Dr. Muhamad Afiq Aziz is a senior lecturer and programme coordinator in the Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Programme at the Institute of Biological Sciences, Universiti Malaya. He is an internationally trained microbiologist and virologist whose research focuses on infectious diseases, host-pathogen interactions, environmental surveillance and microbial genomics.

He obtained his MSc in Genetic Manipulation and Molecular Cell Biology from the University of Sussex, United Kingdom, and subsequently completed his PhD in Infection and Immunology at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. Following his doctoral training, he was appointed as a postdoctoral scientist at the prestigious MRC Centre for Virus Research, University of Glasgow, where he investigated antiviral host defence mechanisms and virus-host interactions.

Dr. Afiq's research has contributed to the understanding of innate antiviral immunity, particularly in HIV and emerging viral infections. His work has generated important insights into virus host interactions, antiviral defence mechanisms and disease surveillance. His current research integrates virology, pathogen surveillance, wastewater-based epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance, environmental DNA technologies and genomic approaches to address emerging challenges in public health and environmental sustainability.

Since joining Universiti Malaya in 2020, he has successfully secured competitive national and industry-funded research grants as Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator. He actively collaborates with researchers across Asia and Europe and has established multidisciplinary research networks in infectious diseases, pathogen surveillance, environmental genomics and public health.

His contributions have been recognised through several prestigious awards and fellowships, including the ASEAN India Research and Training Fellowship, the Asian Universities Alliance Scholars (AUA) Award and the Universiti Malaya Excellent Service Award. Through innovative research and international collaboration, Dr. Afiq continues to advance scientific knowledge and develop impactful solutions for emerging infectious diseases, environmental sustainability and public health.