Nanyang Technological University (NTU) announced that 2025 Nobel Chemistry laureate Susumu Kitagawa has joined its School of Materials Science and Engineering as a visiting professor. He will focus on using artificial intelligence and automated experiments to discover new advanced materials, a move that could reshape how scientists work.

Metal‑organic frameworks (MOFs) are materials with tiny pores that can trap, store and release molecules. They are already used for water extraction, carbon‑dioxide capture, hydrogen storage and pollutant removal.

NTU’s MOITAI platform brings together generative AI, robotic experiment stations and real‑time measurement tools. The system is designed to quickly identify promising material candidates and test them without manual intervention, making the research cycle far more efficient.

Kitagawa will collaborate with professors Alex Yan and Wu Dongshuang to explore how AI can accelerate the discovery and development of MOFs. Their work is part of Singapore’s S$120 million (US$94 million) AI‑for‑Science initiative, which aims to speed up scientific discoveries through artificial intelligence and automation.

The combination of AI, robotics and instant data in MOITAI demonstrates that advanced materials can be designed and validated much faster than before. This approach highlights a new research model that could influence future scientific careers and technology development.