"The Scholarship from CTCI Foundation” held an award ceremony on December 23, 2023. This year's scholarship included four categories: Research Scholarship, Creative Scholarship, Overseas Student Research Scholarship, and Overseas Student Living Assistance Scholarship. The scholarship has been named after renowned figures in science, research, and finance such as Yuan-Tseh Lee, Ching-Wu Chu, and Kuo-Ting Lee. It aims to encourage domestic outstanding students' interest in academic research, cultivate talents in science and technology research, and assist foreign students in smoothly completing their postgraduate studies in science and engineering-related fields. It has a history of 61 years since its establishment in 1963.

This year, Taiwan Tech achieved remarkable success in the CTCI Foundation’s Scholarship. Four domestic students were honored with the “Research Scholarship”, while four international students excelled, receiving the “Overseas Student Research Scholarship”. These outstanding recipients are Andromeda Dwi Laksono, Owen Setiawan, Livy Laysandra from Indonesia, and Jose Jaena Mari Ople from the Philippines.

Andromeda Dwi Laksono is pursuing a Ph.D. in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. He came to Taiwan in 2016 for his master's degree, and then returned to Indonesia after graduation to work as a university lecturer, and came back to Taiwan in 2021 to pursue his doctoral studies. During his time here, he participated in the Administration for Digital Industries of the Ministry of Digital Affairs' “DIGI + and Talent Circulation Alliance” and interned at the Textile Industry Research Institute. His team secured first place in their presentation on “devices that can interact with virtual idols”. His research focuses on the dissolution behavior of materials like tin and SAC305 lead-free alloys during soldering to find the most suitable metal for electronic packaging. Being a Muslim, he faces differences in prayer and diet due to Taiwanese culture compared to his home country. He expresses deep gratitude to his advisor, Prof. Yee-Wen Yen, and his fellow lab mates for their support in helping him adapt to his new life.

Andromeda Dwi Laksono, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, is researching soldering materials for electronic packaging. On the desk in his research laboratory hangs an arts and crafts piece made by his 5-year-old son who resides in Indonesia.

Owen Setiawan, a Ph.D. student at the Graduate Institute of Applied Science and Technology, specializes in membrane technology for filtration purposes. He has made significant strides in his research, publishing two papers as the first author and being listed as a co-author in ten other papers. His studies focus on filtration systems for the textile industry, aiming to treat wastewater contaminated with dyes and salts for recycling. Additionally, he concentrates on a technique to separate salts and metal ions from seawater, not only alleviating water scarcity issues but also yielding metal ions applicable to electronic products such as lithium batteries. He expresses special gratitude to his supervising professors, Dr. Tai-Shung Chung and Dr. Wei-Song Hong, for their guidance and the camaraderie among his fellow lab mates. Three individuals from the Graduate Institute of Applied Science and Technology received the CTCI Foundation’s Scholarship this year. Beyond his academic pursuits, he actively participates in public affairs and has served as a committee member of the Indonesian Student Association at Taiwan Tech.

Owen Setiawan, a Ph.D. student at the Graduate Institute of Applied Science and Technology, is from Indonesia and specializes in membrane technology for filtration systems. He has published more than ten research papers.

Livy Laysandra, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemical Engineering, focuses on the design and application of self-crosslinking elastic polymers for self-repairing capabilities. In her recent research, she conducted tests on various rubber materials, aiming to identify the most effective self-repairing material. This innovative approach not only applies to conventional rubber products but also holds potential for wearable electronic devices. She expresses special gratitude to her laboratory peers for their mutual support and acknowledges the encouragement from her advisor, Professor Yu-Cheng Chiu, to explore diverse avenues, including industry collaborations, interdisciplinary research across universities, and even participating as an exchange student at the Tokyo Institute of Technology in Japan. Despite her shy nature, she aspires to become a professor in the future. Consequently, she continuously works on improving her verbal communication skills by actively participating in seminars and practicing presentations. Livy mentioned her openness to collaboration with fellow students in research or offering advice for scholarship applications, welcoming anyone to reach out to her for assistance.

Owen Setiawan, a Ph.D. student at the Graduate Institute of Applied Science and Technology, originates from Indonesia and specializes in membrane technology for filtration systems. He has published more than ten research papers.

Jose Jaena Mari Ople is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering. During his undergraduate studies, he participated in Taiwan Tech's dual-degree program, where he was exposed to research related to machine learning. This exposure sparked his interest, leading him to pursue further studies in this field. He was involved in collaborative projects between Taiwan and the Philippines. This year, he published research in an IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) journal on the applicability of his work in “Collaborative Intelligent Transportation Systems”. His research focuses on compressing image analysis models of pedestrians, vehicles, and road conditions to specific sizes to ensure the stable operation of the system. Presently, he is dedicated to studying AI for object counting. He aims to develop an AI system capable of identifying and counting objects accurately by inputting their names and visual descriptions. He expresses gratitude to his advisor, Professor Kai-Lung Hua, for allowing him the freedom to choose research topics of interest and for providing support in writing skills and experimental resources.

Jose Jaena Mari Ople, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, specializes in machine learning and has engaged in collaborative research involving his home country, the Philippines.

The complete list of winners from Taiwan Tech is as follows: Chiu-Chen Chen from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yan-Feng Chen from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsung-Han Huang from the Graduate Institute of Applied Science and Technology, and Shih-Kai Chiang from the Department of Chemical Engineering received Research Scholarships worth 150,000 NT dollars each. Additionally, Andromeda Dwi Laksono from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (Indonesia), Jose Jaena Mari Ople from the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering (Philippines), Livy Laysandra from the Department of Chemical Engineering (Indonesia), and Owen Setiawan from the Graduate Institute of Applied Science and Technology (Indonesia) were awarded Overseas Student Research Scholarships worth 150,000 NT dollars each. Beshahwored Siyum Shewakena from the Graduate Institute of Applied Science and Technology (Ethiopia), Moh Nur Sholeh from the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering (Indonesia), and Shikha Sakalley from the Department of Mechanical Engineering (India) received Overseas Student Living Assistance Scholarships worth 100,000 NT dollars each.

Taiwan Tech has awarded Research Scholarships to four domestic students, namely: Chiu-Chen Chen from the Department of Mechanical Engineering (second from the right), Yan-Feng Chen from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (second from the left), Tsung-Han Huang from the Graduate Institute of Applied Science and Technology (first from the left), and Shih-Kai Chiang from the Department of Chemical Engineering (third from the left). The associate professor, Hsiu-Yang Tseng, seen on the first from the right, is the advisor of Chiu-Chen Chen.

Beshahwored Siyum Shewakena (first from the left), an Ethiopian student from the Graduate Institute of Applied Science and Technology of Taiwan Tech, has been awarded the Overseas Student Living Assistance Scholarship.

Moh Nur Sholeh from Indonesia (first from the left), a student from the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, Taiwan Tech has been awarded the Overseas Student Living Assistance Scholarship.

Shikha Sakalley from India (first from the left), studying in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Taiwan Tech, has been awarded the Overseas Student Living Assistance Scholarship.