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Associate Professor

Hiong Yap GAN

Head, NAMIC Hub@SIT
PhD (Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Cluster:
Engineering
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Biography

Associate Professor Gan Hiong Yap is an academic, researcher and advocate for technology translation at the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT). He currently serves as Head of NAMIC Hub@SIT, where he oversees applied research, technology development and industry collaboration in advanced, additive and digital manufacturing.

He began his professional research career at the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech), A*STAR, where he served as a Research Scientist from 2008 to 2013. His early research focused on microfluidic and nanofluidic system design, microscale transport phenomena and manufacturing science. This work contributed to technology development and intellectual property in microscale fluid transport and related biomedical and engineering applications. From 2010 to 2012, while with SIMTech, he undertook a postdoctoral fellowship at the Research Laboratory of Electronics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). At MIT, he further developed his expertise in micro- and nanofluidics, applying fundamental principles of fluid mechanics and transport phenomena to advanced engineering systems and practical applications. Upon completing his postdoctoral fellowship, he returned to SIMTech and continued his research until 2013. His experience at A*STAR and MIT shaped his interest in connecting scientific research, engineering development and practical industrial implementation.

Associate Professor Gan joined SIT in 2014 and has since contributed to the university’s engineering education, applied research and industry engagement. He has held several academic and administrative appointments, including Programme Director for several engineering programmes, and Head of the RaPID Centre. His research spans metal and polymer additive manufacturing, hybrid manufacturing, large-format additive manufacturing, Design for Additive Manufacturing, digital manufacturing and AI-enabled manufacturing systems. He has contributed to establishing additive manufacturing capabilities at SIT, including hybrid metal additive manufacturing, robotic fused granular fabrication, engineering polymer processing and industrial-scale additive manufacturing platforms.

Working with government agencies, public transport operators, industry partners and research institutions, he develops practical engineering solutions for sectors including rail, maritime, precision engineering and sustainable manufacturing. His current research interests include intelligent additive manufacturing, process monitoring, quality assurance, digital qualification, multi-material manufacturing and agentic AI-enabled manufacturing systems.

Railway engineering and asset maintenance are other important areas of his work. His interests include railway system reliability, failure analysis, maintenance engineering and the application of methodologies such as Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA), Reliability-Centred Maintenance (RCM) and Fault Tree Analysis. He has participated in applied research and innovation projects addressing rail asset performance, operational reliability and maintenance challenges.

Beyond SIT, he has contributed to professional training, standards development and technical advisory activities within Singapore’s rail sector. From 2015 to 2017, he served as a training consultant in FMECA and RCM for public transport operators, supporting the adoption of systematic approaches to reliability and maintenance decision-making. From 2020 to 2023, he served on the Technical Committee on Railway Systems, contributing to the development and review of Singapore's rail standards. In 2024, he served on the Land Transport Authority’s Expert Advisory Panel, providing technical perspectives on railway engineering and operational matters.

Associate Professor Gan is also committed to applied learning and the development of industry-ready engineering professionals. Through teaching, research supervision, professional training and industry collaboration, he supports students and practising engineers in applying engineering knowledge to complex real-world challenges. His work reflects SIT’s emphasis on integrating education, applied research and industry collaboration to translate engineering innovation into meaningful economic and societal outcomes.

SIT Appointments

  • Head, NAMIC Hub@SIT
    – Present
  • Head, Rapid Product Innovation and Development (RaPID) Centre
    –
  • Programme Director, BEng (Hons) & MEngTech in Sustainable Infrastructure Engineering (Land)
    –
  • Programme Director, SIT-NU Joint BEng (Hons) in Marine Engineering / Naval Architecture / Offshore Engineering
    –
  • Programme Director, NU BEng (Hons) in Marine Engineering / Naval Architecture / Offshore Engineering
    –
  • Deputy Programme Director, NU BEng (Hons) in Marine Engineering / Naval Architecture / Offshore Engineering
    –

Education

  • Postdoctoral Fellow (RLE)
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology , United States
  • PhD (Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering)
    Nanyang Technological University , Singapore
  • Bachelor of Engineering (1st Class Hons), Mechanical & Production Engineering
    Nanyang Technological University , Singapore

Achievements

  • Nominee for the SIT Teaching Excellence Award AY2019
    –
  • SIT Teaching Excellence Award AY2018
    –
  • Nominee for the SIT Teaching Excellence Award AY2016
    –

Professional Memberships

  • Senior Member, The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES)
    Present
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Past Projects

  • Stress Corrosion Cracking Detection and Mitigation in NEL
    –

    Co-Principal Investigator (20%) of UMGC grant project, “Stress Corrosion Cracking Detection and Mitigation in NEL”, which was granted ~SGD$900k.

