TOYP Singapore 2016

Dr Wan Yue

Honouree · Science & Technology

Year

2016

Biography

Dr Wan Yue is Executive Director of the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), A*STAR, and Associate Director of its RNA & DNA Technologies platform, where she leads the Laboratory of RNA Genomics and Structure. A genomics and RNA biology specialist, she develops high‑throughput methods to map RNA structures and interactions across entire genomes, work that has directly contributed to advances in RNA-based vaccines and therapeutics, including COVID‑19 vaccines. She obtained her B.Sc. in Cell Biology and Biochemistry from the University of California, San Diego, and a PhD in Cancer Biology from Stanford University under Dr Howard Y. Chang, where she helped develop the first genome‑wide RNA structure probing method.

Achievements

Branco Weiss Fellow (Society in Science, 2014) — first Singaporean to win this prestigious global fellowship supporting high‑risk, high‑reward research at the interface of science and society.
Singapore Young Scientist Award (Biological & Biomedical Sciences, 2015) at the President’s Science and Technology Awards, recognising her pioneering work in RNA structuromics.
L’Oréal‑UNESCO For Women in Science Singapore National Fellowship (2016) for outstanding women scientists in Singapore.
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar (2018) in the Molecular Architecture of Life programme, joining an international cohort of early‑career investigators.
EMBO Young Investigator and later EMBO Associate Member (2025) — elected in recognition of her research excellence in RNA biology; she is noted as the only scientist from Singapore to receive EMBO Associate membership in 2025.
Leads cutting‑edge research on RNA structures, including methods for genome‑wide RNA structure mapping, RNA–RNA interaction mapping, and single‑cell RNA structure profiling, with publications in journals such as Nature Methods and Nature Communications.
Her lab’s work on viral RNA structures (e.g. dengue, Zika, SARS‑CoV‑2) and RNA sensing has informed the design of RNA‑based vaccines and diagnostics, positioning Singapore at the forefront of global genomics.
Regularly profiled as one of Asia’s leading scientists and a role model for women in STEM, including Asian Scientist Magazine’s “Asia’s Rising Scientists” feature and speaking roles at global forums such as the Milken Institute Asia Summit.

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