Pushing new frontiers: Kong performing X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Yong Peng-born researcher on mission in US to advance plastic upcycling efforts
WHENEVER she goes out to sea, Dr Kong Xin Ying feels a deep sense of connection with nature.
The certified diver, who also enjoys snorkelling, does not stop at appreciating nature through her outdoor activities.
Indoors, the Johor native from Yong Peng contributes to preserving nature through her work as a researcher.
Having recently embarked on a three-month attachment at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in the United States, the 32-year-old is focused on advancing her research efforts, which aim to sustainably convert plastic into valuable chemicals.
The research attachment is sponsored by the 2023 Merdeka Award Grant for International Attachment.
“I aim to further advance plastic upcycling technology, bringing it closer to real-life applications.
“Equipment availability is a major challenge faced by many researchers. That’s why I especially appreciate the support from the Merdeka Award Trust for funding my attachment. I hope to gain hands-on experience with the advanced characterisation equipment at this world-class research facility,” she told StarEdu.
Kong is starting her attachment following her recent recognition in this year’s edition of the MIT Technology Review’s “Innovators Under 35” (TR35) Asia Pacific.
Since 2014, TR35 Asia Pacific has annually celebrated 35 young talents from the region who have made significant breakthroughs in fields such as biotechnology, materials, computer hardware, energy, transportation, communications, and the Internet.
A research fellow at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore since 2021, Kong is the only Malaysian recipient of the TR35 Asia Pacific award this year and the fourth Malaysian to receive this accolade in the past decade.
“Being honoured on the TR35 Asia Pacific list and being one of the recipients of the Merdeka Award Grant are the best gifts I could receive in my early research career,” she said.
Kong works on developing a series of organocatalysts that act as chemical scissors to break the bonds in plastics, transforming them into small molecules that serve as enhanced chemicals.
“This process can shorten the decomposition time of plastic to just a single day, compared to natural decomposition, which takes thousands of years,” she explained.
Kong, who holds bachelor’s and PhD degrees in chemical engineering from Monash University Malaysia, was also recently named on the World’s Top 2% Scientists 2023 list, as determined by Stanford University.
In addition, her persistence has earned her a two-year startup grant as a Lee Kuan Yew postdoctoral fellow this year.
She said her love for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) began as a child when her parents bought her DVDs of an educational TV series about chemical reactions.
She later enrolled in Monash and met her then lecturer Prof Chai Siang Piao, who encouraged her to pursue research.
Kong urged the younger generation to pursue STEM to address global challenges, while emphasising the importance of working hard, setting clear goals and not fearing failure.
“I might not have been naturally gifted, but my willingness to exert more effort than others has been my strength,” she said.
Open to Malaysians aged 22 to 35, the Merdeka Award Grant for International Attachment is offered once every two years. The next cycle will open on Jan 1 next year.
Lara, 18, a student in Selangor, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team. Applications for next year’s programme are now open. For details, go to facebook.com/niebrats.
With the theme of the article in mind, carry out the following English language activities.
1 In what ways are you helping to preserve nature? List them, and share your initiatives in class to encourage your classmates to do the same.
2 What global challenge would you like to tackle as a researcher, and why is it important to you? Discuss your ideas in class. The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) programme promotes the use of English language in primary and secondary schools nationwide. For Star-NiE enquiries, email starnie@thestar.com.my.
