Dr Jonathan Leong

Biography

Engineering Solutions and Design Possibilities

I focus on materials- and engineering-driven projects that use structures and machines to lighten everyday burdens. My goal is to create practical engineering solutions that improve mobility, stability, and overall quality of life for individuals and communities in both rural and urban settings. I’m especially interested in design possibilities that advance well-being, inclusiveness, mobility, and community impact. 

This is a new and emerging focus area currently open to creative exploration and the development of future IEx projects!

More about me

I’m a Senior Lecturer at NUS College, and I teach Reasoning with Data (GEA1000N) and Science and Society (NSS2001). I joined NUSC in January 2023 because I love teaching and mentoring students.

I was a pioneering graduate of the NUS–Imperial College London Joint PhD Programme, finishing my PhD in 2013. My research looked at how to optimize friction and lubrication in micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). I used to focus on friction at the nano-scale, but lately I’ve shifted toward education and how thinking and learning happen in the classroom. Right now, I’m excited about building practical frameworks that help skills transfer across contexts and strengthen higher-order thinking.

I enjoy creating mechanical or structural solutions that improve well-being, accessibility, and especially health—and I’m always open to exploring new ideas where I can add value.

Questions? You can find me at jonleong@nus.edu.sg