ASSOCIATE PROF. DR. SAREENA HANIM BINTI HAMZAH

Dr. Sareena Hanim Hamzah is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Science, Universiti Malaya for over 20 years and currently she serves in an administrative role as Deputy Dean of Higher Degree, Research and Innovation. Dr Sareena completed a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur. Then she studied at University of Glasgow, Scotland where she obtained her Master of Medical Sciences in Human Nutrition and PhD in Sports Nutrition. Dr. Sareena teaches and researches within the area of Sports Nutrition and Biochemistry of Exercise. Her primary interest concerns the association of nutrition with health, fitness and exercise performance. Dr. Sareena’s research is focused on the influence of diet on exercise energy metabolism and sports performance as well as on body weight management. Her research interest also includes the effects of natural products on antioxidant activity and oxidative stress. Dr. Sareena has been invited as keynote and guess speaker at various conferences, congresses and seminars, both locally and internationally. She also serves as an editorial board of international journals and has been appointed as an Executive Committee member of Asian Nutrition Society of Sports and Health (2015 to present).

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DR. SHARIFAH AYESHAH BINTI SYED MOHD NOORI

I'm a Senior Lecturer at the English Language Department, Faculty of Languages and Linguistics. After more than two decades of working in language, communication and skills development, I joined UM in 2019 to contribute to progressing the field of health(care) discourse in Malaysia and beyond. In my current role, I teach languages and linguistics courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level, while supervising and conducting research. Research Focus - Improving Health & Wellbeing by Applying a Discursive ToolkitI study matters related to language, health(care) and wellbeing, applying qualitative and discursive perspectives to address problems and inform practice in provider-patient interaction, health education and other related topics. I am particularly interested in analysis of real-life interaction, to answer questions on how people "do things" with language in health-related contexts. For example, how do doctors and patients collaboratively make decisions about treatment, manage chronic health conditions, and discuss concerns by interacting with each other in person or online? I'm also interested in communication in healthcare education, interprofessional discourse and patient education, alongside how people express and make meaning of health-related issues via their talk and stories. My current funded  projects include studies on professional socialisation of house officers (FRGS), patient experience of gum disease (IIRG, UM). Expertise -Enhancing Language and Communication in Diverse SettingsBeyond my research and academic duties, I help enhance language and communication in academic and professional settings, applying a diverse knowledge and skillset composed over 25 years of experience. Before joining academia, I was engaged in various positions mostly as a consultant/independent contractor, including as a language/content service provider for over 15 years and as a language/communication skills instructor for over 17 years. In these roles, I provided language consulting services and skills training for corporate and individual clients in Malaysia and internationally. I have a CELTA qualification and am a HRDF certified trainer. My work history is available at https://my.linkedin.com/in/ayeshah-syed-0468293 Professional Activities and LeadershipAt UM, I have been actively involved in advancement of research and academic practices. From 2022-2024, I led the research portfolio at the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics as the Deputy Dean of Research and Innovation, with other appointments including as the Protem-Deputy Head of the Medical Devices Centre of Excellence, UM and Taskforce member for UM's Programme Educational goals. Outside the university, I  am involved in professional associations related to languages and linguistics and social advancement, including Persatuan Bahasa Moden Malaysia (President, 2022-2024, Vice President-2024 - 2026, Exco member since 2013) and the citizens' movement organisation, the Association of Voices of Peace, Conscience and Reason (Exco member - since 2016, Treasurer-2025-present).Research Collaboration and Supervision Opportunities I welcome potential collaborations aligned with my expertise and also enjoy connecting with other researchers to learn about their work, gain insight into new contexts, fields and perspectives and explore how I might contribute to their research activities.  In terms of postgraduate supervision, I supervise projects that apply discursive approaches to address problems in health-related contexts, focusing on interaction. Note to potential supervisees: I have limited availability for 2025-2026 due to a heavy supervision load. 

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ASSOCIATE PROF. SR DR. NORHAYATI BINTI MAHYUDDIN

Dr. Norhayati is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Malaya in Malaysia. Holding a PhD from the University of Reading, UK, awarded in 2011 under the Indoor Environment and Energy Research Group, she has cultivated a strong academic and research background. In addition to her academic pursuits, Dr. Norhayati holds the position of Registered Building Surveyor and is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Malaysia (MRISM), bringing a practical and professional dimension to her research. Her leadership journey in academia encompasses her role as the Deputy Dean (Development) for the Faculty of Built Environment presently and prior roles as the Head of the Department of Building Surveying and the Head of the Research Unit for Building Science & Performance at the Faculty of Built Environment, University of Malaya, from 2014 to 2018. Currently, she holds the position of Deputy Dean (Development) for the faculty. Her research contributions extend beyond academia, with active participation in SIRIM International Organization for Standardization (ISO) as a Technical Committee of ISO/TC 146/SC2 for “IAQ and Workplace Atmospheres”. Dr. Norhayati has been actively involved in cutting-edge research in the fields of Indoor Environmental Quality and Zero Energy Buildings securing both national and international grants to support her research endeavors. Her work encompasses innovative approaches to enhancing indoor air quality, ventilation systems, and optimizing building energy and thermal performance. Her exceptional research efforts have earned her several awards, including the University of Malaya Excellence Service Award, Gold Awards at diverse International Research Innovation Competitions and the prestigious Hitachi Research Fellowship Award from The Hitachi Scholarship Foundation Japan. Demonstrating a notable research impact, she has published over 60 research articles with more than 1000 citations.

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