ASSOCIATE PROF. DR. LOW VAN LUN

Lucas Low VL received his bachelor’ degree in Biodiversity Management with first-class honours from the Universiti Malaysia Terengganu in 2010. He then earned his PhD with ‘distinction thesis’ from the University of Malaya (UM) in 2013, for his studies on the molecular and biochemical basis of insecticide resistance in medically important group of mosquitoes. Currently, he is the Executive Director and an associate professor at Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre (TIDREC), a Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE) in Malaysia. His current research interests include insect vectors of medical-veterinary importance such as mosquitoes, flies, ticks, fleas, lice and mites; and their associated infectious disease agents. In his scientific career, he has been fortunate to work under the mentorship of the world-renowned black fly taxonomist, Prof. Emeritus Dr. Hiroyuki Takaoka for the discovery of new species and taxonomic classification of black flies in the Oriental region. At present, he owned taxonomic authorities for 11 new species of black flies discovered in Southeast Asia. In recognition of his research excellence in vector-borne diseases, and significant advancement in molecular phylogenetics and systematics of black flies, two new species of black flies Simulium vanluni from Malaysia, and Simulium lowi from Vietnam were named after him in 2017. In March 2020, he organized and chaired the 3rd Asian Simuliidae Symposium which was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. His expertise in the field of insecticide resistance is recognized by the Malaysian Ministry of Health. He has been appointed as a member of the Technical Working Committee for Insecticide Resistance, which aims to provide mitigation plans against insecticide resistance issue throughout the country. He was also appointed as a consultant for testing commercial mosquito repellent products in a private company. His reputation has convinced local and international funders. Notably, he is the principal investigator for the Tick Cell Biobank Asia Outpost project funded by the prestigious research foundation, Wellcome Trust (2022-2026). The Asia Outpost (the only one in Asia) provides insect cell line resources and training to fellow researchers in Asia. His role is important in increasing regional capacity in the implementation of research in tick-borne diseases. He is also the principal investigator of the black fly DNA barcode project in Southeast Asia funded by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, Denmark (2021-2023). His role is to establish and strengthen black fly biodiversity information facilities and increase the capacity of researchers in Asia in accessing data needed for biodiversity management. He has strong research networks in both local and international institutions and has authored more than 180 articles in ISI-indexed journals. He has been a reviewer of several world-leading scientific journals. He is an Associate Editor of Tropical Biomedicine and a Section Editor of Parasitology Research, both of which are the WoS indexed journals. He is an active member of the Malaysian Society of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine (MSPTM). Currently, he serves as the President for the society.  He shows high commitment in educational activities, as well social responsibility in increasing the level of public awareness of vector-borne diseases. He is involved in various talks to raise awareness among students, Orang Asli, pet owners and the general public at disease outbreak areas. He is also a facilitator in the development of national biosafety and biosecurity policies and guidelines. Since 2018, 3 Masters and 7 PhD students have successfully completed their studies under his supervision. A total of 3 Masters and 5 PhD students are still under his supervision. He received the Certificate of Excellent Service in 2018 and the Excellence Service Award in 2019 from Universiti Malaya. In 2020, he was awarded the Nadchatram Medal in recognition of his outstanding contributions to parasitology and tropical medicine. He is also listed among the world’s top 2% scientists in the field of tropical medicine (2025).  

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MADAM NUR FITRI BINTI YUSOFF

Nur Fitri binti Yusoff memperoleh Ijazah Sarjana Muda Syariah (al-Fiqh dan Usul al-Fiqh) dari Universiti Al-Albayt, Jordan pada tahun 2018. Seterusnya, beliau melanjutkan pengajian dalam Diploma Pascasiswazah Pendidikan (Pendidikan Islam) di Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) pada tahun 2022 dan berjaya menamatkannya pada tahun 2023. Semasa menuntut di Jordan, beliau diberikan amanah dan tanggungjawab sebagai Timbalan Bendahari dan Ahli Majlis Tertinggi, Persatuan Mahasiswa Malaysia Universiti Al-Albayt (PRISMA). Dalam peranan ini, beliau terlibat aktif dalam pelbagai program yang dianjurkan oleh persatuan, memberikan beliau pengalaman berharga dalam pengurusan dan kepimpinan. Selepas kembali ke Malaysia, beliau berkhidmat dalam pelbagai peranan berkaitan pendidikan. Antaranya, beliau pernah menjadi Guru Kelas al-Quran dan Fardu Ain (KAFA) di bawah Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor, guru ganti Pendidikan Islam di bawah Pejabat Pendidikan Daerah Seremban, dan pernah bertugas sebagai Guru KAFA di bawah Jabatan Hal Ehwal Agama Islam Negeri Sembilan. Dengan latar belakang akademik dan pengalaman yang ada, beliau kini bertugas sebagai Pegawai Perkhidmatan Pendidikan di Akademi Pengajian Islam Universiti Malaya, Pusat Pendidikan Universiti Malaya (UMEC), Bachok, Kelantan (Oktober 2024-kini).

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DR. UMAR HAKIM BIN MOHD HASRI

Dr. Umar Hakim Mohd Hasri is a Senior Lecturer in Media and Communication Studies at Universiti Malaya. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Media Arts and Technology from Rochester Institute of Technology, New York, USA, and earned both his Master's and PhD in Media and Communication Studies through research at Universiti Malaya, completing his doctoral degree with the notable Graduate-On-Time (GOT) award in 2024. Dr. Umar’s research focuses on transmedia storytelling, with a particular interest in the Malaysian animation industry. His recent work explores how the BoBoiBoy and Ejen Ali franchise utilizes cross-platform storytelling to create immersive and complex narrative universes. He has published in high-impact journals indexed by both WoS and Scopus, including Media International Australia, Atlantic Journal of Communication, Communication and Research Practice, and Malaysian Journal of Communication (Jurnal Komunikasi). He has extensive teaching experience, leading courses in Multimedia Production, Screenwriting, Media and Society, Research Methodology, and Introduction to Social Sciences at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. His teaching philosophy emphasizes creative exploration and critical engagement, inspiring students to produce innovative media projects. In addition to his academic roles, Dr. Umar previously worked at Universiti Malaya Press for nearly four years, serving as a Project Officer. He played a key role in several digital transformation projects, including implementing database asset management systems to handle and secure large media assets, leading digital book conversion and management initiatives, and digitalizing management processes and filings. His expertise extends to event management, media representation, and strategic communication. Dr. Umar’s current research interests center on uncovering effective strategies in communication through immersive technology, transmedia storytelling, and digital transformation. His work focuses on how these approaches can drive economic advantages in local markets and create pathways for expansion into international trade. While grounded in media and communication studies, his research aims to bridge innovative storytelling techniques with strategic digital practices, empowering media organizations to enhance their global competitiveness.

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