CREDIT: NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
EASTWARD BOUND. In its bid to become a major research hub, Singapore has nabbed yet another high-profile Western scientist. Earlier this month, Swedish biochemist Bertil Andersson gave up the post of chief executive of the European Science Foundation (ESF) to become provost at Nanyang Technological University. Andersson, 58, who has served as rector of Linköping University in Sweden and as chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry, says he wanted to "be part of the scientific explosion happening in Asia." He found Nanyang, which has 25,000 students and one of the largest engineering schools in the world, appealing because of its growing investment in facilities and Singapore's rising R&D budget.
As provost, a new position one rung beneath the president, Andersson will be in charge of all academic programs. "But my main mission is to build up top-level research efforts," he says. Andersson's successor at ESF is John Marks, who has served as ESF's director of science and strategy since 2004.
