How his biotech internship is delivering impact and unlocking industry insights

As Melvin entered the final year of his Bachelor of Engineering degree in Materials Engineering in 2017, he often found himself wondering what might lie ahead.

He knew his four-year course at the Nanyang Technological University of Singapore (NTU) would qualify him for engineering roles in diverse fields, from manufacturing to quality control inspections, procurement and more.

But none of these industries or roles appealed to him.  

“I was always drawn to doing something that I felt could make a difference to people’s lives,” he says. “I just wasn’t that excited about working in the fields that graduates with my degree often go for.” 

This dilemma came around the same time Melvin was faced with bad news at home.

His mother had recently been diagnosed with cancer, catapulting the family into an anxious time of consulting doctors and exploring different treatments. “I saw up close the limits of many existing cancer therapies, which can cause significant side effects,” he says.  

Already in his final year at NTU, with the news of his mother’s diagnosis weighing heavy, and the uncertainty of his future career looming, Melvin signed up for a drug delivery and tissue engineering module.  

This was the turning point that led to his ‘eureka’ moment.

“That module opened my eyes to how materials science engineering can be applied in biomedical fields to package drugs – including cancer treatments – in innovative ways that minimise side effects and enhance their efficacy,” he says.

“I decided to shift my focus to biotechnology and drug delivery systems. I’d finally found an area I was motivated to explore, where I could potentially create meaningful products with a real-world impact.” 

Fast forward to today, and Melvin is working with biotech research startup ACM Biolabs in Singapore as part of SGInnovate’s Helix Immersion Programme. This year-long, on-the-job fellowship scheme offers postgraduates a chance to apply their technical skillsets and expertise within fast-growing biotech and medtech companies. 

Melvin at ACM Biolabs.

At ACM Biolabs, Melvin joined an interdisciplinary team dedicated to bringing innovative drugs to patients with high unmet medical needs. His decision to join industry stemmed partly from time spent diving into his PhD thesis at NTU’s School of Materials Science and Engineering.

“My PhD research focused on nanoparticulate drug delivery systems and how these could potentially improve the delivery of certain kinds of therapeutics. In layperson’s terms, that means looking at new ways to engineer tiny particles – typically in the nanometer range – so that they can deliver drugs to specific sites in the body in a more controlled manner,” he says.  

“Take chemotherapeutic treatments. If these can be formulated to release their materials in a slower, more sustained way, then perhaps we could reduce the frequency of dosing required. That could make some cancer treatments easier for some people’s systems to respond to.”  

As Melvin stresses, choosing to stay in academia was never part of his career plan. His goalpost was rooted firmly in finding a career where he would be in the best position to make a difference in the lives of others.  

In his apprenticeship, Melvin works closely with the chemists and biologists who manage the company’s research processes. From formulation to in vivo testing and clinical trials, Melvin looks at building out ACM Biolab’s novel drug delivery therapeutics pipeline in fields such as infectious diseases and in several oncology products.  

“My job is to come up with optimisations and new formulations for our pipeline products. Here, I’m building on my PhD research, trying to improve how a drug can be delivered into the body over time to reduce side effects, among other things,” he explains. 

READ: How these scientists are changing pain management 

At the same time, as part of his Training and Development Programme (TDP), which charts out what fellows can expect to learn during their fellowship stints, Melvin had the opportunity to be exposed to the more commercial aspects of the company. One example was through participating in biotechnology roadshows alongside members of the company’s senior leadership team where he had to pitch the company’s tech to potential investors not from a technical, but commercial standpoint.  

“I’m learning it’s crucial to be able to explain to potential investors and clinicians why there is a demand for our products, and what differentiates them from rival offerings. That means understanding how to articulate things such as market analysis, product development timelines, target market size, potential customer base and expected revenue streams – not necessarily typical topics for someone who has spent years in an academic setting!” he says. 

Melvin at the NTUitive Technology Roadshow with CEO of NTUitive, Mr David Toh (second from left), CEO of ACM Biolabs, CEO and founder of ACM Biolabs, Dr Madhavan Nallani (third from left) and Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ms Low Yen Ling (middle). Photo credit: Melvin Liew

As Melvin points out, the transition from academia to industry can also be challenging due to the faster pace of research typically required in industry. Scientists need to adapt to a more results-driven environment, with greater emphasis on speed and potential return on investment. Cross-functional teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration are also critical ingredients for product development, compared to individual research in a university lab. 

In Melvin’s case, the support offered by the Helix scheme and other SGInnovate talent programmes has helped him adjust. 

READ: How to navigate the Singapore's biotech talent crunch  

“During my PhD, I was lucky enough to be a candidate on the SGInnovate Summation scheme, which offers short apprenticeships within deep tech companies. That led to a three-month stint with a biotech firm on a structured training plan that introduced me to aspects of commercial operations alongside lab work. Today, I’m finding that the Helix training experience complements that early industry exposure,” he says. 

“I'm looking forward to being involved in a whole new project from start to finish where I can give my inputs on what other directions we can take.”  

“I have amazing mentors to draw on for support. They include Dr Shaoqiong Liu, Principal Scientist at ACM Biolabs who is my direct supervisor and Dr Madhavan Nallani, our founder and CEO.” Melvin says. 

Melvin and Dr Liu. 

From Dr Nallani’s standpoint, hiring Melvin was a no-brainer. “He’s someone who isn’t scared to try new things,” Dr Nallani says – a valued trait for an employee in a company that is “pushing the envelope of excellence.”  

However, he does still acknowledge that the programme helps to address a common challenge startups face in hiring.  

“In the past, at ACM we spent money and time to hire people who look amazingly good on paper, but simply, there is a misfit. As the saying goes, you take a longer time to recruit, and a shorter time to fire. For programmes like this, you have a way to source the right talent, it gives us the assurance we need that taking on a fresh graduate will work out.” 

Looking ahead, Melvin is committed to remaining in Singapore and working to help build its biotech ecosystem. A recent sharing exclusive to Helix fellows by leading biotech expert-turned-entrepreneur Professor Harvey Lodish left Melvin with a renewed sense of inspiration and determination in the journey that lies ahead.  

READ: 5 Career Tips with Dr Harvey Lodish

“In his talk, Professor Lodish encouraged us to believe in ourselves, to aim high and trust that we really can make a difference in our field. I’ve taken that advice to heart and am doubling down on my long-term career goal – helping to create new medicines that can improve medical treatments and so change lives.” 

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