Dr Mohammed Rizman bin Idid is an evolutionary biologist and molecular ecologist, whose scientific research projects mainly focus in providing baseline information on biodiversity and ecology of various terrestrial and marine organisms in Malaysia. His initial research projects were focused on freshwater fishes, before expanding towards the marine and coastal environment investigating jellyfish, marine fungi, and mangroves. These studies employ molecular genetic techniques, such as DNA sequencing of biological resources, species assemblages and communities in natural ecosystems. Elements of DNA barcoding and phylogenetics are utilized for species identification, detection and monitoring that facilitate conservation and management of natural ecosystems. He also applies ‘omics’ technologies to study organismal responses and adaptations to environmental stressors in the context of climate change. He is also considered as a pioneer and authority of jellyfish biodiversity and ecology in Malaysia, thus contributing his expertise towards jellyfish studies in Southeast Asia. He is active in polar research looking into the response and adaptation of climate change on fungi and the phylogenetics of marine and polar fungi. As environmental changes may elicit chemical changes, he is also interested in the bioactivity of compounds derived from fungi and marine organisms. He is currently a senior lecturer attached to the Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), Universiti Malaya, where he is the Coordinator for Course Development of Academic Program and IOES Risk Coordinator. In IOES, he previously served as the Head of Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystems Studies Research Unit (2013-2018) and was the Coordinator of Bachok Marine Research Station (2012). He was also Coordinator for Bioinformatics Programme in the Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya (2008-2012). At a national level, he represents the Malaysian Society of Marine Sciences as Executive Committee of the Confederation of Scientific and Technological Associations in Malaysia (2022-2024). He was also President of Malaysian Society of Marine Sciences (2012-2014). Since 2008, he has secured national and international research grants as Principal Investigator and as Co-Investigator totalling to RM 1,205,304 and RM 765,400, respectively. His expertise in the field of jellyfish taxonomy and ecology has earned regional recognition through regular invitations under ‘IOC-Westpac Harmful Jellyfish Workshops’ and as reviewer of international journals. His jellyfish photos have even been immortalised by Pos Malaysia as a postage stamp under Malaysia-Thailand joint issue ‘Marine Creatures’. Being a scuba-diver, he has led several national and internationally organized expedition surveys of marine parks and protected areas in Malaysia. Findings from the 2018 ‘Biodiversity Expedition in Melaka and Negeri Sembilan’ have led to the gazettement of three islands in Melaka as marine protected areas. As a polar fungi scientist, he has contributed towards many workshops and several ‘Malaysian International Symposium on Antarctica’ conferences. He is also a research grant recipient of the Sultan Mizan Antarctic Research Foundation (YPASM). He was Data Deputy Advisor for Ocean Hackathon Kuala Lumpur 2022, organized by the French Embassy, Malaysia.        To date, he has H-index = 10  and published over 40 peer-reviewed articles, 4 books and 6 book chapters, with over 400 citations. He has supervised 4 PhD students and 10 master students to completion and currently oversees 6 ongoing students (2 PhD and 4 MSc). 

I earned my PhD in Chemistry and a Master’s degree in Material Chemistry from Universiti Malaya, and hold a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science (Honours) from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). My research interests center around ionic liquids synthesis and applications, biomass, and drug delivery systems, areas where I aim to explore innovative, sustainable solutions. As a member of the Chemistry Division at the Centre for Foundation in Science, Universiti Malaya, I’m particularly excited about the potential of ionic liquids in both environmental and biomedical applications. I believe these novel compounds could revolutionize various fields, from energy-efficient processes to drug delivery systems, by offering more targeted and efficient therapeutic solutions. My passion for drug delivery systems complements my broader research in ionic liquids and biomass, as it allows me to bridge chemistry with biomedical innovations that can improve healthcare outcomes. I’m deeply motivated to contribute to meaningful advancements that have a real-world impact and to collaborate with like-minded researchers in these exciting areas.

Associate Professor Dr. Jeyakantha Ratnasingam obtained his undergraduate degree from the National University of Malaysia and his Masters Degree in Internal Medicine from University of Malaya. He completed his advanced training in endocrinology with the Ministry of Health Malaysia and had undergone a fellowship in endocrinology at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia. He manages patients with type 2 and type 1 diabetes, osteoporosis, pituitary, thyroid, gonadal and adrenal disorders. To further pursue his interest in neuro-endocrinology, he has also undergone an attachment at the Auckland City Hospital Pituitary Centre in New Zealand and the Cambridge University's endocrine clinic at the Addenbrooke's Hospital in the United Kingdom. He is currently a senior consultant endocrinologist and the Head of Endocrinology at the University of Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur. Besides managing patients with endocrine disorders, he plays an active role in investigator as well as industry initiated clinical trials in the field of endocrinology, diabetes and osteoporosis. He has published papers in academic journals and actively speaks at scientific meetings. He is currently the council member of the Malaysian Endocrine and Metabolic Society, Diabetes Malaysia and the Malaysian Osteoporosis Society. He also sits on the editorial board of the Asian Journal of Diabetology. Dr. Jeya is particularly interested in the field of neuroendocrinology, aiming at improving outcomes for patients living with pituitary disorders.