NUHA KUNG
BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES & BIOBUSINESS
In Primary Three, Nuha Kung learnt to grow beansprouts with cotton wool and water, a science experiment conducted by generations of primary school students worldwide. That triggered her passion for biological sciences. Also around then, she started selling cute keychains and figurines to classmates for fun and to earn extra pocket money. That made her realise she had a knack for entrepreneurship.
These early experiences set the stage for Nuha to read a double major in Biomedical Sciences and BioBusiness at NTU. It is a unique combination only available at NTU, reinforcing the university’s innovative offerings in education.
Nuha is “truly enjoying a holistic education”, a hallmark of NTU. There is study-life balance and now, in her second year, she is stretching herself as the Director of a college community project.
“That sounds like a grand title, but it is not such a big project. Our primary focus is on our studies, but we also want to give back to society. NTU has instilled in us a sense of leadership, encouraging us to take on responsibilities,” says Nuha.
The project embodies NTU’s culture of providing platforms for students to care for others. It offers free tuition to underprivileged pupils and organises tours for primary and secondary school students to visit NTU’s science facilities.
“Community work isn’t just about helping others. It also helps you to expand your social outreach. This is important for entrepreneurship if I decide to take that path,” she says.
“Studying at NTU broadens your perspective. You are encouraged to acquire as many life skills as possible because such skills may serve you well after you graduate.”
BioBusiness, a relatively new discipline, explores the frontiers of drugs, medical devices, agriculture technology and healthcare. Nuha is fascinated by that and looks forward to her third-year internship, ideally with a company doing healthcare for the aged – an area aligned with her passion for community work.
Of mixed Malay-Chinese parentage, she speaks of having a “hybrid vigour” to explore new things. Biomedical research, she says excitedly, is like an advanced stage of growing beansprouts in a sophisticated NTU lab. She adds: “There’s a good balance between guidance from professors and independent work, with your seniors helping you navigate complex research assignments.”
After her A-levels, Nuha did voluntary work for two years. “The guys do two years of National Service. I also did my part for society. I didn’t choose my double major on a whim, I had two years to think about it. Some friends asked about the supposedly ‘weird’ combination of Biomedical Sciences and BioBusiness. There are only 16 students in my cohort. It’s quite niche and I like it that way.”
Beyond juggling her double major and helping the community, Nuha found time to earn a lifesaving certificate in NTU.
Another motivation for choosing the double major is eligibility for the four-year NTU-Duke-NUS medicine pathway after graduation. “This postgraduate programme aims to train doctors with other skills. I don’t mind taking the longer route to my destination. After all, I took two gap years before joining NTU,” she says.
Nuha has yet to decide between becoming a doctor or a biomedical businesswoman, but her big heart and community outlook will serve her well whichever path she chooses.
This story was published in the Jan-Feb 2025 issue of HEY!. To read it and other stories from this issue in print, click here.
