Malaysia

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Sambanthamurthi, Ravigadevi


Current nationality
Malaysia
Current country of residence
Malaysia
Biodata
Sambanthamurthi was the founding director of the Advanced Biotechnology and Breeding Centre at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board. Inducted a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2025, she is also a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, and currently chairs its biological, agricultural, and environmental sciences discipline group. She led the groundbreaking Oil Palm Genome Project, producing the crop’s first publicly available reference genome, published in Nature. This milestone enabled scientific advances, including discovering the SHELL gene, the most important genetic determinant of oil yield. She also uncovered phenolic bioactive compounds in palm oil mill effluent and developed an innovative process for their extraction that led to the establishment of the first production facility in Mexico. She has published three papers in Nature and one in Nature Communications, and is the holder of over 40 patents. Her accolades include: the Malaysian Invention and Design Society Luminary Award, Lifetime Achievement Award from the Oils and Fats Congress 2022, and the Knight of the International Order of Merit of Inventors, from the International Federation of Inventors' Associations.
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Last updated on 12/08/2025

Rahman, Raja Noor Zaliha


Current nationality
Malaysia
Current country of residence
Malaysia
Biodata
Rahman, a professor and researcher at Universiti Putra Malaysia, is recognized internationally for her expertise and pioneering work in microbiology, which led to the naming of a new bacterium, Geobacillus zalihae, in her honor. She has made notable contributions to space research, playing a key role in projects under the Malaysian Space Programme. In collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, she has facilitated the successful delivery of 24 protein samples to KIBO, the Japanese Experiment Module aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Rahman also contributes to higher education quality assurance as a member of the Malaysian Qualifications Agency’s programme evaluation panel, and serves on the council of the Asia Pacific Protein Association. Her work has been recognized with numerous academic honours, including: Top Research Scientist Malaysia, Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, and Knight Degree Conferment from the International Federation of Inventors' Associations.
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Last updated on 12/08/2025

Nathan, Sheila


Current nationality
Malaysia
Current country of residence
Malaysia
Biodata
Nathan earned a PhD in DNA Repair (1989–1993), and a Master of Science with distinction in molecular biology and genetic manipulation (1988–1989) both from University of Sussex, UK, and a Bachelor of Science with first class honours in biochemistry (1984–1988) from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia. Her research focuses on dissecting the pathogenesis of the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei and the host defence against its infection. She has major research collaborations with Stanford University (US), University of Sheffield (UK) and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Saudi Arabia), which have contributed to advance understanding of the bacterium’s virulence and pathogenic mechanisms, as well as the failure of the host immune response. Her findings resulted in the publication of over 150 research papers, review articles, and book chapters, earning her invitations to speak at national and international conferences and review grant applications for funders from Malaysia, UK, Switzerland, Austria, and Italy. She successfully trained over 50 graduate students, and is a regular peer reviewer for international journals in the field.
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Last updated on 26/08/2026

Ibrahim, Rahinah


Current nationality
Malaysia
Current country of residence
Malaysia
Biodata
Ibrahim is a senior professor and former dean of the Faculty of Design and Architecture, at Universiti Putra Malaysia. A Stanford University alumna, she is a design scientist and a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia. She leads the Built Environment and Life (BE-Life) informatics research group, which focuses on innovating products and processes that preserve and enhance the human cultural behavior. Her research expands her doctoral work on discontinuity in organizations beyond property development, applying it to broader societal and environmental challenges. A strong advocate for integrating local traditional knowledge into modern technology and product development, she emphasizes the value of cultural context in innovation. Her transdisciplinary and translational research approaches have led to numerous award-winning inventions that serve vulnerable communities. Notably, the United Nations recognized her work on the ISTP wastewater treatment system as an SDG Good Practice project. Ibrahim is currently a distinguished professor at the Purple Pottery College (formerly the Faculty of Arts), Honghe University, Yunnan Province, China.
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Last updated on 12/08/2025

Aris, Ahmad Zaharin


Current nationality
Malaysia
Current country of residence
Malaysia
Biodata
Aris is a senior professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia. His research focuses on hydrochemistry, environmental chemistry, and environmental forensics—with special emphasis on the development of analytical methods and the identification, behaviour, remediation, and health implications of metals and emerging pollutants in the environment. In recognition of his contributions, he has received numerous awards, including Malaysia Scopus Research Excellence Awards (Groundbreaking Contributions) 2024 and Malaysia Winner for ASPIRE - APEC Science Prize for Innovation, Research, and Education (2022, 2019). His pioneering work has shaped environmental policies and guidelines both at national and international level, in areas related to water quality, public health, and environmental forensics. Zaharin leads multidisciplinary research initiatives and environmental translational research, working closely with policymakers to turn scientific findings into outcomes through public engagement. He also serves actively as an advisor, chair, and member of various governmental and private-sector committees at local and international levels.
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Last updated on 12/08/2025