  • Design and Development of a Metal Dust Filtration System for Rolling Stock Underframe Components and Trackside Area
    –

    Principal Investigator of UMGC grant project, “Design and Development of a Metal Dust Filtration System for Rolling Stock Underframe Components and Trackside Area (Rolling Stock and P/Way maintenance)”, which was granted ~SGD$630k.

  • Wear Evaluation of Cold Spray Repair Process
    –

    Co-Principal Investigator (10%) of the SIT Ignition Grant project, “Wear Evaluation of Cold Spray Repair Process”, which was granted SGD$100k.

  • Integrated Rehabilitation Parallel Bars and Staircases
    –

    Co-Principal Investigator (5%) of the SIT Ignition Grant project, “Integrated Rehabilitation Parallel Bars and Staircases”, which was granted ~SGD$100k

  • A Study of Corrosive Environment in Tunnels and Prediction of Component Life Time
    –

    Co-Principal Investigator (37%) of Land Transport Innovation Fund project, “A Study of Corrosive Environment in Tunnels and Prediction of Component Lifetime”, which was granted SGD$1,128,000.

  • Electrokinetic Flow in Normal Dental Enamel
    –

    Principal Investigator of Colgate Research Grant project, "Electrokinetic Flow in Normal Dental Enamel", which was granted ~SGD$150k by Colgate Palmolive USA

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Journal Papers

  • S.M. Goh*, L.T. Tan, H.Y. Gan, Y.L. Foo, K.H. Goh, H.S. Lee, “Accelerated corrosion test and field test of steel and zinc coupons at buffer areas and cross passages in a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) tunnel”, Corrosion Engineering Science and Technology, (2023). DOI: 10.1080/1478422X.2022.2163335

  • Tay NB, Gan HY*, de Sousa FB, Shen L, Nóbrega DF, Peng C, Kilpatrick-Liverman L, Wang W, Lavender S, Pilch S , and Han J.*, "Improved mineralization of dental enamel by electrokinetic delivery of F− and Ca2+ ions", Scientific Reports. 13(1):516 (2023). [IF:4.996]

  • S.M. Goh*, L.T. Tan, H.Y. Gan, Y.L. Foo, K.H. Goh, H.S. Lee, “Monitoring of Atmospheric Corrosion in a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Tunnel”, Urban Rail Transit, 8, 184–197 (2022). [IF:2.12]

  • L. Shen, F.B. de Sousa, N.B. Tay, L.S. Teo, Vivian K. Lin, J. Han, K. L. LaTonya, W. Wang, S. Lavender, S. Pilch, H.Y. Gan*, “Deformation Behavior Of Normal Human Enamel: A Study By Nanoindentation”, J. Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 108, pp. 103799 (2020). [IF: 3.484]

  • C. Peng, F.B. de Sousa, H.Y. Gan, H.J. Kwon, S. Park, L. Kilpatrick-Liverman, W. Wang, S. Lavender, S. Pilch, J. Han*, “Enhanced Delivery of F−, Ca2+, K+, and Na+ Ions into Enamel by Electrokinetic Flows”, Journal of Dental Research, 98 (4), pp. 430–436 (2019). [IF: 5.125]

  • C. Peng, S. Park, F.B. de Sousa, H.Y. Gan, S. Lee, W. Wang, S. Lavender, S. Pilch, J. Han*, “Enhanced teeth whitening by nanofluidic transport of hydrogen peroxide into enamel with electrokinetic flows”, Dental Materials, 35 (11). pp.1637-1643 (2019). [IF:4.440]

  • H.Y. Gan, F.B. Sousa, H.L. Carlo, P.P. Maciel, M.S. Macena, and J. Han*, “Enhanced Transport of Materials into Enamel Nanopores via Electrokinetic Flow”, Journal of Dental Research, 94 (4), pp. 615-621 (2015). [IF: 5.125]

