Er Jun Cheng

Er Jun Cheng, PhD, is an accomplished scientist with extensive experience in food safety and exposure assessment. As Specialist Team Lead for Exposure Assessment at the Singapore Food Agency, I have spearheaded the initiation of the Food Consumption Assessment Programme, the “Risk-at-a-Glance” initiative and approaches for total dietary exposure assessments. I have also collaborated with laboratories to develop ISO17025 accredited analytical methods to measure trace levels of chemical contaminants. As SFA’s lead officer for the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food (CCCF), I lead a team to assess the risk and impact of Codex standards for contaminants and represented Singapore to provide national positions at CCCF meetings. I also represent Singapore as the co-focal point and expert in the ASEAN risk assessment centre. As the leader of a multidisciplinary team of esteemed scientists, my current focus is on conducting epidemiological research to assess Singapore residents’ diet and exposure to foodborne hazards to support the development of food safety standards, policies and operation procedures. I am also deeply involved in reviewing safety assessments of novel food products, ensuring that Singaporeans have access to alternative sources of foods without compromising their health and safety. Before joining the Singapore Food Agency, I worked as an analytical scientist in the food safety division of the Health Sciences Authority. I developed new methods and prepared reports for the analysis of foodborne hazards. I was a senior officer at the National Research Foundation, where I co-developed national research strategies in urban mobility, space capacity and the environment. With a Ph.D and B.Sc. (Hons, 1st class) in Chemistry and Life Sciences from the National University of Singapore, I have received recognition for my outstanding research work, including being named valedictorian for my Ph.D class and the recipient of the prestigious Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Prize for my honours thesis. Aside from my professional work, I am a proud father of two daughters and a hobbyist photographer. I am always seeking to collaborate with like-minded individuals who share my passion for ensuring that everyone has access to safe food.