Andy Tay Kah Ping was selected to receive the first MRS Bulletin Postdoctoral Publication Prize. This award recognizes postdoctoral researchers for their intellectual merit, the impact of their research and scholarship, and their interest in science writing and communications.
Andy was selected from 120 well-qualified applicants and nominations. He is recognized for his combination of outstanding academic credentials, scientific publications, and science communication efforts.
Andy is a postdoctoral researcher in the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Stanford University. His research focuses on the fabrication of microelectrodes for neural recording and also nanostraws for profiling of induced pluripotent stem cells. He has a strong interest in evidence-based science communications, which motivates him to write for an online forum where he explains neuroscience to high school students.
Tay receives the inaugural MRS Bulletin Postdoctoral Publication Prize from MRS President Susan Trolier-McKinstry at the 2017 MRS Fall Meeting.
“I began writing because I wanted a way to explain my work to my parents. When they would come visit my lab, I wanted to give them the full experience, so I would use demonstrations (with videos) and writing to help them understand. People have many ways in which they want to receive information.”
One of the ways Andy is demonstrating neuroscience knowledge is through an interactive exhibit at the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences in Sydney, Australia. “It’s a way that scientists can participate and engage children at a young age,” said Andy. He is observing how visitors receive sensory inputs from the exhibits and how their experiences can be optimized. The display—Learn & Play! teamLab Future Park—is fueled by human interactions. It is composed of light and sound that creates a living ecosystem of animals and plants with digital graffiti that can be used to test the users’ building skills as they design a futuristic town.
Andy is a regular contributor to online columns (Naturejobs blog and Science Working Life), has produced podcasts discussing the importance of materials innovations, and serves as a mentor with the New York Academy of Sciences. He has published more than 20 academic papers (16 as first author), and has given more than 20 talks/poster presentations at international conferences.
When asked what advice he would give to early writers, he had two suggestions:
▪ Do not be afraid of rejection. Use it as a way to improve and learn.
▪ Find a good fit. Research journals that publish information relevant to your fields, and investigate their submission criteria.
The prize consists of a $2000 cash award, a profile published in MRS Bulletin, a complimentary one-year membership in the Materials Research Society, and an invitation to publish in MRS Bulletin. MRS Bulletin acknowledges the Jiang Family Foundation and MTI Corporation for their generous contributions to support this Prize.
