TS. DR. MUHAMMAD FAIZ BIN MOHD ZAKI

Faiz Zaki obtained his Master of Science (Web Science and Big Data Analytics) from the University College of London in 2017 and a PhD in Network Analytics from Universiti Malaya in 2022. He is currently serving as the Director of the Data and Information Management Center and a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Computer Systems and Technology, Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, Universiti Malaya. He is also a core member of the Center of Research for Cybersecurity and Network (CSNET). His research interests lie at the intersection between big data analytics and computer networking. As such, most of his works revolve around network analytics, such as network traffic classification. Currently, his research direction is steering towards producing real-time network analytics using technologies like edge computing and federated learning. Faiz Zaki also holds several professional certifications in computer networking, such as CCNA and HCIA, besides being an active member of IEEE Computer Society and Young Professionals.

show more »
ASSOCIATE PROF. DR. CHEAH CHIA WEI

  Cheah Chia Wei graduated from the University of Malaya with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery. She then worked as a dental officer in the Ministry of Health before joining the Faculty of Dentistry. There, she underwent specialist training in Periodontology and became a lecturer, teaching general dentists and specialists in Periodontology. She has a PhD related to oral microbial profiling using 16S rRNA gene sequencing in relation to the inflammatory status of rheumatoid arthritis subjects with periodontitis. Currently, Cheah Chia Wei is the postgraduate coordinator for the Master of Oral Sciences (Periodontology) program, and also heads the Clinical Craniofacial Dental Research Group in the Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Malaya. She is also the treasurer for The Malaysian Society of Oral Microbiologists and Oral Immunologists. She was recently appointed as a council member for the Malaysian Society of Periodontology for the term 2026-2028. Her research interests include alveolar ridge preservation, periodontal/bone regenerative material for implantology, and oral microbiology influencing periodontal health and systemic health. She has published her work in peer-reviewed journals and has presented it both locally and abroad. Cheah Chia Wei also serves as a reviewer for peer-reviewed journals in her area of expertise.  

show more »
DR. KISHNETH PALANIVELOO

Dr. Kishneth Palaniveloo received his early education in Kedah (1991–2003) before obtaining his Bachelor of Science in Marine Science (2007) from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). He is a trained PADI Divemaster and actively participated in teaching, recreational diving, and scientific diving activities that supported educational and research programmes. Thereafter he was briefly attached to the Kota Kinabalu Fisheries Department and Marine Research Foundation (MRF), contributing to research on marine resource management and conservation. He later completed a Master’s degree in Fermentation Biochemistry (2008–2010), followed by a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Advancement of Biodiversity with a focus on Marine Ecological Chemistry at UMS. His doctoral research centred on the isolation, characterization, and structural elucidation of secondary metabolites from marine invertebrates. His work discovered novel compounds and chemical skeletons from soft corals (Alcyonacea) and the sea hare Aplysia dactylomela. During his PhD, he isolated nearly 80 secondary metabolites from both marine and terrestrial sources. His training, which included a research attachment at Jeju National University (Korea), emphasized advanced analytical and spectroscopic techniques, linking natural products chemistry with ecological function and pharmaceutical potential. After completing his PhD, Dr. Kishneth joined a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) project as a researcher for a research training at Kyushu University (Japan) where he investigated the structure and diversity of soil microbial communities, expanding his expertise from marine chemical ecology to terrestrial microbial ecology and strengthening his capabilities in environmental molecular biology and natural products research. In 2017, Dr. Kishneth joined the Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), Universiti Malaya as a Senior Lecturer. He was appointed Laboratory Coordinator in 2020 and, since 2023, as the Head of the Marine Biotechnology Unit. His research integrates biodiversity, marine chemical ecology, and biogeochemistry, focusing on: (1) soft coral species and chemical diversity; (2) algal metabolites; (3) microbial community profiling using next-generation sequencing (NGS); and (4) carbon stock assessment and mangrove adaptation under environmental and climatic changes, contributing to blue carbon and conservation initiatives. His passion for chemical diversity supports collaborations with pharmaceutical scientists and drives his interest in product development. Dr. Kishneth publishes and reviews for numerous indexed scientific journals, including Ecological Indicators, Journal of Applied Phycology, and 3Biotech, reflecting his multidisciplinary reach across marine biodiversity, chemical ecology, and sustainable bioprospecting. He has secured approximately RM5 million in total research funding as principal investigator and co-researcher. His projects cover soft coral chemotaxonomy, mangrove genetic diversity, bioactive compound discovery, and composting technology, aligning with national priorities for marine resource sustainability. He currently has 25 ISI-indexed publications and an H-index of 12 with over 540 citations. He actively supervises MSc and PhD students and teaches Marine Biotechnology annually. He is also involved in developing the Master’s curriculum for IOES. Beyond academia, Dr. Kishneth plays an active role in professional societies and scientific advocacy. He served three terms as the Honorary Secretary of the Malaysian Society of Marine Sciences (MSMS), contributing to national task forces and committees on biodiversity conservation with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Fisheries Department, resulting to the gazettement of marine protected areas in Melaka. He is also a member of the International Association for Biological Oceanography, the Malaysian Society of Natural Products, and an associate of the Centre for Natural Products Research and Drug Discovery (CENAR), Universiti Malaya. His achievements are recognized through various local and international collaborations and awards, including the Universiti Malaya Excellence Service Award (2022), the JICA Training Award on OTEC and DSW Applications (2022), and several gold awards at research innovation competitions (2009, 2012, 2025). Dr. Kishneth Palaniveloo aims to continue advancing research and teaching in marine science, natural product chemistry, and ecosystem sustainability in line with national and university aspirations for scientific innovation and marine resource stewardship.

show more »

RECENT PUBLICATION

LATEST AWARDED GRANT