Bin Abdul Rahman, Mohd Basyaruddin


Current nationality
Malaysia
Current country of residence
Malaysia
Biodata
Bin Abdul Rahman is a senior professor of chemistry at Universiti Putra Malaysia, who was appointed as a distinguished visiting scholar at the University of California, Berkeley. He received his PhD in catalysis chemistry (at Southampton University) and was a post-doctoral Fellow in structural biology (Edinburgh University). He has secured more than 32 million Malaysian Ringgit worth of research grants worldwide in biocatalysis, computational chemistry and nanodelivery. Additionally he has published more than 300 papers, presented over 450 papers, graduated more than 80 postgraduates. To his credit he also more than 25 patents and more than 100 awards. He has received recognitions as a young scientist from international bodies and was named the Face of Science at Malaysia for his contribution to engaging youth in science. He was the founding chairman of the Malaysian Young Scientists Network and held positions like deanship and directorship at various institutions. He is currently the chair of ISTIC-UNESCO governing board, and coordinates and mentors in professional academic training, and in STEM and sustainability outreach activities nationwide and globally.
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ADDRESS
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
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Last updated on 12/08/2025

New, Siu Yee

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Current nationality
Malaysia
Current country of residence
Malaysia
Biodata
New is an associate professor with the School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM). She obtained a Bachelor of Science (Hon.) in industrial chemistry from the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, and earned her PhD degree from the National University of Singapore. She then worked as a research scientist at the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, A*Star, Singapore before taking up her current job at UNM. Her main research interest is in developing DNA-based nanosensors to detect different analytes, such as cancer biomarkers and viral DNA. With computational aid, her group designs DNA probes using simulation algorithm, and then tests them at the bench. Such an approach has reduced random ill-attempts and overall costs, easing sensors customization for different types of targets. She was a Highly Commended Finalist of Women of the Future Southeast Asia, Science, Technology & Digital Category (2020), and received the L’Oréal-UNESCO Fellowship for Women in Science (2021). New is a Young Scientist Network-Academy Science Malaysia affiliate, a member of the Malaysian Institute of Chemistry and of the Committee of Royal Society of Chemistry Malaysia Chapter.
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ADDRESS
School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia
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Last updated on 05/05/2025

Sekaran, Shamala Devi

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Current nationality
Malaysia
Current country of residence
Malaysia
Biodata
Sekaran, Research Associate at UCSI Hospital, is a Fellow of the Academy of Science Malaysia (since 2017) and of the Royal Society of Pathologists, London (since 2019). Her main expertise is in infectious diseases, with more than 270 published papers, over 6,000 WoS citations, and a h-index of 42. To date, 24 Masters and 23 PhDs have graduated under her supervision. The main areas of investigation are on Dengue and other infectious organisms. She has received multiple awards for kits developed, owns more than 20 patents, and was awarded Woman Bioinnovator of the year (2008) and 'Anugerah Innovasi Negara 2009 for Molecular Diagnostics of Dengue Infections'. She investigates the effects of diabetes and obesity on severe dengue, setting up serological assays to differentiate flaviviruses and vaccine development. Recently, she ventured into stem cells for regenerative medicine. She directed the WHO collaborating centre (2003–2007), a member of the faculty committee for postgraduate degrees, counsellor and coordinator for various degree programmes. Sekaran was also the head of the virology diagnostic laboratory at the University Malaya Medical Centre (2001–2007).
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PHONE
(+60 1) 2225-3292
ADDRESS
17 Jalan 10/10F, 46000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
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Last updated on 12/09/2025

Salit, Mohd Sapuan


Current nationality
Malaysia
Current country of residence
Malaysia
Biodata
Salit is a professor (Grade A) of composite materials at the Department of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). He earned a BEng in mechanical engineering at University of Newcastle, Australia, a Master of Science in engineering design at Loughborough University (UK), and a PhD in material engineering at De Montfort University (UK). He is a professional engineer, and Fellow of the Society of Automotive Engineers International, Academy of Sciences Malaysia, The World Academy of Sciences, International Academy of Bionic Science, International Artificial Intelligence Industry Alliance, International Society for Development and Sustainability, Plastic & Rubber Institute Malaysia, Malaysian Scientific Association, and Institute of Material Malaysia. He is an honorary member of the Asian Polymer Association and founding chairman and honorary member of the Society of Sugar Palm Development & Industry, Malaysia. He was the recipient of a TWAS Award in engineering sciences, and of the William Johnson International Gold Medal.
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Last updated on 11/08/2025
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