Umi Kalsum Zolkafli @ Zulkifly  holds the Bachelor of Quantity Surveying from Universiti Teknologi Mara. She attained her Master of Science in Construction Contract Management from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in the year 2008.  She completed her Doctoral degree in Built Environment from Universiti Teknologi Mara in the year 2017 and is now persuading her research interest in construction contract management and professional practice in built environment areas.  She worked with the industry for 10 years prior joining Universiti Malaya, as a Quantity Surveyor and Management Representatives at ARR QS Consultancy. Ever since joining UM as a Lecturer in 10th October 2008, Umi Kalsum Zolkafli @ Zulkifly received the certificate of Excellent Service by UM in the year 2012.  She has produced 2 Master graduates and currently supervising 5 PhDs.  She currently holds 26 publications including books, ISI-ranked articles, Scopus-indexed articles, chapters in book, as well as, in refereed international and national journals. She also has presented papers in conferences locally and internationally.   In addition, she also won Gold, Silver and Bronze awards for her innovation through research and development in multiple national competitions. One of her innovations through community reserach project had also received Intellectual Properties Copyrights. In terms of research grant, Umi Kalsum Zolkafli  has received  in total of RM 2,462,813.66 as principal investigator and co-researcher. She is also a reviewer for multiple international journals and conference proceedings. She is also actively involved with Board of Quantity Surveyors of Malaysia (BQSM) and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Malaysia (RISM) as organizing committee for several international conferences, seminars and workshop Umi Kalsum Zolkafli @ Zulkifly registered as Consultant Quantity Surveyors (CQS) under the Board of Surveyors Malaysia  and a Fellow of The Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (FRISM). She has served as a main committee of Quantity Surveying Division, RISM for more than 5 years.  In addition, she has contributed her expertise in accreditation of Degree programme for public and private Universities under Board of Surveyors Malaysia. She also one of the assessor for the Diploma accreditation programe with Royal Instituitions of Surveyors Malaysia

I am a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Geology at the University of Malaya, Malaysia. I obtained my Ph.D. in Biogeochemistry from the University of Cambridge in 2018, focusing on calcium carbonate mineral formation. My current research focuses on microbial processes, elemental cycling, and geochemical interactions in marine and terrestrial environments. I am particularly interested in understanding how sediment mineralogy and microbial activity influence global biogeochemical cycles. Over the years, I have published 22 peer-reviewed articles, including a Best Paper Award at IC-DLI Deep Life 2022 and the won the Excellent Service award in 2023. In addition to my research, I have had the opportunity to contribute to international journals as a reviewer and serve on multiple funded projects, both as a principal investigator and collaborator. These experiences have enriched my perspective on tackling complex environmental challenges through interdisciplinary approaches. I am passionate about fostering research excellence, mentoring students, and contributing to solutions for global environmental issues. Through collaboration and continuous learning, I hope to advance my understanding in geosciences while supporting sustainable development. 🎓 Calling New Graduates — Master’s & PhD Opportunities (Universiti Malaya, Dept. of Geology) I’m welcoming motivated graduates to join my research group in March 2026 or October 2026 (earlier start is possible—message me to discuss). Supervision available at Master’s and PhD levels across these themes: Research Areas (tropical & coastal focus): • Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) & Carbon Capture (CCUS) (basalt/dunite/limestone kinetics, PHREEQC modelling + microorganism) • Aqueous Geochemistry of CaCO₃ (alkalinity–pH dynamics; calcite/aragonite/vaterite polymorphs + sulfate reducing bacteria) • Acid Sulfate Soils / Marine Clays (Malacca Straits) — Fe–S–C coupling, metals & arsenic mobility • Surface & Groundwater Quality (estuary–aquifer interactions, redox processes, seawater intrusion) • Iron-mediated Carbon Burial in tropical peat–mangrove–marine continua • Rare Earth Elements (REE) — eco-leaching, lixiviant selection, separation chemistry • Microplastics along Peninsular Malaysia coasts (lithology/ecosystem contrasts, FTIR/SEM) • Biogeochemistry of Coastal Environments (DOC, nutrients, trace metals, isotopes) What you’ll gain: • Fieldwork in Malaysian peat–mangrove–coastal systems (incl. Malacca Straits) • Lab experience (ICP-OES/ICP-MS, IC, UV-VIS spectrophotometer, XRD/SEM, FTIR/Raman, AVS/CRS, carbonate system analysis) • Quantitative modelling (CO₂SYS, PHREEQC / reactive-transport) Opportunities to work with reputed universities in China, UK, US, Canada and around the world. Funding: These projects are not funded but, some data are already available for a couple of projects, and some simple laboratory analysis are covered. Scholarship applications are strongly encouraged (recommended); self-funded students are welcome if keen to continue studies at the Department of Geology, Universiti Malaya. Eligibility: • Bachelor’s/Master’s in Geology, Geochemistry, Environmental Science, Chemistry, or related fields • Highly persevere, strong motivation and passion for research, good writing skills, good learning attitude, and readiness for field + lab work Intakes: • March 2026 or October 2026 • Immediate start can be arranged — contact me to discuss How to express interest (quick checklist and email me the following documents): CV Academic transcript(s) 1–2 paragraph statement: your preferred topic + why it fits you My email address: chinyik@um.edu.my If interested, PM me at +6017-8990685 (WhatsApp) to chat about details. 🌍 Embark on a scientific journey where your curiosity shapes knowledge, and your contribution becomes truly irreplaceable.

Dr. Anand Ramanathan graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from Saveetha Dental College & Hospital under The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University, Chennai, India in 2002. He then pursued his Master of Dental Surgery, specializing in Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology at Rajah Muthiah Dental Collage & Hospitals, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, India in 2009. He then migrated to Malaysia where he did his spouse program at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya to obtain his practicing license in Malaysia in 2011. From 2009 to 2011 during his spouse program he was actively involved in research with Oral Cancer Research & Coordinating Center (OCRCC), Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Malaya. His passion for teaching and research led him to join the Faculty of Dentistry, here at Universiti Malaya and he has since become a valuable senior lecturer and clinical specialist in the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Clinical Sciences. He has been the module head of various integrated modules such as oral malignancy & potentially malignant disorders, tumours and tumour-like lesions of the jaws and undergraduate discipline coordinator for oral medicine and oral pathology. He has been a member of curriculum review for undergraduate and postgraduate programs in oral pathology and oral medicine at the Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Malaya. He is also a trainer of the OralDetect which is a training and calibration program for early detection of oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders. He has successfully conducted OralDetect program in Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Nepal and India training undergraduate students, general dentist, postgraduate students and various specialist in dentistry. He is an adjunct faculty member in Faculty of Dentistry, University of Puthisastra, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tagore Dental College and Hospital, Sri Ramachandra University Dental College and Hospital, Sree Balaji Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, India, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Chennai, India and Dr. D.Y Patil Dental College and Hospital, Pune, India. An ardent researcher, he has 81 papers in indexed international peer reviewed journals, with a h-index of 18. He is involved in numerous research projects and has supervised PhD, Masters and graduate research students for the past 13 years. He was awarded the outstanding researcher in Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology at the 3rd Venus International Healthcare Awards 2020 (VIHA, 2020) by the Venus International Foundation. He also received the Sijil Perkhidmatan Cemerlang (Certificate of Excellent Service) by University of Malaya in 2021. He is currently an active member of OCRCC, Malaysian Association for Orofacial Diseases and Asian Society of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology. His research interest are oral cancer, oral potentially malignant disorders, oral pathology, oral medicine, immunohistochemistry, adjunct diagnostic tools, natural products and drug toxicity, oncoimmunology, homeobox genes and odontogenic lesions.