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Woman Power

Ms Chen researches how new ideas can be applied in the Singapore Armed Forces.
PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

"PROTECTING the nation is not just a man's job, and women can also contribute," says Ms Chen Hui Xian.

"I feel strongly about doing my part as well," says the 24-year-old research engineer, who is keenly interested in matters relating to science and technology.

Not surprisingly, she chose a scholarship from the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) over many other offers.

"Most of them offered me management and policymaking jobs," says Ms Chen, who eventually went to Cornell University in the United States, to earn a first class honours degree in electrical and computer engineering, and a Master in Computer Science.

"The DSTA Scholarship is the only one that offers scholars the choice of management and research and development work," she says.

The self-professed "science enthusiast" has happily turned her passion into a career, and combined it with the ideals of nation building.

"Most of the scientific and technological advancements are initiated by the defence industry. Being in it would allow me to deal with the latest advancements in technology and the prospect of this really excited me," says Ms Chen.

She is now working at DSO National Laboratories, the national defence research and development organisation. Her job has a lot to do with research.

She says: "It involves reading up various literature to see how the new ideas in the research paper could be applied to the real systems for the Singapore Armed Forces."

To further her knowledge and understand the latest in the relevant fields, Ms Chen has attended overseas conferences and learnt from the best researchers around the world.

She plans to pursue a doctorate degree, preferably also in an American university, where she hopes to work with various "top brains in the world so as to bring the knowledge back to DSO".