Faces of Duke-NUS: Petersen Sven Hans

If you happen to catch Petersen Sven Hans outside the lab, you are just likely to find him leading a boot camp, running in the park, or watching cartoons with his children after a long day. A regular workout helps him switch off, family outings to the Zoo are a firm favourite, and at home, he and his kids have even hatched their own quails — a hands-on project that surprised more than a few colleagues.

At Duke-NUS, Sven is a Principal Research Scientist with the Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Programme (CSCB). Since joining the school in 2020, he has been deeply involved in advancing research while supporting students and fellow researchers in developing their ideas into robust, publishable work.

Beyond the lab bench, Sven’s role blends hands-on experimental work with project planning, mentoring, and guiding research projects.

In this edition of Faces of Duke-NUS, Sven shares what his role really looks like behind the scenes, the challenges and rewards of cancer and stem cell research, and the routines — both in and out of the lab — that keep him grounded. We sat down with Sven to learn more about the realities of his research journey.
 

What are your main responsibilities as Principal Research Scientist?

I am heavily involved in the day-to-day wet lab work, which includes planning and conducting my own experiments, delegating experiments, supervising students and interns, and analysing or interpreting data. On the other hand, I help to plan new projects, support grant writing and administration, and write research publications.

Sven preparing an iodide uptake assay using a multi-pipette.

What traits do you think are most important when studying cancer and stem cells?

I would say passion is essential. If not, it would be tough to deal with the setbacks and slow progress that science often entail. At the same time, those challenges are also what make science so rewarding when things do come together.  

Sven (top left) with his passionate research team under the supervision of Assistant professor Ann-Marie Chacko (centre)

Are there any ethical considerations that you need to take into account when conducting research?

Absolutely. There can be many, especially when working with viruses or mouse models. Fortunately, we have a very supportive staff who helps us keep track of the necessary approvals and paperwork before projects begin.
 

What are some of the challenges of studying cancer and stem cells?

Beyond ethical considerations, there is constant concern about research funding. Writing grant applications requires a great deal of time and effort, and administrative processes can also be demanding. As a Principal Research Scientist, these challenges are manageable, though they tend to be even harder and more pronounced for group leaders.
 

How do you determine whether your research is ready for publication?

Once we believe our findings are novel and supported by strong, multi-layered evidence, with different experimental approaches pointing to the same conclusions, we will pursue publication.
 

Do you have any goals you hope to achieve for your research?

Within the next year, I hope to pursue more publications and achieve at least one meaningful patent approval.
 

Do you have any advice for readers interested in studying cancer and stem cells?

Do it. And remember that there are many ways to contribute to this field beyond becoming an academic scientist.
 

All photos in this story are copyrighted by Petersen Sven Hans and Duke-NUS.

We’re always on the lookout for stories to tell. Know a colleague we should feature in a future Faces of Duke-NUS spotlight? Drop us a note at communications@duke-nus.edu.sg!