Matthew Chang is the Executive Director of the Singapore National Centre for Engineering Biology. He concurrently serves as the Director of the Singapore Consortium for Synthetic Biology, the Wilmar-NUS Corporate Laboratory, and the NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation. He holds the Dean’s Chair in Medicine and is an Associate Professor of Biochemistry at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore.

Dr. Chang has made significant contributions to the programming of microbial cells for novel biological functions, documented in over 130 publications. His scientific achievements have been recognized with accolades such as the National Research Foundation of Singapore’s Investigatorship Award, the NUHS-Mochtar Riady Pinnacle Research Excellence Award, the Presidential Award from the Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Scientific and Technological Achievement Award, among others. Furthermore, his work has garnered over 300 media recognitions worldwide, highlighting his substantial impact on the scientific community and beyond.

Beyond his research, Dr. Chang is a committed educator and advocate for synthetic biology. He has delivered more than 180 invited presentations at key scientific forums worldwide and plays a crucial role in editorial capacities for over 15 leading scientific journals. He also plays an advisory role in major international research initiatives, including the CSIRO Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform and the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program. Dr. Chang has been instrumental in founding the Asian Synthetic Biology Association and the Global Biofoundry Alliance and currently co-chairs the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Synthetic Biology.

Dr. Chang’s dedication to mentorship has shaped the careers of over 50 undergraduates and high school students, 25 PhD students, and 50 research scientists, many of whom have assumed leadership roles across academia, government, and industry. A passionate advocate for interdisciplinary collaboration, he works to integrate engineering, biology, medicine, and the social sciences, thereby fostering innovation and enhancing public engagement in science. Through his leadership, research, and outreach, Dr. Chang continues to advance the boundaries of synthetic biology, inspiring the next generation of scientists and making significant contributions to the global scientific community.