About         Research         Publications

About me

I am an interdisciplinary scientist driven by a deep curiosity about the human mind and a passion for translating scientific discovery into real-world solutions. My journey began with a foundation in physics, where I learned to model complex systems, a skill that would later become central to my efforts to decode the intricacies of human behaviour. This curiosity led me to pursue a DPhil and Postdoctoral training in Clinical and Computational Neuroscience, where I explored how brain function gives rise to cognition, emotion and behaviour not just in theory, but in the lived experiences of people navigating health, learning and life.

Today, I lead research that blends neuroscience, psychology and cutting-edge AI/ML technologies to understand and enhance the human experience. My work centres on the science of cognitive processes: how we learn, decide, adapt and regulate ourselves in an ever-changing world. But my ultimate goal is to move beyond understanding and build tools and technologies that improve health outcomes, support lifelong learning and unlock human potential at scale. At the core of my team’s mission is a commitment to scientific rigour, real-world relevance and human-centred innovation. Whether it’s empowering adults to become better learners through metacognitive training, or reimagining developmental screening for autism to make it more accessible and equitable, we aim to turn insights into impact.

Reach me at angys@ihpc.a-star.edu.sg if you want to learn more about our current projects, from metacognitive learning platforms to scalable digital tools for developmental screening.

Experience

• 2024 - present:    Visiting Scientist, Research Division, Institute of Adult Learning, Singapore
• 2023 - present:    Senior Scientist, Social and Cognitive Computing, IHPC, ASTAR, Singapore
• 2020 - 2023:         Scientist, Social and Cognitive Computing, IHPC, ASTAR, Singapore

Education

• 2018 - 2020:         Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard Medical School
• 2014 - 2018:         D.Phil. in Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford
• 2009 - 2013:         B.Sc. in Applied Physics (Top in Class, cGPA 4.99/5.00, Lee Kuan Yew Gold Medal, Koh Boon Hwee Scholar), Nanyang Technological University

Team

• Dr. Gladia Hotan, Research Scientist (A*STAR)
• Mr. Landy Lan, Research Engineer (A*STAR)
• Ms. Clare Tan, Research Engineer (A*STAR)
• Ms. Juanita Ong, Research Assistant (IAL)
• Ms. Sophia Koo, Research Assistant (IAL)

Mentored Students

• Mr. Praveen Suthaharan (Currently doing PhD at Yale)
• Ms. Yanlin Chen (Currently doing BSc at Carnegie Mellon)
• Ms. Cindy J. Pang (Currently doing PhD at UCLA)
• Ms. Nicole Frontero (Currently data analyst in private sector)

Awards / Honours

Mentoring

• 2025: Friends of Beatty Award (Bronze), Beatty Secondary School
• 2023: Inspiring Mentor Award, National University of Singapore High School
• 2022: Inspiring Mentor Award, National University of Singapore High School

Scientific

• 2020: NARSAD Young Investigator Award, Brain and Behavior Research Foundation
• 2019: Kaplen Fellowship, Harvard Medical School
• 2019: Livingston Award, Harvard Medical School
• 2018: Dorris Family Pilot Translational Research Award, McLean Hospital
• 2018: Letter of Commendation for Excellent D.Phil. Thesis, University of Oxford
• 2016: Best student research paper, 5th Annual International Conference on Cognitive and Behavioral Psychology, Singapore
• 2015: 1st Prize, Poster competition, Oxford NDCN Annual Postgraduates Meeting

Academic

• 2014: National Science Scholarship, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
• 2013: Lee Kuan Yew Gold Medal, Nanyang Technological University
• 2013: Koh Boon Hwee Scholars’ Award, Nanyang Technological University
• 2013: Best player award (opposition), International Physicists’ Tournament, Lausanne, Switzerland
• 2013: Dean’s List, Nanyang Technological University
• 2012: College of Science Distinguished Undergraduate Award, Nanyang Technological University
• 2012: Dean’s List, Nanyang Technological University
• 2012: Nanyang President Research Scholar, Nanyang Technological University
• 2011: Dean’s List, Nanyang Technological University
• 2010: Dean’s List, Nanyang Technological University

Key Publications

Google Scholar

• Ang Y-S., Cusin C., Petibon Y. et al. (2022). A multi-pronged investigation of option generation using depression, PET and modafinil. Brain. (Article)

• Ang Y-S., Gelda S., Pizzagalli D.A. (2023). Cognitive effort-based decision making in Major Depressive Disorder. Psychological Medicine. (Article)

• Ang Y-S., Frontero N., Belleau E., Pizzagalli D.A. (2020). Disentangling vulnerability, state and trait features of neurocognitive impairments in depression. Brain. (Article)

• Ang Y-S., Kaiser R., Deckersbach T. et al., Pizzagalli D.A. (2020). Pretreatment reward sensitivity and frontostriatal resting-state functional connectivity are associated with response to bupropion after sertraline non-response. Biological Psychiatry (Editor’s Choice). (Article)

• Ang Y-S.*, Manohar S.*, Plant O. et al., Husain M. (2018). Dopamine modulates option generation for behaviour. Current Biology. (Article)

• Ang Y-S., Bruder G.E., Keilp J.G. et al., Pizzagalli D.A. (2020). An exploration of baseline and early changes in neurocognitive characteristics as predictors of treatment response to bupropion, sertraline and placebo in the EMBARC Clinical Trial. Psychological Medicine. (Article)

• Ang Y-S.*, Lockwood P.*, Apps M.A.J., Muhammed K., Husain M. (2017). Distinct subtypes of apathy revealed by the Apathy Motivation Index. PLoS One. (Article)

News

• 06/24: Dr. Ang and A/Prof Renee Tan (IAL) awarded the MOE Science of Learning Grant for tech-augmented enhancement of metacognition in adult learners
• 04/23: Dr. Ang, Dr. Wong (KKH) and Dr. Lee (Duke-NUS) awarded three-year funding support to develop digital technologies for early screening of ASD in young children
• 04/23: Dr. Ang nominated for the Singapore National Academy of Sciences Young Scientist Award
• 03/23: Dr. Ang selected to attend the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting 2023
• 10/20: Our latest article in Biological Psychiatry gets highlighted as “Editor’s Choice”
• 09/20: Dr. Ang awarded the NARSAD Young Investigator Award
• 06/19: Dr. Ang awarded Kaplen Fellowship in Depression at Harvard Medical School