Liu was awarded the 2024 President’s Science Award for her discovery of the role of carbazole isomers in room temperature phosphorescence of carbazole and subsequent revelation of the transformative impact of isostructural doping on the optical properties of organic semiconductors, opening new avenues of study and application. She specializes in bringing organic semiconductors into aqueous media, with a focus on the exploration of their unique applications in biomedical research, security and electronic devices.

In recent years, she has worked on biocompatible luminogens that serve as highly sensitive light-up molecular probes and nanoparticle probes, opening up new horizons for non-invasive tracking of analytes and biological processes in real time. Liu is also passionate about nurturing the next generation research leaders and encouraging more women to pursue careers in engineering and science.

(Photo: National University of Singapore)