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NUS, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine 
CHILD Research Team
Dr Choon Ming Ng
Dr Ng Choon Ming obtained a Doctor of Philosophy (Science) in the subject area of Nutrition. She is experienced in conducting evidence-based intervention studies for health promotion and nutrition education among children. Her research interests include the prevention of childhood obesity, dietary assessment and the use of digital health in the community for preventing chronic diseases such as diabetes. She is skilled in the conduct of observational studies, randomized-controlled trials, scoping reviews and quantitative data analyses. Her work has received international recognition including publication in high-impact journals, publication prizes, best oral/poster presentations, research grants, scholarships, and travel grants.
Dr Choon Ming Ng
Research FellowDr Choon Ming Ng
Dr Ng Choon Ming obtained a Doctor of Philosophy (Science) in the subject area of Nutrition. She is experienced in conducting evidence-based intervention studies for health promotion and nutrition education among children. Her research interests include the prevention of childhood obesity, dietary assessment and the use of digital health in the community for preventing chronic diseases such as diabetes. She is skilled in the conduct of observational studies, randomized-controlled trials, scoping reviews and quantitative data analyses. Her work has received international recognition including publication in high-impact journals, publication prizes, best oral/poster presentations, research grants, scholarships, and travel grants.
Dr Grace Lum
Grace has been an early childhood teacher trainer for a decade. She has facilitated action research projects while teaching into the early childhood Diploma programme and provided supervision for their graded internships in local preschools. It is important for Grace to embrace diversity in the early childhood field. This philosophy motivates her to pursue early childhood teacher training in an Australian university based in Singapore. This experience ultimately shapes her beliefs in culturally responsive teaching. Through understanding the tenets of holistic approach to learning, Grace consistently scaffolded her student teachers’ pedagogical approaches to adopt faucets of value-based education. After a fulfilling five years, she went on to support student teachers in a local university and guide them for inquiry-based projects and graded internships. The most meaningful career she embarked on was the duration she served as a principal of a kindergarten. The kindergarten offered education to children from low-income families. As a principal, she supported families by collaborating with social agencies and other professionals to help children in need. With a team of twenty staff, Grace gained valuable skills while sustaining operational, administrative and leadership excellence from running the preschool.
Grace’s principles are deeply rooted in the attributes of a reflective practitioner. She understands that research informs practice, vice versa. She saw how data driven research has potential of improving how teachers can respond more effectively to an inclusive setting. On the other hand, evidence also presented itself in showing how instructional strategies which are useful should be documented and shared with other like-minded early childhood professionals.
Her research interests are in culturally responsive teaching, inclusive practices in the classroom, image and professionalism of early childhood teachers, gender identities including dispositions of learning.
At CHILD, Grace hopes to use her expertise and knowledge by inspiring early childhood educators as well as parents with the goal of achieving positive learning outcomes for children. By utilising research data, she endeavours to develop the learning of best practices by writing relevant curriculum and frameworks.
Dr Grace Lum
Research FellowDr Grace Lum
Grace has been an early childhood teacher trainer for a decade. She has facilitated action research projects while teaching into the early childhood Diploma programme and provided supervision for their graded internships in local preschools. It is important for Grace to embrace diversity in the early childhood field. This philosophy motivates her to pursue early childhood teacher training in an Australian university based in Singapore. This experience ultimately shapes her beliefs in culturally responsive teaching. Through understanding the tenets of holistic approach to learning, Grace consistently scaffolded her student teachers’ pedagogical approaches to adopt faucets of value-based education. After a fulfilling five years, she went on to support student teachers in a local university and guide them for inquiry-based projects and graded internships. The most meaningful career she embarked on was the duration she served as a principal of a kindergarten. The kindergarten offered education to children from low-income families. As a principal, she supported families by collaborating with social agencies and other professionals to help children in need. With a team of twenty staff, Grace gained valuable skills while sustaining operational, administrative and leadership excellence from running the preschool.
Grace’s principles are deeply rooted in the attributes of a reflective practitioner. She understands that research informs practice, vice versa. She saw how data driven research has potential of improving how teachers can respond more effectively to an inclusive setting. On the other hand, evidence also presented itself in showing how instructional strategies which are useful should be documented and shared with other like-minded early childhood professionals.
Her research interests are in culturally responsive teaching, inclusive practices in the classroom, image and professionalism of early childhood teachers, gender identities including dispositions of learning.
At CHILD, Grace hopes to use her expertise and knowledge by inspiring early childhood educators as well as parents with the goal of achieving positive learning outcomes for children. By utilising research data, she endeavours to develop the learning of best practices by writing relevant curriculum and frameworks.
Dr Emilie Lam
Emilie Lam, PhD, is a speech and language therapist with over 20 years of experience in Singapore and Australia. Her extensive clinical experience included working in preschools, early intervention centres, outreach centres, therapy centres, special schools, acute hospitals and rehabilitation settings. Her expertise expands across the lifespan, from neonates to children to adults, specialising in providing assessments and interventions for speech, language, and communication disorders. Her diverse experiences offered comprehensive experience in different service delivery and intervention models including clinician, parent, teacher, and computer- delivered interventions in multi-disciplinary and transdisciplinary settings.
Emilie’s research interests encompass screening and assessment, as well as evaluating intervention effectiveness for developmental conditions, with a focus on how executive function impacts intervention outcomes. A dedicated educator and mentor, she lectures in undergraduate and postgraduate courses in special education, and speech and language therapy (pathology).
Dr Emilie Lam
Research FellowDr Emilie Lam
Emilie Lam, PhD, is a speech and language therapist with over 20 years of experience in Singapore and Australia. Her extensive clinical experience included working in preschools, early intervention centres, outreach centres, therapy centres, special schools, acute hospitals and rehabilitation settings. Her expertise expands across the lifespan, from neonates to children to adults, specialising in providing assessments and interventions for speech, language, and communication disorders. Her diverse experiences offered comprehensive experience in different service delivery and intervention models including clinician, parent, teacher, and computer- delivered interventions in multi-disciplinary and transdisciplinary settings.
