Meet the Scientist

Prof. Sudesh Kumar (PhD, RIKEN Institute & Saitama University, Japan) is a Professor of Microbiology and Biotechnology at the School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). His specialisation is in the field of microbiology, genetics and polymer chemistry of microbial polyesters (bioplastics). Prof. Sudesh has published more than 90 original research articles, two books, four patents, with more than ten PhD students graduated under his supervision, and he was awarded with multiple national and international grants. He is currently a RIKEN1 programme coordinator in USM. In this interview, we gain insights into his humble academic path to becoming an established scientist in biomaterials research.

Datuk Dr. Mazlan Othman is Malaysia’s first astrophysicist. She was the founding director of Angkasa, the Malaysian National Space Agency, and has played an instrumental role in sending our first Malaysian astronaut to space. She is currently serving as Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and Deputy Director-General of the UN office in Vienna. In a recent interview with Scientific Malaysian, she provided us with a privileged insight into her work and passion for the space sciences.

In 2012, Tan Sri Prof Ong was given the Merdeka Award in recognition for his “outstanding contribution to the research and development of the chemistry and technology of palm oil and for his significant role in advocating and promoting Malaysian palm oil industry to the world”. To date, Tan Sri Prof Ong is still actively involved in scientific non-government organisations, including the Malaysian Invention and Design Society (MINDS), which he founded in 1986.

A chemist by training, but an ‘engineer’ in practice – such is the description that the SciMy team would like to tag on Prof. Norita Mohamed. With a good grasp of chemistry fundamentals, the chemist in her sets out to solve problems that have plagued two sectors, namely the waste environment and the chemistry education system. In a recent interview with the SciMy team, Prof. Norita elaborates on her research at removing/recovering heavy metals from the environment, as well as her involvement in improving the teaching of chemistry at the secondary and tertiary levels. Interview by Dr. Hooi-Ling Lee and Dr. Valerie Soo.

Professor Meharvan Singh – fondly known as “Sonny” – is a Texas-based neuroscientist with family roots in Kuala Lumpur. He studies how hormones (such as estrogen, progesterone and testosterone) affect brain functions, and how these hormones, or the lack of them, influence brain aging as well as the vulnerability of the brain to neurodegenerative conditions (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease) and certain brain cancers (e.g. glioblastoma). After being invited to serve the SciMy Advisory Board, Sonny recently shared his thoughts on science (and life!) in our inaugural live web interview session on March 2, 2013. Interview by Dr. Valerie Soo.

Dr Sonia Ortega, a Program Director at the US National Science Foundation (NSF) spoke to SciMy about her views on science education and her involvement with Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) in her 2-month working visit to Malaysia. We received an introduction to the life of a woman whose dedication to science is undeniable. Interview by Victor Tan and Xander Chong.

SciMy speaks to Prof Sheila Nathan. the Director of the Comparative Genomics and Genetics Research Centre at the Malaysia Genome Institute (GENOM Malaysia).