S$3 million Professorship set up in tribute of University’s founding president

NTU Singapore has established a new Professorship named after the University’s founding president, Professor Cham Tao Soon.

University alumni, faculty, Schools in NTU’s College of Engineering and partners of NTU Singapore raised S$3 million for the Cham Tao Soon Career Development Professorship in Engineering, which recognises mid-career faculty members with distinguished achievements.

The income from the endowed fund supports the awardee’s research and salary, with any surplus to be used in supporting activities related to the appointment.

Professor Cham is the founding President of NTU, which was formed in 1991 following the merger of the Nanyang Technological Institute (NTI) and National Institute of Education. He held the position for 22 years until stepping down in 2002 and was conferred the title of President Emeritus in July 2007.

The Professorship awardee will hold the title of “Career Development Professor in Engineering”, which is tenable for up to five years.

The Professor will advance the state of knowledge and education in the field of Engineering, including conducting cutting edge research and development, helming seminars on trends and findings impacting the selected field, and mentoring younger researchers and academics.