Emilie’s research interests encompass screening and assessment, as well as evaluating intervention effectiveness for developmental conditions, with a focus on how executive function impacts intervention outcomes. A dedicated educator and mentor, she lectures in undergraduate and postgraduate courses in special education, and speech and language therapy (pathology).
Dr Qiyang Zhang
Qiyang Zhang, PhD, is a researcher with a background in educational and social psychology. Her research focuses on students’ well-being, school-based and internet-mediated mental health interventions, as well as automated meta-analysis workflows.
Before joining CHILD as a research fellow, she graduated from Johns Hopkins University, School of Education, with a PhD in educational studies. During her PhD at Hopkins, she developed research skills with the Social Psychology in Education & the Environment (SPiEE) lab and Center for Research and Reform in Education (CRRE) research center. She also held a master’s degree from Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania.
Apart from her research, she also actively involved in mentoring, teaching, and leading research projects involving masters’ students. She enjoys leveraging the power of technology to engage students and encourages students to ask questions during classes.
Dr Qiyang Zhang
Research FellowDr Qiyang Zhang
Qiyang Zhang, PhD, is a researcher with a background in educational and social psychology. Her research focuses on students’ well-being, school-based and internet-mediated mental health interventions, as well as automated meta-analysis workflows.
Before joining CHILD as a research fellow, she graduated from Johns Hopkins University, School of Education, with a PhD in educational studies. During her PhD at Hopkins, she developed research skills with the Social Psychology in Education & the Environment (SPiEE) lab and Center for Research and Reform in Education (CRRE) research center. She also held a master’s degree from Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania.
Apart from her research, she also actively involved in mentoring, teaching, and leading research projects involving masters’ students. She enjoys leveraging the power of technology to engage students and encourages students to ask questions during classes.
Dr Yihang Wang
Yihang Wang, PhD, MSW, is a researcher with a background in social work. Her research focuses on child and youth development, particularly among children from disadvantaged backgrounds. She has extensive experience working with children from diverse familial and cultural contexts, and her work adopts a strengths-based perspective to explore how family dynamics, including parenting and grandparenting, influence children’s well-being.
Before joining CHILD, Dr. Wang received her PhD in Social Work and Social Administration from the University of Hong Kong in 2024. She developed her research skills through roles in the Youth Well-being Lab and the Child Health and Migrant Parents in South-East Asia (CHAMPSEA) project. Additionally, she has been a visiting scholar at the Centre for Family Research in the Department of Psychology at the University of Cambridge.
In addition to her research, Dr. Wang has gained extensive experiences in teaching and tutoring both undergraduate and research students. Her involvement in Service-Learning initiatives in higher education has allowed her to foster experiential learning and empower students from diverse backgrounds.
Dr Yihang Wang
Research FellowDr Yihang Wang
Yihang Wang, PhD, MSW, is a researcher with a background in social work. Her research focuses on child and youth development, particularly among children from disadvantaged backgrounds. She has extensive experience working with children from diverse familial and cultural contexts, and her work adopts a strengths-based perspective to explore how family dynamics, including parenting and grandparenting, influence children’s well-being.
Before joining CHILD, Dr. Wang received her PhD in Social Work and Social Administration from the University of Hong Kong in 2024. She developed her research skills through roles in the Youth Well-being Lab and the Child Health and Migrant Parents in South-East Asia (CHAMPSEA) project. Additionally, she has been a visiting scholar at the Centre for Family Research in the Department of Psychology at the University of Cambridge.
In addition to her research, Dr. Wang has gained extensive experiences in teaching and tutoring both undergraduate and research students. Her involvement in Service-Learning initiatives in higher education has allowed her to foster experiential learning and empower students from diverse backgrounds.
Dr Zhishan Liu
Zhishan Liu is an experienced and actively involved professional in the field of psychology, and received a PhD in Psychology from Cardiff University (United Kingdom).
She developed important research skills in her position as Senior Researcher at Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC). Her research on neuroplasticity and the relationship between sleep and learning has provided vital understanding of mechanisms involved in different domains of learning. Zhishan performed experiments independently, conducted thorough data analysis, and generated substantial results, strengthening her reputation as an influential figure in the research community.
Zhishan has made significant impact on teaching at Cardiff University and demonstrated professionalism in engaging students and offering guidance. In her roles as a Project Tutor, Teaching Assistant and as Postgraduate Tutor.
Dr Zhishan Liu
Research FellowDr Zhishan Liu
Zhishan Liu is an experienced and actively involved professional in the field of psychology, and received a PhD in Psychology from Cardiff University (United Kingdom).
She developed important research skills in her position as Senior Researcher at Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC). Her research on neuroplasticity and the relationship between sleep and learning has provided vital understanding of mechanisms involved in different domains of learning. Zhishan performed experiments independently, conducted thorough data analysis, and generated substantial results, strengthening her reputation as an influential figure in the research community.
Zhishan has made significant impact on teaching at Cardiff University and demonstrated professionalism in engaging students and offering guidance. In her roles as a Project Tutor, Teaching Assistant and as Postgraduate Tutor.
Ms Candice Chong
Candice has been an early childhood educator for twenty years, teaching and learning, both in Singapore and overseas. She relies on research findings to inform classroom practices to achieve favorable child outcomes. As an advocate for children who are learning about their voice and place at school and in society, it is increasingly important to help every child improve on learning experiences, not just academically but both emotionally and socially. To facilitate this, Candice engages all learners in an active process of “sayings, doings and relatings”. This process also enhances deep learning, ameliorating practical barriers, be it social-economic and/ or cultural.
Throughout her teaching tenure, she believes in generating new knowledge using action research principles. One example is to self-reflect and to lead reflection among educators, children, and their families, including caregivers. Another example will be in the sharing of knowledge and skills to all stakeholders, evaluating, co-planning as well as embedding best practices within school and home settings. Combined with the biopsychosocial model, essential in understanding the whole child, Candice makes it her priority for every child to reach his/ her potential developmentally and culturally.
