Studies, Trieste, Italy (1989)
- Visiting Scientist, Imperial College London (1988)
- Outstanding Scientist Award, Faculty of Science, NUS (2007)
"There are many interesting ideas in theoretical physics, but very few can be implemented in practice. It is my goal to continue contributing towards making abstract concepts such as singularity transmutation, once thought impossible, possible in real life."