Get to know our Alfred Werner Scholarship recipients 2024
The Alfred Werner Scholarship Program of the SCS Foundation, financed by private donors and the Swiss chemical and pharmaceutical industries, supports highly talented students who earned their BSc degree abroad and perform their Master’s studies in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or Pharmaceutical Sciences at a Swiss University or Federal Institute of Technology. This year, the committee selected Tudor Lile, Derek Ong Boon Hong, and Leonardo Kudsk Holberg from D-CHAB. Get to know them!
Derek Ong Boon Hong – #renewablepolymers
Hi, my name is Derek Ong. I was born in Malaysia and moved to Singapore at the age of 16. I am currently a first-year Master’s student in Chemistry at ETH Zurich. During my Bachelor’s studies at the National University of Singapore, I had an internship opportunity as a formulation and analytical chemist at Corteva Agriscience. Through this experience, I found that I enjoy seeing my hard work come to fruition as the formulated products progress to field trials and final products.
In my Master’s thesis, I am more focused on pursuing an applied chemistry project, specifically in polymer chemistry. I hope to work on new types of renewable polymers that are recyclable through cheap and sustainable depolymerization methods. My goal is to work as an industrial R&D scientist in the future. Apart from my studies, I am an avid gamer and love watching basketball games. I also enjoy hiking with my friends in the beautiful Swiss Alps. The Alfred Werner scholarship has been a symbol of recognition of my work and a huge financial support to my studies. I hope to meet and connect with more like-minded, motivated, and talented students at ETH Zurich.
Tudor Lile - #biomedicalapplications
My name is Tudor, and I am currently pursuing a Master’s in chemistry at ETH Zurich. I grew up in a small city in Western Romania, where my passion for chemistry was first sparked. During high school, I had the privilege of representing Romania at the International Chemistry Olympiad. After high school, I moved to Germany to complete my Bachelor’s in chemistry at RWTH Aachen. There, I developed a strong interest in biocompatible materials for applications in tissue engineering and drug delivery. My bachelor’s thesis focused on 3D-printable biomaterials for fabricating synthetic skin tissues.
Next to my studies, I was actively involved in teaching activities, including tutoring and redesigning lecture materials, as I deeply value the role of science communication in inspiring others. Outside of university, I enjoy the outdoors, whether hiking in the summer or skiing in the winter. I am honored to be a recipient of the Alfred Werner Scholarship, which has enabled me to study at ETH Zurich. Here, I aim to explore further the interface of chemistry, biology, and engineering, harnessing their synergies for biomedical applications.
Leonardo Kudsk Holberg – #electrochemistry
My name is Leonardo, and I’m from Copenhagen, Denmark, where I completed my Bachelor’s in chemistry. In Zurich, I am pursuing a Master’s in chemistry at D-CHAB. During my undergraduate studies, I came to like electrochemistry, and I appreciate how this field bridges fundamental physical insights with applicability. The latter is especially evident in clean technologies, which have been major drivers of my passion for chemistry. My Bachelor’s thesis, for instance, focused on water splitting.
I’m thrilled to be at ETH, an institution that takes this field seriously, and I look forward to exploring the many opportunities offered here. Besides my studies, I spend quite a bit of my free time with youth politics and advocacy, being involved in issues such as climate and democracy. I think there is value in being the natural scientist in a space often dominated by political scientists. I also enjoy attending concerts and operas. Zürich has proven to be a wonderful city for this. I am grateful to the SCS for choosing me as an Alfred Werner Scholar, and I am honoured to follow in the footsteps of this giant of inorganic chemistry.