Her research interests include emotional and social influences on children’s learning, digital pedagogy, play pedagogy, and family pedagogy on language and cognitive development.
At CHILD, Candice seeks to drive systematic improvements in child outcomes, moving research into practice and fostering an openness toward new ideas and new ways of thinking.
Ms Candice Chong
Research AssociateMs Candice Chong
Candice has been an early childhood educator for twenty years, teaching and learning, both in Singapore and overseas. She relies on research findings to inform classroom practices to achieve favorable child outcomes. As an advocate for children who are learning about their voice and place at school and in society, it is increasingly important to help every child improve on learning experiences, not just academically but both emotionally and socially. To facilitate this, Candice engages all learners in an active process of “sayings, doings and relatings”. This process also enhances deep learning, ameliorating practical barriers, be it social-economic and/ or cultural.
Throughout her teaching tenure, she believes in generating new knowledge using action research principles. One example is to self-reflect and to lead reflection among educators, children, and their families, including caregivers. Another example will be in the sharing of knowledge and skills to all stakeholders, evaluating, co-planning as well as embedding best practices within school and home settings. Combined with the biopsychosocial model, essential in understanding the whole child, Candice makes it her priority for every child to reach his/ her potential developmentally and culturally.
Her research interests include emotional and social influences on children’s learning, digital pedagogy, play pedagogy, and family pedagogy on language and cognitive development.
At CHILD, Candice seeks to drive systematic improvements in child outcomes, moving research into practice and fostering an openness toward new ideas and new ways of thinking.
Ms Celeste Tew
Celeste graduated from University of Bristol with a Masters of Science in Psychology of Education. She has more than 5 years of teaching experience in Early Intervention centres – planning and executing evidence-based intervention strategies in EIPIC centres and across local preschools to support the learning and development of children with diverse needs.
Ms Celeste Tew
Research AssociateMs Celeste Tew
Celeste graduated from University of Bristol with a Masters of Science in Psychology of Education. She has more than 5 years of teaching experience in Early Intervention centres – planning and executing evidence-based intervention strategies in EIPIC centres and across local preschools to support the learning and development of children with diverse needs.
Ms Lucia Yunwei Yeo
Lucia holds a Master of Science in Social Policy and Social Research from University College London. She has a diverse background in research and program evaluation which spans across the social service, education, hospital and early intervention sectors. Lucia has a strong passion in the fields of disability and early intervention and aspires to make impactful contributions in these areas.
Ms Lucia Yunwei Yeo
Research AssociateMs Lucia Yunwei Yeo
Lucia holds a Master of Science in Social Policy and Social Research from University College London. She has a diverse background in research and program evaluation which spans across the social service, education, hospital and early intervention sectors. Lucia has a strong passion in the fields of disability and early intervention and aspires to make impactful contributions in these areas.
Ms Suan Peen Foo
Suan Peen began her career in the press, the arts, and the airline industries before commencing her career in psychology in Year 2010. Since then, she has worked with children, adolescents, and their families in the capacity of Senior Psychologist at the NUH Child Development Unit, and at the NUH School-Age Psychology Clinic. Her clinical expertise is in the assessment and diagnosis of neurodevelopmental conditions in children from birth till 16 years of age. She attained further certification in clinical paediatric neuropsychology, and began assessing patients with neurological and medical conditions.
Suan Peen also has extensive experience in parent-child interventional work aimed at helping children cope with sleep difficulties and attention and/or behavioural challenges. More recently, she undertook a role providing supportive counselling and mental health support to university students in a tertiary education setting.
Currently, Suan Peen is a Research Psychologist at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, delving into developmental research and cohort studies. She also holds a concurrent position at CHILD.
Ms Suan Peen Foo
Research AssociateMs Suan Peen Foo
Suan Peen began her career in the press, the arts, and the airline industries before commencing her career in psychology in Year 2010. Since then, she has worked with children, adolescents, and their families in the capacity of Senior Psychologist at the NUH Child Development Unit, and at the NUH School-Age Psychology Clinic. Her clinical expertise is in the assessment and diagnosis of neurodevelopmental conditions in children from birth till 16 years of age. She attained further certification in clinical paediatric neuropsychology, and began assessing patients with neurological and medical conditions.
Suan Peen also has extensive experience in parent-child interventional work aimed at helping children cope with sleep difficulties and attention and/or behavioural challenges. More recently, she undertook a role providing supportive counselling and mental health support to university students in a tertiary education setting.
Currently, Suan Peen is a Research Psychologist at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, delving into developmental research and cohort studies. She also holds a concurrent position at CHILD.
Ms Meenushree D/O Chandrasekaran
Meenushree currently works as a research assistant at NUS under the guidance of Dr Anna Fogel. She has prior experience as a Nutritionist, focusing on developing fun and engaging content for children. She also conducted many healthy cooking workshops for children. Through this experience, Meenu developed a keen interest in behavioural nutrition.
Today, her research interests lies in understanding parent’s behaviours and decision making process when purchasing food and how that impact’s their child’s obesity risk. Meenu is also keen to see how technology can be used to improve children’s overall health.
Ms Meenushree D/O Chandrasekaran
Research AssistantMs Meenushree D/O Chandrasekaran
Meenushree currently works as a research assistant at NUS under the guidance of Dr Anna Fogel. She has prior experience as a Nutritionist, focusing on developing fun and engaging content for children. She also conducted many healthy cooking workshops for children. Through this experience, Meenu developed a keen interest in behavioural nutrition.
Today, her research interests lies in understanding parent’s behaviours and decision making process when purchasing food and how that impact’s their child’s obesity risk. Meenu is also keen to see how technology can be used to improve children’s overall health.
Ms Natalie Koh
Natalie is a research assistant under the supervision of Dr Cheryl Seah. She graduated from NUS with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and previously worked with special needs students in a mainstream school setting prior to working at CHILD. She has past research experience studying the value of volunteer tutoring programmes in a Covid-19 world for children from underprivileged families.
