Edward is an assistant professor in Physical Geography at NIE and ASE, and a Principal Investigator (PI) at the Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS), Nanyang Technological University, where he is developing a river research program entitled Tropical Rivers in the Anthropocene. His research investigates the tropical rivers processes and how they interacts with human activities and natural disasters. Edward’s work is strongly based on geospatial technologies, hydrological modeling, in addition to traditional field surveys.

He has won several prestigious awards such as National Science Foundation’s DDRIG, AAG’s Gordon Reds Wolman award, and Nanyang Research Award (Young Investigator). He is currently a Principal Investigator (PI) of seven projects including the “Environmental Impacts in the Mekong Delta (MOE Tier2)”, "Sand mining in Southeast Asia (MOE Tier2)" and the "Climate Transformation Program (MOE Tier3)". His research has been published in prestigious journals including Remote Sensing of Environment, Water Resources Research, Science of the Total Environment, Journal of Hydrology, and Nature. Widely cited in the field of river hydrology and human impacts, he was recognized in the top 2% of scientists worldwide by Stanford University in 2023.

He is currently the national representative for the International Association for Geomorphologists (IAG) and the executive committee member of the Association of Singapore Teachers (AST).

He is also an associate editor for Journal of Hydrology, and the editorial board member of Geomorphology, Science of the Total Environment and Journal of Environmental Management.

Edward has received PhD from the University of Texas at Austin, and BA from the Ohio State University.