Mohammed Taha is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Arabic Language and Middle Eastern Languages. He holds a PhD in Linguistics (theoretical) from the National University of Malaysia (2016), an MSC in Linguistics from the University of Malaya (2012) and a Bachelor of TESL from Omdurman Islamic University (2007). His main expertise lies in linguistic structures (Syntax), how words are put together to create structures (Morphology). Syntax has connections with other fields of language, including meaning, sound structure, word structure, and language use. His research interests include Syntactic Theory, Interfaces in Syntax (with Morphology and Semantics), Ecolinguistics (the interdisciplinary field that looks into the relationship between language, culture, and the environment), and Sociosyntax (the variation of syntactic structures due to social factors).

Professor Dr. Yvonne Lim Ai Lian is the Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International) at Universiti Malaya and a Senior Professor in the Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine. She is also a member of the University Senate. A Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM), she co-chairs the APRU Asia Pacific Women in Leadership (APWiL) Programme and serves on the International Advisory Committee of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities. Throughout her distinguished career, she has held several key leadership roles at both university and national levels, including Deputy Dean (Research) at the Faculty of Medicine, Director of the International Relations Office, and Associate Vice-Chancellor of Global Engagement at Universiti Malaya. She has also served as President of the Malaysian Society of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine and as a Council Member of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia. Her research focuses on deciphering the intricate host-parasite-environment interactions that contribute to disease in indigenous and underserved communities, aiming to develop multi-targeted solutions. Additionally, she investigates the diversity of gut and skin microbiomes across populations spanning various socioeconomic and ecological landscapes, from traditional to industrialized societies. For nearly three decades, she has dedicated her work to studying infectious diseases among the Orang Asli (indigenous) communities of Peninsular Malaysia, collaborating closely with Hospital Orang Asli Gombak. Her contributions to national policy, including the Orang Asli Development Policy (DPOA), reflect her deep commitment to community welfare. Her collaboration with New York University led to a groundbreaking discovery, published in Science (2016), revealing how low levels of helminth (worm) infections promote the growth of probiotic gut microbiota. Her gut microbiome research has since expanded to studies among HIV and cancer patients. More recently, in partnership with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the USA, she has deepened investigations into parasitic infections, gut microbiome dynamics, and the relationship between skin infections and the skin microbiome. Her work is supported by numerous national and international grants, including the prestigious US NIH R01 grants. She was recently awarded another NIH R01 grant as the principal investigator. She has published over 250 peer-reviewed scientific articles, contributed to nine book chapters, and authored three books. As a dedicated mentor, she has supervised more than 40 postgraduate students to completion and hosted researchers through extensive collaborations with institutions in the US, UK, Australia, Germany, Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and Singapore. She has also held visiting research and academic positions at leading institutions, including the Scottish Parasite Diagnostic and Reference Laboratory in Glasgow, Scotland; the Department of Veterinary Science at the University of Melbourne, Australia; the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA; and the Department of Molecular Parasitology and Tropical Diseases at Taipei Medical University, Taiwan. She has earned numerous accolades, including the MSPTM Medal (2008) for outstanding young scientists, the Universiti Malaya Excellent Lecturer Award for Science Disciplines (2015), and the Top Research Scientists of Malaysia Award (2016). In 2017, she was inducted as a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia. She has been consistently recognized in Stanford University's list of the top 2% of scientists globally in her field. In 2021, she was awarded the Fulbright Scholar Award (2021/2022) for a fellowship at the Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases at NIAID, NIH, USA. Most recently, she received the prestigious Sandosham Gold Medal Award in 2024, the highest honour from the Malaysian Society of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to parasitology and tropical medicine. Deeply passionate about her work with the Orang Asli communities, she remains committed to inspiring and empowering her colleagues and students to reach their fullest potential.  

Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Lai Chin Wei [PhD, BEng(Hons) | PEng, PTech, CEng (UK), MIEM, MIMechE (UK)] is currently a full professor in Nanotechnology & Catalysis Research Centre, "National Higher Institution Centre of Excellent (HiCoE)", University of Malaya. Lai’s main research interests are in the areas of chemically modified/functionalized metal oxide photocatalysts and carbon graphene materials, especially for sustainable development to diverse the inclusive science, technology, and innovation in environmental pollution management and energy storage technology. As a scholar and an indication of the global impact of research work (top 2% scientists in a global list), Lai’s works have been published in more than 275 refereed international top-tier journals with Scopus h-index of 49, 8 patents (granted 3 patents), 100 book chapters, and 100 international proceedings in materials science, physics, chemistry, and renewable energy researches. In all, Lai has reviewed more than 1300 papers in the past few years, mainly for top international journals / conferences and now serving as associate editors, guest editors, topic editors and editorial board members for several prestigious high impact international journals. Lai served as section editor/editor for a book entitled “Encyclopedia of Energy Storage: Capacitors/ Supercapacitors 2022” (Elsevier ISBN: 978-0-12-819730-1), “Encyclopedia of Green Materials: Green Materials for Additive Manufacturing 2024” (Springer ISBN: 978-981-16-4921-9), “Nanotechnology in Cosmeceuticals 2025” (Elsevier ISBN: 978-0-44-330184-1), and "Nanocomposites for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment" (Springer Nature 2025/2026).  The utilization of long-lasting “photocatalysis technology” using nanomaterials to solve global warming and reduce environmental impacts has been the passion for Lai. Lai’s research findings aid in building the fundamentals knowledge and groundbreaking industry collaboration experience with many multinational companies/institutions/NGOs, which help direct research efforts towards critical aspects in nanomaterial development for various innovative advancements. Lai’s research has been funded by the Ministry of Higher Education of Malaysia, MOHE (FRGS, HIR-MOHE); Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Malaysia, MOSTI (E-Science fund, National Nanotechnology Development), internal University funding (University of Malaya Research Grant, Impact-Oriented Interdisciplinary Research Grant, Universiti Malaya Research Excellence Grant, as well as University Malaya Research Fund Assistance), international funding and industry grants (consultation services). Meanwhile, Lai is appointed as national and international peer evaluation panel for Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS), Eurostars 3 (ESTARS3)- a joint program between the EUREKA network and the European Commission, Innovation Fund Denmark Applications, Qatar National Research Fund and Dean's Research Fund from The Education University of Hong Kong (Eduhk) since 2020. Indeed, Lai is providing leadership development opportunities that privilege to bridge the gap between academia and industry, fostering collaboration and driving innovation to impact the world using nanotechnology. Being a reputable researcher, his enthusiasm and dedication towards research work, Lai has won numerous special awards or medal winners in International exposition on research innovation, invention & solution (> 22 gold/silver awards). Through his work nanomaterials and catalysis field, Lai was awarded as JCI TOYP - Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World 2024 (Academic Leadership and Accomplishment), APEC Science Prize for Innovation, Research and Education (ASPIRE) 2023 National Winner, IAAM Scientist medal 2023, Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) Best Young Member Award 2022, JCI TOYM - Ten Outstanding Young Malaysians 2021 (Academic Leadership and Accomplishment), National Young Scientist Award 2019 by The Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change (MESTECC), MASS Young Researcher Award 2018 by Malaysian Solid State Science & Technology Society, a finalist of National Young Scientist Award 2018 by Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Malaysia (MOSTI), University of Malaya Excellence Awards 2015 in the category of outstanding researcher - UM Young Researcher (Sciences Discipline) and USM Persada Kencana Award for Best Thesis (Ph.D. Category Engineering) 2014. Lai’s scholastic achievement and thought leadership are recognized locally and internationally. He has been appointed as the "Adjunct Research Advisor" for Shoolini University, India (2022), "Foreign Expert/Professional" for Shanghai JiaoTong University, China (2022), "Visiting Professor", "Adjunct Professor" for Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Brawijaya, Indonesia (2024), "Visiting Lecturer" for Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Malang, Indonesia (2024), "Visiting Professor" for National Taipei University of Technology, Taiwan (2024), "Visiting Professor" for King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, Thailand (2025), "Adjunct Professor" for Faculty of Science and Data Analytics, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Indonesia (2025), "Visiting Professor" for Shanghai JiaoTong University, China (2025) and "Scientific Advisory Committee" for Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, India (2025). Lai is honoured to be listed among the top 2% scientists in a global list since 2020 till up to date (2024) compiled by the prestigious Stanford University, USA and awarded as Top Peer Reviewer in Cross-Field & Materials Science powered by Publons (Top 1% of Reviewers) since 2019. On professional qualifications, Lai successfully registered as a Professional Engineer (PEng) in Material Engineering discipline with the Board of Engineers (BEM) and registered as a Chartered Engineer (CEng) with the Engineering Council, UK as well as registered as a Professional Technologist (PTech) in Nanotechnology discipline with the Malaysia Board of Technologists (MBOT). Meanwhile, Lai is an active member in The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM, MAL), Energy Institute (EI, UK), Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE, UK) and Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC, UK). Lai believes that nanotechnology will positively affect the living standards of mankind for a better living environment. Lai is recognised as among the calibre and outstanding young scientists in the country who have the potential of advancing the scientific ecosystem in Malaysia.