Ms Natalie Koh
Research AssistantMs Natalie Koh
Natalie is a research assistant under the supervision of Dr Cheryl Seah. She graduated from NUS with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and previously worked with special needs students in a mainstream school setting prior to working at CHILD. She has past research experience studying the value of volunteer tutoring programmes in a Covid-19 world for children from underprivileged families.
Ms Nazihah Mohamad Pauzi
Nazihah Mohamad Pauzi graduated from Coventry University with a bachelor’s in Psychology. She has past research experience in early childhood and child development. She worked on evaluation projects of early childhood programs including KidSTART Singapore, assisting in various tasks i.e., literature reviews, data entry, data collection and other project administration support. Her experience of interacting with vulnerable families and children in the project has led to a deep interest in early childhood research in the Singapore landscape. Here in CHILD, she further pursues her passion in the subject matter as a research assistant under the supervision of Dr Keri McCrickerd.
Ms Nazihah Mohamad Pauzi
Research AssistantMs Nazihah Mohamad Pauzi
Nazihah Mohamad Pauzi graduated from Coventry University with a bachelor’s in Psychology. She has past research experience in early childhood and child development. She worked on evaluation projects of early childhood programs including KidSTART Singapore, assisting in various tasks i.e., literature reviews, data entry, data collection and other project administration support. Her experience of interacting with vulnerable families and children in the project has led to a deep interest in early childhood research in the Singapore landscape. Here in CHILD, she further pursues her passion in the subject matter as a research assistant under the supervision of Dr Keri McCrickerd.
Ms Stephanie Leo
Stephanie is a research assistant reporting under Dr. Keri McCrickerd. She previously did her diploma in Child Psychology and Early Education, specialising in the Early Intervention track before pursuing her Bachelor’s in Psychology. She has prior research experience, working as a research assistant under the National Institute of Education (NIE). Her research interests lie in early childhood and childhood development.
Ms Stephanie Leo
Research AssistantMs Stephanie Leo
Stephanie is a research assistant reporting under Dr. Keri McCrickerd. She previously did her diploma in Child Psychology and Early Education, specialising in the Early Intervention track before pursuing her Bachelor’s in Psychology. She has prior research experience, working as a research assistant under the National Institute of Education (NIE). Her research interests lie in early childhood and childhood development.
Ms Suhasini D/O Chandrasekaran
Suhasini is pursuing a Master’s in Counselling at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS). She has nearly a decade of working experience with children. She started her journey as a Speech and Drama Educator for preschoolers in Singapore and moved on to early childhood research upon graduating with a BSc in Psychology.
Ms Suhasini D/O Chandrasekaran
Research AssistantMs Suhasini D/O Chandrasekaran
Suhasini is pursuing a Master’s in Counselling at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS). She has nearly a decade of working experience with children. She started her journey as a Speech and Drama Educator for preschoolers in Singapore and moved on to early childhood research upon graduating with a BSc in Psychology.
Ms Sundarimaa Erdembileg
Sundarimaa is a research assistant under the supervision of Dr Aishworiya Ramkumar. She has previously graduated from Yale-NUS with a bachelor’s in psychology (honors). Her thesis focused on the associations between engaging with mental health content and help-seeking behaviors. Previously, she has worked as a research assistant on topics related to digital mental health, attention, visual perception, and mental health systems around the world. Her work has been presented to the World Health Organization (WHO), Ministry of Health (MOH) in Singapore and at a conference in Australia. She also led a peer-counselling organization as the executive committee member for over three years and led a peer-counselling initiative back home in Mongolia.
Ms Sundarimaa Erdembileg
Research AssistantMs Sundarimaa Erdembileg
Sundarimaa is a research assistant under the supervision of Dr Aishworiya Ramkumar. She has previously graduated from Yale-NUS with a bachelor’s in psychology (honors). Her thesis focused on the associations between engaging with mental health content and help-seeking behaviors. Previously, she has worked as a research assistant on topics related to digital mental health, attention, visual perception, and mental health systems around the world. Her work has been presented to the World Health Organization (WHO), Ministry of Health (MOH) in Singapore and at a conference in Australia. She also led a peer-counselling organization as the executive committee member for over three years and led a peer-counselling initiative back home in Mongolia.
CHILD Administration Team
Ms Nina Chun
Ms Nina Chun
Senior ManagerMs Nina Chun
Ms Pavithra D/O Visvanathan
Pavithra graduated from the Singapore University of Social Sciences with a Bachelor’s in Sociology with Psychology. She is currently the Assistant Manager at CHILD providing operational and administrative support to the team.
Before CHILD, Pavithra worked at MNCs and education institutions for over 8 years. Her areas of expertise include project and programme management, product development as well as UX research.
Ms Pavithra D/O Visvanathan
Assistant ManagerMs Pavithra D/O Visvanathan
Pavithra graduated from the Singapore University of Social Sciences with a Bachelor’s in Sociology with Psychology. She is currently the Assistant Manager at CHILD providing operational and administrative support to the team.
Before CHILD, Pavithra worked at MNCs and education institutions for over 8 years. Her areas of expertise include project and programme management, product development as well as UX research.
Ms Winnie Chin
Winnie has been working as a secretary in the education and medical sector for the past 15 years. She has a strong background in school administration, operations and event management. She has a passion for working with parents and children, especially in taking care of their needs and safety. She is a creative and people-oriented person who has the ability to stay calm under pressure. She is consistently recognized for her proven capability in office administration, record keeping, reports preparation and performing customer-oriented tasks.
Part of the dynamic team in CHILD, Winnie works as an Executive Assistant, providing secretarial and administrative support to the Director, ensuring that effective operational systems are in place to achieve the centre’s overall goals.
Ms Winnie Chin
Executive AssistantMs Winnie Chin
Winnie has been working as a secretary in the education and medical sector for the past 15 years. She has a strong background in school administration, operations and event management. She has a passion for working with parents and children, especially in taking care of their needs and safety. She is a creative and people-oriented person who has the ability to stay calm under pressure. She is consistently recognized for her proven capability in office administration, record keeping, reports preparation and performing customer-oriented tasks.
