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Most people take four years to complete their bachelor’s degree and another five years to get a doctorate. But Military Expert 4 (Apprentice) (ME4A) Matthew Lau has set his sights on a more ambitious goal: acquiring both degrees in five years combined.
Under The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Scholarship, the 23-year-old is working towards his bachelor of science in mathematics, plus a doctoral degree in computer science.
Come August this year, he hopes to finish his PhD at Georgia Institute of Technology in the United States – an extraordinary achievement, given that it usually takes about five years to complete a doctoral programme alone.
ME4A Lau is the 24-year-old senior military expert with the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) – the fourth Service of the SAF which was set up in 2022 to build up Singapore’s digital defence.
Calling his PhD “a precious opportunity”, the SAF scholar’s thesis delves into how and why machine learning (ML) fails and the ways to safeguard against such failures. Artificial intelligence (AI) and ML, when deployed in the future, can complement military decision making and act as force multipliers for the SAF.
“Technology can change the way we fight. Increasing the reliability of AI and ML is especially important in the context of defence,” he says, explaining that any piece of wrong information provided by AI can potentially affect a mission.
“In addition, with declining birth rates, we will also see more uses of tech to augment and assist manpower.”
Joining the DIS was a natural step for ME4A Lau because, with it being a fairly new Service, there are opportunities for exploration as it looks to strengthen and expand its capabilities.
“At the DIS, there is definitely room for growth and new ideas. It’s very exciting to be part of this – just like being at a start-up,” he says. “I believe that my education has not only taught me specific skills in math and computer science but also a way to understand and approach new technologies.”
This way, he would be able to use his expertise in ML and AI to help the organisation embark on novel projects and develop tailored solutions for specific challenges.
At the same time, his PhD has also equipped him with critical thinking skills as well as the ability to tackle problems from various perspectives.
“In a new organisation like DIS, there are a lot of potential ideas. Critical thinking can help us decide which is the most important one and what the key insights are,” says ME4A Lau.
He also likes the collaborative way of working at the DIS, having sampled the DIS culture during his vacation attachments (VAs) to the SAF C4 Command/Cybersecurity Task Force and the SAF Computer Vision Unit.
“My colleagues were a lot more knowledgeable than me and I was very humbled that they were all very patient in teaching me both technical skills and also how to have fun,” he says.
The experience gained during his VAs gave him a clearer direction on how he intends to navigate his career path upon graduation. “It is apparent to me that being technically grounded is something I want to pursue because it sharpens my brain in critical thinking and also allows me to see through fluff straight to the substance,” he notes.
Interacting with members of the DIS team also gave him opportunities to meet people from different walks of life – something that he is grateful for.
“Before university, I was very focused on myself. What has changed is that I now realise how important developing relationships is,” he says.
He realises that it sometimes takes more than individual brilliance and requires him to work closely with friends and colleagues to develop solutions.
“Technology can change the way we fight. Increasing the reliability of AI and ML is especially important in the context of defence.”
– Military Expert 4 (Apprentice) Matthew Lau, recipient of The SAF Scholarship
It is also at the DIS where he met his mentor in the SAF during his first VA.
“He was someone I aspired to be – being technically grounded but also an effective leader. He also looked out for me, making me feel welcome into the community,” says ME4A Lau, who adds that he is thankful to his mentor showing him the ropes and teaching him life lessons.
As ME4A Lau prepares to defend his PhD thesis in 2025, he knows a new adventure awaits him when he returns to Singapore later this year.
He says: “I hope to be part of the team that envisions and leads the technological development in Mindef and Singapore so that we can better defend our home as threats and warfare take on new shapes. Being part of the effort that contributes to helping Singapore flourish is meaningful to me.”
| About MINDEF/SAF Scholarships The mission of MINDEF and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is to enhance Singapore’s peace and security through deterrence and diplomacy, and should these fail, to secure a swift and decisive victory over the aggressor. MINDEF/SAF continually seeks talent who are willing to take up the challenge of defending our nation. Taking up a MINDEF/SAF scholarship is a lifelong mission to contribute to the peace and security of Singapore. Answer the higher calling. Defend what matters. |
This article is brought to you by the Ministry of Defence.
