Researcher

Malini Olivo is a Distinguished Principal Scientist at A*STAR Skin Research Labs (A*STAR SRL) where she leads the Translational Biophotonics Laboratory. Concurrently, she is also an Adjunct Professor at the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, NTU; Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, National University Health System, NUS, Singapore; and Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, Dublin, Ireland. She obtained a PhD degree in Bio-Medical Physics in 1990 from University Malaya/University College London (UCL) and did her post-doctoral training between 1991 and 1995 at UCL, UK and both McMaster University and University of Toronto, Canada. Her current research interest is in medtech and nano-biophotonics and its applications in translational medicine. Her efforts include bridging the gap between cutting edge optical technologies and unmet clinical needs by developing in-house photonics-based devices for various industries.

She has succeeded in obtaining competitive research funding of over USD 35 million to support her research in Singapore and overseas. She has published over 500 papers, three books and 20 book chapters, and filed close to 75 patents on technology platforms and devices. She is also the co- founder of three medtech companies. Furthermore, she holds many advisory international roles and is well recognised internationally for her research in biophotonics for her pioneering research contributions. She has conferred as the Fellow of Optical Society of America (OSA), Fellow of American Institute of Medical Bioengineering (AIMBE),Fellow of Institute of Physics, UK and Fellow of Singapore National Academy of Science (SNAS). She is also the winner of Singapore President’s Technology Award (PTA) in 2024.