Part of the dynamic team in CHILD, Winnie works as an Executive Assistant, providing secretarial and administrative support to the Director, ensuring that effective operational systems are in place to achieve the centre’s overall goals.
CHIILD Visiting Professors
Professor Bryce D. McLeod
Bryce D. McLeod, PhD, is an internationally recognized expert in implementation science who has served on local, national, and international committees focused on evidence-based practice for children and adolescents with social, emotional, and behavioral problems.
Bryce is a Professor of Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University and a faculty member of the Clark Hill Institute for Positive Youth Development. Aside from his involvement with CHILD in Singapore, he is also a Visiting Professor at the Department of Paediatrics, NUS.
The recipient of numerous national and international grant awards, his research interests include distilling core elements of evidence-based programs to facilitate the implementation and sustainment of evidence-based practices in community settings, youth diagnostic and behavioral assessment, treatment integrity research, and provider training and supervision.
Professor Bryce D. McLeod
Visiting ProfessorProfessor Bryce D. McLeod
Bryce D. McLeod, PhD, is an internationally recognized expert in implementation science who has served on local, national, and international committees focused on evidence-based practice for children and adolescents with social, emotional, and behavioral problems.
Bryce is a Professor of Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University and a faculty member of the Clark Hill Institute for Positive Youth Development. Aside from his involvement with CHILD in Singapore, he is also a Visiting Professor at the Department of Paediatrics, NUS.
The recipient of numerous national and international grant awards, his research interests include distilling core elements of evidence-based programs to facilitate the implementation and sustainment of evidence-based practices in community settings, youth diagnostic and behavioral assessment, treatment integrity research, and provider training and supervision.
Professor Twila Tardif
Twila Tardif is Visiting Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the Yong Long Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore as well as Professor Emerita of Psychology and Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Michigan. Previously, she served as Director of the Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies, of the Center for Human Growth and Development, and Associate Dean for Social Sciences in the College of Literature, Sciences, and the Arts. She received her PhD from Yale University and Bachelor’s from the University of Toronto.
Her research focuses on language and literacy development in Chinese and in multilingual children. She has also done work looking at the biopsychosocial process of emotion regulation in young children. Her work also includes the effects of neonatal iron deficiency and supplementation on early development., She has also served as Senior Curriculum Advisor to language learning media companies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she led an interdisciplinary research team examining social distancing behaviors, attitudes, and effects across 18 regions and countries. She is a member of the Scientific Advisory group for the Singapore Centre for Chinese Language and is thrilled to be involved in promoting healthy child development among Singaporean children.
Professor Twila Tardif
Visiting ProfessorProfessor Twila Tardif
Twila Tardif is Visiting Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the Yong Long Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore as well as Professor Emerita of Psychology and Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Michigan. Previously, she served as Director of the Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies, of the Center for Human Growth and Development, and Associate Dean for Social Sciences in the College of Literature, Sciences, and the Arts. She received her PhD from Yale University and Bachelor’s from the University of Toronto.
Her research focuses on language and literacy development in Chinese and in multilingual children. She has also done work looking at the biopsychosocial process of emotion regulation in young children. Her work also includes the effects of neonatal iron deficiency and supplementation on early development., She has also served as Senior Curriculum Advisor to language learning media companies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she led an interdisciplinary research team examining social distancing behaviors, attitudes, and effects across 18 regions and countries. She is a member of the Scientific Advisory group for the Singapore Centre for Chinese Language and is thrilled to be involved in promoting healthy child development among Singaporean children.
Associate Professor Jason Chow
Jason Chow is an Associate Professor in the Department of Special Education at Vanderbilt University and in the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He has been awarded numerous externally funded research grants and has received research awards from the American Psychological Association, American Speech-language Hearing Association, and the Council for Exceptional Children. His research focuses on language, social, and behavioral development, and facilitating effective educator and system collaboration to support the uptake, implementation, and sustainability of adoptable and effective practices and programs in community settings. He uses a variety of research methods to address educational issues and inequities, including randomized experiments, observational measurement approaches, network analysis, mixed methods, and research synthesis methods. He is Associate Editor of Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, Remedial and Special Education, and Elementary School Journal. He teaches courses in evidence-based instructional practices, research design, grant writing, and meta-analysis.
Associate Professor Jason Chow
Visiting ProfessorAssociate Professor Jason Chow
Jason Chow is an Associate Professor in the Department of Special Education at Vanderbilt University and in the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He has been awarded numerous externally funded research grants and has received research awards from the American Psychological Association, American Speech-language Hearing Association, and the Council for Exceptional Children. His research focuses on language, social, and behavioral development, and facilitating effective educator and system collaboration to support the uptake, implementation, and sustainability of adoptable and effective practices and programs in community settings. He uses a variety of research methods to address educational issues and inequities, including randomized experiments, observational measurement approaches, network analysis, mixed methods, and research synthesis methods. He is Associate Editor of Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, Remedial and Special Education, and Elementary School Journal. He teaches courses in evidence-based instructional practices, research design, grant writing, and meta-analysis.
CHILD Collaborating Investigators
Associate Professor Shefaly Shorey
Associate Professor Shefaly Shorey
Associate Professor, Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, NUSAssociate Professor Shefaly Shorey
Assistant Professor Keri McCrickerd
Keri McCrickerd, PhD, is a psychologist and research scientist in the Human Development programme at the Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS). Her research centres on the study of appetite and eating behaviours, with projects investigating the role of learning and development in eating behaviours, individual differences in appetite and the design of food-based solutions to support healthy appetite control.
At CHILD, Keri is involved in the design and testing of community focused strategies to improve appetite and eating self-regulation skills, with a focus on evidence-based and accessible interventions for children, schools and families.
