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, he has successfully supervised 6 Master’s and 9 PhD students to completion. Currently, he is supervising 14 postgraduate students. 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).  

As an academician and researcher at the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, I bring a strong passion and expertise to the fields of Digital Financial Literacy and Behavioral Finance. My research delves into the intersection of financial knowledge and behavior, especially in the context of digital finance, where I aim to empower individuals and communities with the tools and insights necessary to make informed financial decisions. With a robust foundation in quantitative analysis, I specialize in advanced statistical methods and data interpretation, ensuring that my research provides actionable insights backed by rigorous methodology. My commitment to financial literacy is not only academic but also driven by a broader mission to enhance financial capability among youth, young adults, and underserved communities, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to financial inclusion and economic growth.Core Competencies: - Quantitative Data Analysis & Research Methodology - Behavioral Finance & Financial Literacy (Digital) - Financial Inclusion & Economic Empowerment - Academic Lecturing & Mentorship I welcome connections with fellow researchers, industry professionals, and organizations interested in collaboration, consultancy, and impactful research projects. Let's connect to advance financial literacy and foster economic empowerment together.

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).