Dr. Junaid Olawale Quazim is a senior lecturer at the Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur. He obtained his PhD in Medical Parasitology from the Universiti Malaya (UM) in 2018. Prior to this, he did his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Nigeria before he joined academics, at Federal University Kashere, Gombe State, Nigeria, as a Lecturer in 2012. He got scholarship from the Nigerian Government for his PhD programme in 2014. Hence, he went back to Nigeria after his PhD to continue his job as a Lecturer until he joined the Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya in May, 2023 as a senior lecturer. Dr. Junaid’s work centers on mosquito-borne parasitic diseases (malaria and filariasis), zoonotic filariasis, interactions between the parasites, hosts and vectors, and immunology. Presently, he has an international collaboration with Humboldt Research Hub-Center for Emerging & Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (HRH-CERID) at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso Oyo State, Nigeria, working on ‘Molecular Surveillance for HRP2/3 Gene Deletion in Nigeria’. He has published over 17 articles in various categories of journals.

Dr. Abubakar Abubakar Usman is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of International and Strategic Studies at Universiti Malaya (UM), Malaysia, where he specializes in globalization, development, and the politics of Africa and the Middle East. With a multidisciplinary academic background spanning International Relations, Diplomacy, and Islamic Finance, Dr. Usman is a prolific scholar whose work bridges theory and policy. Academic LeadershipDr. Usman currently serves as a Guest Lecturer at the University of Nottingham Malaysia, teaching Politics and International Relations of the Middle East. He has also been invited as a Guest Speaker at institutions such as Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Nile University Nigeria, where he shared expertise on diplomacy, conflict resolution, and strategic studies. His teaching philosophy emphasizes critical thinking and real-world applicability, honed through roles as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) and as an English instructor for Saudi Schools Kuala Lumpur. Research ContributionsA dedicated researcher, Dr. Usman has held prestigious fellowships, including as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at IIUM’s Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance (IIiBF), where he explored the intersection of Islamic finance and global development. As a Senior Fellow and Coordinator of the Africa Studies Circle at the Asia Middle East Centre for Research and Dialogue (AMEC), he fosters cross-civilizational dialogue and evidence-based policy recommendations. His research has been published in high-impact journals such as South African Journal of International Affairs, Global Society, and Contemporary Islam, and he has contributed chapters to Routledge and Palgrave Macmillan volumes on Islamic finance, African diplomacy, and human rights. Dr. Usman actively engages in peer review for Web of Science-indexed journals, including Security Journal and SN Social Sciences, and is currently developing two book projects: The Political Economy of Africa-Asia Relations (Routledge) and Coups in 21st Century Africa (Palgrave Macmillan). His doctoral thesis on Boko Haram’s media strategies and master’s research on Islamic finance as a development tool reflect his commitment to addressing pressing global challenges. Policy and Public EngagementBeyond academia, Dr. Usman is a sought-after commentator on African geopolitics, contributing to platforms like Africa@LSE, Daily Trust, and The Conversation. His analyses on ECOWAS, military coups, and Nigeria’s foreign policy have shaped public discourse. He has also served as an interpreter and translator for Malaysian government agencies, leveraging fluency in English, Arabic, and Hausa. Education and Honors PhD in International Relations (Globalization & Development), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Master of Diplomacy and Strategic Studies (CGPA: 4.00), UKM Master of Political Science (CGPA: 3.83), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) BA in Arabic/Mass Communication, Bayero University Kano, Nigeria Professional Affiliations Member, International Studies Association (ISA) Associate Member, International Society for Development and Sustainability (ISDS) For a full list of publications and research projects, visit his Google Scholar or ORCID profiles. Contact:Email: abubakar.usman@um.edu.my | Phone: +60 162417993Address: Department of International and Strategic Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Malaya

  Associate Professor Dr Chai Wen Lin BDS (Malaya), MDSc (Malaya), FDSRCS (England), PhD (Sheffield) Associate Professor Dr Chai Wen Lin graduated from University of Malaya in 1994. She joined Ministry of Health as a dental officer in Ipoh. She then pursued her specialist training and obtained her Fellowship from Royal College of Surgeons of England (FDSRCS) in 1998. With her interest in teaching, she returned to her alma matter to be a lecturer till now. Throughout her tenure as a lecturer, she never stops learning; she started her research journey since then and finally obtained her Master in Dental Science in 2005 and PhD in 2010. She has had experienced in various area of researches, such as endodontic, implant-soft tissue interface and qualitative study. The study topics include the morphology of C-shaped canal, the antimicrobial efficacy of intracanal medicaments in Enterococcus faecalis biofilm, development of an in-vitro tissue-engineered oral mucosal model for the investigation of implant-soft tissue interface and more recently, a qualitative study on patients’ perception. Her researches have brought her multiple local and international awards. She has published numerous articles in local and foreign journals, not only pertaining to her research topics but also on various aspects of dentistry.