Assistant Professor Keri McCrickerd
Deputy Director (Research & Development), CHILD, NUSAssistant Professor Keri McCrickerd
Keri McCrickerd, PhD, is a psychologist and research scientist in the Human Development programme at the Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS). Her research centres on the study of appetite and eating behaviours, with projects investigating the role of learning and development in eating behaviours, individual differences in appetite and the design of food-based solutions to support healthy appetite control.
At CHILD, Keri is involved in the design and testing of community focused strategies to improve appetite and eating self-regulation skills, with a focus on evidence-based and accessible interventions for children, schools and families.
Adjunct Associate Professor Shang Chee Chong
Dr Chong Shang Chee is an assistant professor at the Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and a senior consultant paediatrician. She currently heads the Child Development Unit (CDU) at NUH. She is heavily involved in the national development of policies in early childhood practices, early intervention and educational initiatives.
She currently sits on several workgroups and panels including the Maternal and Child Health workgroup by the Ministry of Health, and another to evaluate research conducted as part of the national KidSTART programme. For her contributions to various projects with the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), she was awarded the Friends of MSF Award in 2021.
Some of the projects that she has led include developing a preschool-based model of care which includes the timely delivery of health and development screenings to low-income children, and evaluating the use of telehealth technology as an innovative way to enhance early intervention practices for children with autism spectrum disorder. She is also a Brazelton Touchpoints trainer and established NUH Paediatrics as the first Touchpoints site in Asia.
Adjunct Associate Professor Shang Chee Chong
Deputy Director (Practice & Partnership), CHILD, NUSAdjunct Associate Professor Shang Chee Chong
Dr Chong Shang Chee is an assistant professor at the Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and a senior consultant paediatrician. She currently heads the Child Development Unit (CDU) at NUH. She is heavily involved in the national development of policies in early childhood practices, early intervention and educational initiatives.
She currently sits on several workgroups and panels including the Maternal and Child Health workgroup by the Ministry of Health, and another to evaluate research conducted as part of the national KidSTART programme. For her contributions to various projects with the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), she was awarded the Friends of MSF Award in 2021.
Some of the projects that she has led include developing a preschool-based model of care which includes the timely delivery of health and development screenings to low-income children, and evaluating the use of telehealth technology as an innovative way to enhance early intervention practices for children with autism spectrum disorder. She is also a Brazelton Touchpoints trainer and established NUH Paediatrics as the first Touchpoints site in Asia.
Assistant Professor Evelyn Law
Dr Evelyn Law is a clinician-scientist specialising in the area of developmental and behavioural paediatrics. Her research interests centre on the life course of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) from preschool to adult years and the influences of family and child factors, including socioeconomic status (SES), parental psychopathology, and health on developmental outcomes of children.
As part of her subspecialty training in Developmental-Behavioural Paediatrics at Harvard, Evelyn also successfully completed a programme on Clinical Effectiveness (Biostatistics and Epidemiology).
Evelyn is a principal investigator at SICS, an assistant professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, and a consultant in the Department of Paediatrics at Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children’s Medical Institute, NUH.
Assistant Professor Evelyn Law
Assistant Professor, Paediatrics, NUSAssistant Professor Evelyn Law
Dr Evelyn Law is a clinician-scientist specialising in the area of developmental and behavioural paediatrics. Her research interests centre on the life course of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) from preschool to adult years and the influences of family and child factors, including socioeconomic status (SES), parental psychopathology, and health on developmental outcomes of children.
As part of her subspecialty training in Developmental-Behavioural Paediatrics at Harvard, Evelyn also successfully completed a programme on Clinical Effectiveness (Biostatistics and Epidemiology).
Evelyn is a principal investigator at SICS, an assistant professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, and a consultant in the Department of Paediatrics at Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children’s Medical Institute, NUH.
Dr Aishworiya Ramkumar
Dr Aishworiya Ramkumar is a developmental behavioural paediatrician by training and practices at the Child Development Unit, National University Hospital, Singapore. Dr Ramkumar’s clinical interests include autism spectrum disorder and socio-emotional difficulties in children and she is committed to serving this group of children through direct clinical care and research that translates into clinical care pathway improvements.
Her research interests are anchored around the over-arching vision of improving outcomes of children on the autism spectrum in Singapore and beyond. Specific themes including implementation of screening for autism in early childhood and design of sustainable interventions for autism in young children. She has received competitive research funding and published her work in several peer-reviewed journals. She is also the current co-chair of the workgroup that produced the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Autism in Children and Adolescents in Singapore.
Dr Aishworiya Ramkumar
Senior Consultant, Paediatrics, Khoo Teck Puat - National University Children's Medical Institute, NUHDr Aishworiya Ramkumar
Dr Aishworiya Ramkumar is a developmental behavioural paediatrician by training and practices at the Child Development Unit, National University Hospital, Singapore. Dr Ramkumar’s clinical interests include autism spectrum disorder and socio-emotional difficulties in children and she is committed to serving this group of children through direct clinical care and research that translates into clinical care pathway improvements.
Her research interests are anchored around the over-arching vision of improving outcomes of children on the autism spectrum in Singapore and beyond. Specific themes including implementation of screening for autism in early childhood and design of sustainable interventions for autism in young children. She has received competitive research funding and published her work in several peer-reviewed journals. She is also the current co-chair of the workgroup that produced the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Autism in Children and Adolescents in Singapore.
Dr Ying Qi Kang
Dr Kang Ying Qi is the Deputy Head and Senior Consultant of the Child Development Unit (CDU) at National University Hospital and an Assistant Professor at the National University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. She graduated from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine in 2008, obtained her Membership of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (MRCPCH) and Masters of Medicine (MMED) in 2011, and completed her paediatric specialist training in 2014.