  • Hiong Yap Gan and Yee Cheong Lam*, “Experimental Observations of Flow Instabilities and Rapid Mixing of Two Dissimilar Viscoelastic Liquids”, AIP Advances, 2, pp. 042146 (2012). [IF:1.579]

  • Han Wei Hou, Hiong Yap Gan, Ali Asgar. S. Bhagat, Leon D. Li, Chwee Teck Lim, Jongyoon Han*, “A Microfluidics Approach Towards High-Throughput Pathogen Removal from Blood Using Margination”, Biomicrofluidics, 6, pp. 024115 (2012). [IF:2.531]

  • H Y Gan, Xuechuan Shan, T Eriksson and Y C Lam*, “Reduction of Droplet Volume by Controlling Actuating Waveforms in Inkjet Printing for Micro-Pattern Formation”, Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering, 19, pp. 055010 (2009). [IF:2.141]

  • Y.C. Lam*, H.Y. Gan, N.T. Nguyen and H. Lie, “Micromixer Based on Viscoelastic Flow Instability at Low Reynolds Number”, Biomicrofluidics, 3, pp. 014106 (2009). [IF:2.531]

  • H.Y. Gan, Y.C. Lam*, N.T. Nguyen, K.C. Tam and C. Yang, “Efficient Mixing of Viscoelastic Fluids in a Microchannel at Low Reynolds Number”, Microfluidics & Nanofluidics, 3, pp. 101 (2007). [IF:2.437]

  • Hiong Yap Gan, Yee Cheong Lam* & Nam-Trung Nguyen, “A Polymer-Based Device for Efficient Mixing of Viscoelastic Fluids”, Applied Physics Letters, 88, pp. 224103 (2006). [IF:3.521]

  • Hiong Yap Gan, Chun Yang, Stephen Y.M. Wan, Gnian Cher Lim and Yee Cheong Lam*, “Study of Electroosmosis-Driven Two-Liquid Displacement Flow in a Microcapillary”, Journal of Physics, 34, pp. 283–290 (2006).

Conferences

  • L.T. Tan, S. M. Goh, H. Y. Gan and Y. L. Foo, “A study of Atmospheric Corrosive Environment in the North East Line Tunnel”, WCCM 2019, Dec 2nd – 5th, Singapore (2019)

  • Chia Hao Gen, JJ Chong, Edwin Foo, Gan Hiong Yap, and Michael Lau, “Safety Vision System to Aid Collision Prevention for Indoor Mobile Robots”, I-ROS 2019 Assuring Safety for Physically Assistive Robots Workshop, IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Robots and Systems, Nov 3rd – 8th Macau, China (2019).

  • HiongYap Gan, “Development of Wireless Sensor Networks for Corrosion Monitoring in Tunnel Environment”, IES Railway Technology Seminar: Condition Monitoring and Predictive Maintenance, July 28th Singapore (2017). (Invited Talk)

  • H.Y. Gan, F.B. Sousa, H.L. Carlo, P.P. Maciel, M.S. Macena, and J. Han, “Enhanced Transport of Materials into Enamel Nanopores”, International Workshop on Extended-Nano Fluidics (IWENF), Japan. (2015). (Invited Paper)

  • Hiong Yap Gan, Sang Van Pham, Sung Hee Ko, Jacob White, Jongyoon Han, “Controlling ion concentration polarization for higher efficiency in electrochemical system”, in Electrolyte Systems and Interfacial Processes in Energy Storage and Conversion, ENFL 247th ACS National Meeting and Exposition, pp. 223 (2014).

  • Hiong Yap Gan and Yee Cheong Lam, “Multiple-Stream Flow and Mixing of Dissimilar Polymeric Solutions in Abrupt Microfluidic Contraction/Expansion Geometries”, Proceedings of SPIE, Vol. 8251, 82510K (2012).

  • Hou Wei Hou, HiongYap Gan, Ali A.S. Bhagat, Daliang Li, Chwee Teck Lim, Jongyoon Han, “Pathogen and Inflammatory Components Removal from Blood Using Cell Margination”, Proceedings of MicroTAS conference, pp. 1912-1914 (2011).

