As a statistician and data scientist with a foundation in statistical inference, I have expanded my expertise in time series and forecasting, mortality modelling, spatial statistics, functional data analysis, Bayesian statistics, machine learning and multivariate statistics through extensive research. I have collaborated with physicists, biologists, computer scientists, and experts from various fields to advance interdisciplinary initiatives. I have also conducted training on applied statistics and time series. Outside academia, I am trained in Indian Carnatic music (National champion), completed Grade 8 Piano from the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music, London, and play various musical instruments. I find a close relationship between being musically inclined and mathematics.

Norrima Mokhtar received the Bachelor of Engineering (B. Eng) degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Malaya in 2000. After working two years with International Telecommunication Industry with attachment at Echo Broadband GmbH, she managed to secure Panasonic Scholarship which required intensive screening at the national level in 2002. She finished her Master of Engineering at Oita University, Japan under financial support received from Panasonic Scholarship in 2006. Consequently, she was appointed as a lecturer to serve the Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Malaya immediately after graduating with her Master of Engineering. As part of her career development, she received SLAB/SLAI scholarship to attain her Ph.D. in 2012. She held several important positions such as Coordinator for Industrial Training, Coordinator for Research Laboratory, Coordinator for EBA-Consortium(Keio University), Coordinator for Nagaoka University of Technology and Coordinator for Manchester Metropolitan University(UK). Dr. Norrima was also the principal investigator for High Impact Research Grant (MOHE) worth of RM 1 million along with Science Fund and CREST grant. She is the author and co-author of more than 50 publications in international journals and proceedings in Sensors, Automation, Image Processing, Human-Computer Interface, Brain-Computer Interface, UAV and Robotics. To date, she had successfully supervised 4 PhD and 4 Master Engineering Science students (by research). She is also active as reviewer for many reputable journals and several international conferences.

Dr. Muhamad Shakirin Mispan is currently a senior lecturer at the Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, teaching BSc courses including Ecology and Management of Weeds, Soil Ecology and Management, and Quantitative Ecology. He also teaches MSc courses including Applied Weed Science, Pest Management in Organic Crops, and Tropical Crop Management. He received a bachelor’s degree (BSc) in Ecology and Biodiversity in 2006 and a master’s degree (MSc) in Biology in 2010 from Universiti Malaya. He is a PhD holder in Biological Sciences from South Dakota State University, USA working on QTL mapping for weedy adaptive traits in rice; haplotype analysis for a major seed dormancy QTL region in rice; and seed longevity and photoperiod sensitivity in weedy rice. His current research focuses are mainly on the ecological genetics of weedy rice focusing on adaptation to various ecological systems, seedbank dynamics and longevity, environmental impact from various weed management, integration of sustainable agriculture for rice production, agroecology, and precision agriculture in rice farming.