She currently spearheads the adoption and practice of the Early Start Denver Model and adoption of telemedicine to deliver intervention services for children with autism in CDU. She is also involved in the national development of early childhood related programs and initiative with various ministry partners. She co-created the Guidelines for Psycho educational and developmental assessments and specialised provisions for children aged 0-6 years old with other team members and is currently on the Academy of Medicine, Singapore’s ADHD Clinical Practice Guideline workgroup. She is currently on the advisory panel for parenting, Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), and also a member of the independent review panel (special needs) MSF. For her contributions to various projects with the MSF, she was awarded the Friends of MSF Award in 2023. In addition, she also partakes in the activities of many community partners such as being a member of the board of governance of Rainbow Centre and an Independent Review Panel member for NTUC First Campus.
Dr Ying Qi Kang
Senior Consultant, Paediatrics, Khoo Teck Puat - National University Children's Medical Institute, NUHDr Ying Qi Kang
Dr Kang Ying Qi is the Deputy Head and Senior Consultant of the Child Development Unit (CDU) at National University Hospital and an Assistant Professor at the National University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. She graduated from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine in 2008, obtained her Membership of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (MRCPCH) and Masters of Medicine (MMED) in 2011, and completed her paediatric specialist training in 2014.
She currently spearheads the adoption and practice of the Early Start Denver Model and adoption of telemedicine to deliver intervention services for children with autism in CDU. She is also involved in the national development of early childhood related programs and initiative with various ministry partners. She co-created the Guidelines for Psycho educational and developmental assessments and specialised provisions for children aged 0-6 years old with other team members and is currently on the Academy of Medicine, Singapore’s ADHD Clinical Practice Guideline workgroup. She is currently on the advisory panel for parenting, Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), and also a member of the independent review panel (special needs) MSF. For her contributions to various projects with the MSF, she was awarded the Friends of MSF Award in 2023. In addition, she also partakes in the activities of many community partners such as being a member of the board of governance of Rainbow Centre and an Independent Review Panel member for NTUC First Campus.
Dr Yee Keow Chiong
Dr Chiong Yee Keow is a consultant paediatrician in Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children’s Medical Institute, at the Children’s Emergency and Children’s Urgent Care Clinic. She is the Deputy Director of the NUH Children’s Urgent Care Clinic, and the Paediatric Co-Lead for the NUH KidSTART programme.
Her clinical interests include acute medicine, community and preventive paediatric medicine and global health, and medical education. She has completed a Masters in Public Health at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health and remains involved in community work, with a special interest in improving social inequality amongst the less privileged in Singapore.
Dr Yee Keow Chiong
Consultant, Paediatrics, Khoo Teck Puat - National University Children's Medical Institute, NUHDr Yee Keow Chiong
Dr Chiong Yee Keow is a consultant paediatrician in Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children’s Medical Institute, at the Children’s Emergency and Children’s Urgent Care Clinic. She is the Deputy Director of the NUH Children’s Urgent Care Clinic, and the Paediatric Co-Lead for the NUH KidSTART programme.
Her clinical interests include acute medicine, community and preventive paediatric medicine and global health, and medical education. She has completed a Masters in Public Health at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health and remains involved in community work, with a special interest in improving social inequality amongst the less privileged in Singapore.
Dr Wanyun Lin
Dr Lin Wanyun is an associate consultant with the Khoo Teck Puat – National University Children’s Medical Institute, NUH.
She graduated from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine in 2015, obtained her Membership of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (MRCPCH) and Masters of Medicine (MMED) in 2018, and completed her paediatric residency in 2021.
Dr Lin has a keen interest in improving child health in the community and in addition to her work as a general paediatrican, is a part of workgroups with this end in mind, including the Family Health team at Health district @ Queenstown.
Dr Wanyun Lin
Consultant, Paediatrics, Khoo Teck Puat - National University Children's Medical Institute, NUHDr Wanyun Lin
Dr Lin Wanyun is an associate consultant with the Khoo Teck Puat – National University Children’s Medical Institute, NUH.
She graduated from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine in 2015, obtained her Membership of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (MRCPCH) and Masters of Medicine (MMED) in 2018, and completed her paediatric residency in 2021.
Dr Lin has a keen interest in improving child health in the community and in addition to her work as a general paediatrican, is a part of workgroups with this end in mind, including the Family Health team at Health district @ Queenstown.
Dr Cheryl Seah
Cheryl Seah, PhD, is a developmental psychologist with more than 20 years of experience in clinical and community settings with a focus in early intervention among young children and their families. Her expertise revolves around the areas of disabilities and inclusive practices, the assessment of learning needs in children, attachment, parenting and the use of implementation science to improve evidence-informed practices.
She has led several projects involving the design of early intervention framework – Echo Framework, evaluated interventions and supported teams in scaling up their implementation to improve outcomes for young children and their families (KidSTART). She also conducts undergraduate and post-graduate courses for early childhood educators in inclusive practices for children with diverse learning needs.
Dr Cheryl Seah
Director, Centre for Evidence and Implementation (CEI)Dr Cheryl Seah
Cheryl Seah, PhD, is a developmental psychologist with more than 20 years of experience in clinical and community settings with a focus in early intervention among young children and their families. Her expertise revolves around the areas of disabilities and inclusive practices, the assessment of learning needs in children, attachment, parenting and the use of implementation science to improve evidence-informed practices.
She has led several projects involving the design of early intervention framework – Echo Framework, evaluated interventions and supported teams in scaling up their implementation to improve outcomes for young children and their families (KidSTART). She also conducts undergraduate and post-graduate courses for early childhood educators in inclusive practices for children with diverse learning needs.
Dr Gayatri Kembhavi-Tam
Gayatri Kembhavi-Tam, PhD, has 25 years of experience as a clinician, researcher and educator. She has a passion for working with community partners and practitioners to translate evidence into practice. Her research areas of interest are focused on children and young people with disabilities – in particular, inclusion, participation, transition to adulthood, and the engagement of children and young people with disabilities in research. She has expertise in qualitative research methods.
Gayatri’s professional experience spans work in Canada, Europe and Asia, including working and conducting research in low-resource communities. She has developed curriculum and provided training for rehabilitation students, clinicians and community practitioners about critical thinking, engaging with evidence and research, and realistic approaches to conducting and using research in practice.