  • HiongYap Gan, Frederico Barbosa Sousa and Jongyoon Han, “Electrokinetic Transport in Dental Enamel”, Enamel VIII Conference (2011).

  • Jiayan Tai, Hiong Yap Gan and Yee Cheong Lam, “Viscoelastic Turbulence for a 3-Stream Flow Through a Sudden Contraction-Expansion Microchannel”, The 2nd Conference on Advances in Microfluidics and Nanofluidics, and Asian-Pacific International Symposium on Lab on Chip (2011).

  • Hiong Yap Gan, Cheng Hwee Chua, Soon Mei Chan and Boon Keng Lok, “Performance Characterization of Flexible Printed Supercapacitors”, 11th Electronics Packaging Technology Conference, pp. 301-304 (2009).

  • Budiman salam, Hiong Yap Gan, B. K. Lok and C.W. Lu Albert, ""Optimizing Manufacturing Process of Printed Electronics"", 11th Electronics Packaging Technology Conference, pp. 163-167 (2009).

  • Jiayan Tai, Hiong Yap Gan, Yen Nan Liang and Boon Keng Lok, “Control of Droplet Formation in Inkjet Printing Using Ohnesorge Number”, Proceeding of the 10th Electronics Packaging Technology Conference, pp. 761-766 (2008).

  • Y. C. Lam, H.Y. Gan and N.T. Nguyen, “Mixing of Viscoelastic Fluids in a Microchannel”, Proceeding of the 5th International Conference on Fluid Mechanics, pp. 658-661 (2007).

  • H.Y. Gan, C. Yang Charles, Stephen Y.M. Wan, G.C. Lim & Y.C. Lam, “Theoretical and Experimental Study of Electroosmosis-Driven Two-Fluid Displacement in a Microcapillary”, Proceedings of SPIE, Vol. 6112, pp. 155-166 (2006).

  • Y.C. Lam, H.Y. Gan, N.T. Nguyen, K.C. Tam and C. Yang, “Viscoelastically Induced Mixing at Low Reynolds Number”, The Asia-Pacific Conference of Transducers and Micro-Nano Technology, C-10 (2006).

  • D.G Yan, H.Y. Gan, C. Yang, N.T. Nguyen, X.Y. Huang, and Y.C. Lam, “Use Micro-PIV to Measure Transient Electroosmotic Flow and Zeta Potential of Channel Wall”, Proceedings of the MicroTAS conference, Vol. 1, pp. 89-91 (2006).

Books

  • H.Y. Gan and Y.C. Lam, "Viscoelasticity", Encyclopedia of Microfluidics and Nanofluidics, pp. 3433-3442, Springer (2015).

  • Y.C. Lam and H.Y. Gan, "Chaotic Mixing Based on Viscoelasticity", Encyclopedia of Microfluidics and Nanofluidics, pp. 397-404, Springer (2015).

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Teaching Modules

Engineering Systems, BEng (Hons)

  • SIE3006 - Total Preventive Maintenance (TPM)
  • SIE3010 - Statistical Process Control
  • ENG1010 - Engineering Graphics
  • ESE3106X - Maintenance Engineering
  • ESE2023X - Data Engineering

Aerospace Engineering, BEng (Hons)

  • ENG1010 - Engineering Graphics

Mechanical Design and Manufacturing Engineering, BEng (Hons)

  • ENG1010 - Engineering Graphics

Mechatronics Systems, BEng (Hons)

  • ENG1010 - Engineering Graphics

Aircraft Systems Engineering, BEng (Hons)

  • ENG1010 - Engineering Graphics

Mechanical Engineering, BEng (Hons)

  • ENG1010 - Engineering Graphics

Past

  • PHY250 - Waves, Optics & Thermodynamics
  • SIT3014 - Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics
  • MEC2103 - Concurrent Design and Manufacture
  • MEC3103 - Prodcut Design Engineering 1
  • MNO1106 - Engineering Mathematics and Statistics
  • CE1601/02 - CAD and Technical Drawing
  • SIE1010 - Engineering Design Graphics
  • SIE2007 - Land Transport Discovery Course
  • SIE2008 - Marine Transport Discovery Course
  • SIE2009 - Aerospace Engineering Discovery Course
  • SIE3002 - Group Design Project II
  • SIE4001 - Capstone Project
  • ASE1316 - Engineering Design Graphics
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