My interest in chemistry started early as a child. Growing up in Malaysia with a mom who was a biochemistry professor, I was exposed to the lab environment and STEM research fields which fanned my passion for sciences in all fields, I remember discussing with some of the grad students about their work. After moving to Illinois for high school, I was an avid member of our science club.
I initially decided to pursue an academic career in computer science starting with my BSc at the University of Illinois: Urbana-Champaign from 2012-2017 due to interest in Video Games, but discovered that there was huge difference between coding video games and playing video games (a shocker, I know). Feeling unsatisfied with my trajectory remembering my enjoyment and affinity to Chemistry, I decided to switch my field of study after my second year and even performed some undergraduate research during my time there.">here.
Choosing to deepen my expertise, I embarked on a PhD in Physical Chemistry at UC Riverside under Prof. Boniface Fokwa. Here, I strategically integrated my background in computer science and chemistry, pioneering a data-driven project that combined machine learning and inorganic compound databases to predict magnetic properties. This project not only resulted in multiple peer-reviewed presentations, including at the American Chemical Society, but also positioned me at the forefront of our group's entry into data science and materials informatics.
My interdisciplinary journey—from a curious child in a Malaysian lab to a computational chemist employing machine learning to solve complex materials problems—has uniquely equipped me to transition fully into data science. Now, I seek to apply my extensive background in computational methodologies, data modeling, and analytical chemistry to tackle new challenges, harnessing data-driven insights to innovate and drive scientific advancements. Outside the lab, I enjoy backpacking, which challenges me to strategize and adapt in diverse environments, and tennis, a sport that sharpens my focus, agility, and resilience—qualities I consistently apply in my professional pursuits.
I am earning my Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of California, Riverside (June 2025) and am now actively seeking a data scientist role.