As a director at CEI, she works closely with community partners and other stakeholders, bringing her expertise in research design, qualitative methods and participatory research methods to produce better outcomes for children and families.
Dr Gayatri Kembhavi-Tam
Associate Director, Centre for Evidence and Implementation (CEI)Dr Gayatri Kembhavi-Tam
Gayatri Kembhavi-Tam, PhD, has 25 years of experience as a clinician, researcher and educator. She has a passion for working with community partners and practitioners to translate evidence into practice. Her research areas of interest are focused on children and young people with disabilities – in particular, inclusion, participation, transition to adulthood, and the engagement of children and young people with disabilities in research. She has expertise in qualitative research methods.
Gayatri’s professional experience spans work in Canada, Europe and Asia, including working and conducting research in low-resource communities. She has developed curriculum and provided training for rehabilitation students, clinicians and community practitioners about critical thinking, engaging with evidence and research, and realistic approaches to conducting and using research in practice.
As a director at CEI, she works closely with community partners and other stakeholders, bringing her expertise in research design, qualitative methods and participatory research methods to produce better outcomes for children and families.
Dr Evelyn Tan
Evelyn Tan, PhD, is a psychologist and researcher with expertise in the area of child development and parenting. She has over 10 years of experience working in research in the field of developmental psychology, with a focus on both epidemiological predictors of parenting and early child development, as well as translation of such research into service delivery for prevention and intervention.
Evelyn has managed research teams and projects, and has research interests in the development of children’s social and emotional capabilities, particularly in infant and preschool attachment. She is also familiar with psychological assessments and has provided psychotherapy to vulnerable families across both public and private sectors.
At CHILD, Evelyn uses her expertise in evidence synthesis and quantitative data analysis to better improve outcomes for children and their families.
Dr Evelyn Tan
Principal Advisor, Centre for Evidence and Implementation (CEI)Dr Evelyn Tan
Evelyn Tan, PhD, is a psychologist and researcher with expertise in the area of child development and parenting. She has over 10 years of experience working in research in the field of developmental psychology, with a focus on both epidemiological predictors of parenting and early child development, as well as translation of such research into service delivery for prevention and intervention.
Evelyn has managed research teams and projects, and has research interests in the development of children’s social and emotional capabilities, particularly in infant and preschool attachment. She is also familiar with psychological assessments and has provided psychotherapy to vulnerable families across both public and private sectors.
At CHILD, Evelyn uses her expertise in evidence synthesis and quantitative data analysis to better improve outcomes for children and their families.
Ms Esther Goh
Esther Goh is an Early Childhood Development specialist with a global breadth of experience across education, policymaking and philanthropy.
Over the past ten years, Esther has taught kindergarten, worked for the government of Singapore and also supported the strategic development of early childhood policy and programmes from within an international philanthropic foundation. She has led the coordination and provision of technical assistance to government and strategic partners globally, through her role as a knowledge broker, bringing best practice to large scale policies and programmes.
At CHILD, Esther will be involved in applying evidence in intervention design, contextualising elements of best practices and providing implementation support to service agencies to improve outcomes for young children and their families.
Ms Esther Goh
Advisor, Centre for Evidence and Implementation (CEI)Ms Esther Goh
Esther Goh is an Early Childhood Development specialist with a global breadth of experience across education, policymaking and philanthropy.
Over the past ten years, Esther has taught kindergarten, worked for the government of Singapore and also supported the strategic development of early childhood policy and programmes from within an international philanthropic foundation. She has led the coordination and provision of technical assistance to government and strategic partners globally, through her role as a knowledge broker, bringing best practice to large scale policies and programmes.
At CHILD, Esther will be involved in applying evidence in intervention design, contextualising elements of best practices and providing implementation support to service agencies to improve outcomes for young children and their families.
Dr Anna Fogel
Anna Fogel is a senior research fellow with A*STAR IHDP under the Human Development programme.
Anna’s background is in Developmental Psychology, with specific interest in behaviours that facilitate development of obesity in the first years of life, including eating behaviours, physical activity and sedentary behaviours. Involved in the GUSTO cohort, Anna has been investigating the independent and combined impact of behavioural factors on children’s cardio-metabolic and growth outcomes. Anna is also interested in the environmental context of children’s behaviours, including the role of parents as models and teachers of behaviours, impact of parental mental health on children’s behavioural and health outcomes, and the impact of the wider environment including features of the built environment on children’s behaviours and health.
Anna has received several awards, including the Conference travel award from Asia Oceania Association for the Study of Obesity and the Harry R. Kissileff Award from the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behaviour in 2017, Charles A. Lewis Excellence in Research Award from the American Horticultural Therapy Association and the SICS Emerging PI award in 2021.
Anna obtained Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Sunderland, Master of Science in Systems Biology of Brain and Behaviour from Bielefeld University, and PhD in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of Birmingham.
Dr Anna Fogel
Senior Scientist II, A*STAR Institute for Human Potential and DevelopmentDr Anna Fogel
Anna Fogel is a senior research fellow with A*STAR IHDP under the Human Development programme.
Anna’s background is in Developmental Psychology, with specific interest in behaviours that facilitate development of obesity in the first years of life, including eating behaviours, physical activity and sedentary behaviours. Involved in the GUSTO cohort, Anna has been investigating the independent and combined impact of behavioural factors on children’s cardio-metabolic and growth outcomes. Anna is also interested in the environmental context of children’s behaviours, including the role of parents as models and teachers of behaviours, impact of parental mental health on children’s behavioural and health outcomes, and the impact of the wider environment including features of the built environment on children’s behaviours and health.
Anna has received several awards, including the Conference travel award from Asia Oceania Association for the Study of Obesity and the Harry R. Kissileff Award from the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behaviour in 2017, Charles A. Lewis Excellence in Research Award from the American Horticultural Therapy Association and the SICS Emerging PI award in 2021.
Anna obtained Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Sunderland, Master of Science in Systems Biology of Brain and Behaviour from Bielefeld University, and PhD in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of Birmingham.