The skin is the most important barrier of the body providing protection against microbial infection, chemical or UV damage, dehydration and mechanical injuries. Repair of this organ after injury is thus a life saving priority. But how do skin cells know when to proliferate and at what rate? In the March 23, 2009 issue of the Journal of Cell Biology, Asst/P Tan Nguan Soon and colleagues reveal that skin fibroblasts use a protein called PPARβ/δ to make sure overlying epithelial cells don't proliferate too quickly. "Proliferation is important in early stages of wound healing," explains Tan. "But excessive proliferation isn't good: you can end up with hypertrophic scarring." Their results highlight how communications between different cell types are critical to maintain the skin as a barrier against the outside world.

Nanyang Assistant Professor, School of Biological Sciences

As a researcher in the neurobiological field of fatal attractions, much of Dr Ajai Vyas’ work is centred on the parasitic protozoa Toxoplasma gondii, which can invade a rodent’s brain and remove deep-seated fears from its psyche.

National Research Foundation Fellow, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences

With extensive training in asymmetric synthesis and method development, Dr Steve Zhou is looking forward to joining NTU in August.

Nanyang Associate Professor, Division of Physics & Applied Physics

For Dr Christos Panagopoulos, the beauty of science lies in the simple explanations that it can give to complicated observations.

National Research Foundation Fellow, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences

As environmental issues continue to dominate the headlines, Dr Hong Soon Hyeok’s long-term research goal is to develop dream catalysts that can serve as a solution to these urgent problems. He specialises in the field of olefin metathesis, which provides efficient and environmentally-friendly approaches to organic and materials chemistry.

Nanyang Assistant Professor, Division of Microelectronics

Since joining NTU in February this year, Asst Prof Yu Hongyu has been busy teaching about semiconductor device physics and further pursuing his research.

Nanyang Assistant Professor, Division of Molecular & Cell Biology

Having arrived in early June at NTU’s School of Biological Sciences (SBS), Dr Eugene Makeyev is eager to start work at his research home. “I like the fact that SBS has faculty members and students from diverse cultural and scientific backgrounds,” he says. “The school also boasts amazing research facilities that rival those of the best research institutions.”

Nanyang Assistant Professor, Division of Physics and Applied Physics

Dr Fan's research pursuits first brought him to Singapore seven years ago as a PhD student. So it will be a homecoming of sorts when he returns from Cambridge University in July to join NTU’s School of Physical & Mathematical Sciences.