Dr. Mohd Aizat Bin Mohd Zain is a dedicated Senior Lecturer and researcher whose work investigates the molecular and behavioral mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric disorders. His long-term goal is to develop a new theory on the pathophysiology of mental disorders, especially schizophrenia, which may help in developing more effective treatments. To achieve this, he is particularly interested in the areas of neurophysiology and psychiatry. Education and Foundational Research Dr. Aizat's academic journey is rooted in the University of Malaya, where he obtained his Bachelor of Biomedical Science (2009). He continued his specialization at the institution, earning his Master of Medical Science (2013) with a dissertation focused on "Gene Expression and Association Analyses of HTR2A and PDLIM5 Genes in Bipolar Disorder." He completed his doctoral studies, achieving a PhD in Medical Science (2019) in the specialized field of behavioural cognitive neuroscience, Pharmacology, and Molecular Biology. His PhD thesis, "Investigation on the Role of PDLIM5 Gene in Cognitive Function Using Mouse Models," paved his expertise in translational neurobiology and the use of sophisticated animal models to study human mental disorders. Research Focus, Impact, and Publications Dr. Aizat's core research investigates how dendritic spine abnormalities contribute to cognitive impairment observed in neuropsychiatric conditions, specifically depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. He employs a multi-faceted approach, specializing in rodents cognitive behavioral testing, animal model development, and molecular profiling to identify brain region-specific changes and potential biomarkers. His contributions to the field are evidenced by several publications and citations in reputable, peer-reviewed Q1 and Q2 journals. He has earned competitive funding, including the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) and the Tun Ahmad Sarji Research Endowment Grant (TASREF) to pursue his research interests. Beyond publication, Dr. Aizat is an active member of the Malaysian Society of Neurosciences and regularly engages with the global scientific community. This includes serving as an Invited International Keynote Speaker and Webinar Speaker on the neurobiology of learning and memory, and acting as a scientific judge and external reviewer for international conferences and academic institutions. Professional Experience Currently, Dr. Aizat serves as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya (since August 2025). His professional career includes significant academic leadership, previously holding roles as a Senior Lecturer and Head of Programme at University College MAIWP (UCMI), and as a Lecturer and Head of Department at Mahsa University. He has also successfully completed a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Malaya and contributed to vital public health initiatives, including coordinated research on nicotine addiction; breast and colorectal cancers; AIDS among fishermen in northern Malaysia; and investigating health status among coastal communities in Sabah. This highlights his commitment to applying his scientific knowledge to address societal needs and challenges.  

Dr Petrina Tan is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Universiti Malaya (UM). She holds a PhD and an LL.M (Corporate & Financial Services Law) from the National University of Singapore (NUS) as well as an LL.B (Hons)(Distinction), equivalent to a First Class Honours degree, from UM. She was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship to pursue a PhD at NUS and was conferred the PhD in July 2023. Her doctoral thesis examined the regulation of the alternative market listing regime by selected stock exchanges in Asia. Her prior research on retail investor protection and institutional investor stewardship has been published as journal articles in the Erasmus Law Review, Asian Journal of Comparative Law and the Journal of Malaysian and Comparative Law as well as a book chapter in the edited volume ‘Global Shareholder Stewardship’ published by Cambridge University Press. She has presented at various international and regional conferences. Her research interests include capital market law and policy, company law and corporate governance and regulatory theory more generally. She was previously a corporate lawyer, federal counsel at the Malaysian Attorney General’s Chambers, senior manager at Bursa Malaysia, adjunct research fellow at the National University of Singapore Centre for Banking & Finance Law and Postdoctoral Fellow at the EW Barker Centre for Law & Business, NUS. She was also a sessional tutor at the School of Business, Monash University Malaysia, where she taught Malaysian company law.

I have been involved in teaching for more than 32 years. I started my career as a temporary teacher before pursuing my undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the University of Malaya, where I obtained my Bachelor in Indian Studies and History and Master in Linguistics. I did my PhD in Linguistics at Newcastle University in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. I have decent knowledge in Tamil grammar, where I teach the subject at my institution, and have authored a few books, individually and jointly, on that subject. I have written and published more than 50 articles so far and have attended more than 75 conferences and seminars, locally and abroad. Field Interest: I am interested and actively involved in research involving fields of study such as linguistics, historical linguistics, language borrowing, translation, Tamil education, and classical literature of Tamil.  Completed Research: Phonology, Linguistics, Grammar, Loanword Phonology, Lexical Morphology, Translation and Cognates, and Tamil Education. Supervisions of Postgraduates and Undergraduates: I have more than a dozen postgraduate students who have completed their studies under my supervision in various fields, especially those related to linguistics, grammar, Tamil education, and philosophy.  Language skills: I have good speaking and writing command in Tamil, Malay, and English. I could read and write Hindi and Sanskrit moderately. PROFESSIONAL: I have been actively involving various organisations at various levels, holding various roles. To name a few, I am one of the board-list members of the Malaysian Examination Council. Besides working closely with the council in examination-related matters, I am also a panellist in the curriculum review committee of the council for the Tamil subject (Till todate). I am a member of the faculty and served as Head of Department of Indian Studies, University of Malaya, from June 2014 till September 1, 2018. I am also a member of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Malaya. Recently, I was appointed as an External Examiner of Tamil subjects thought at Teacher Training Institutes in Malaysia for a period of two years (2018-2022). I am serving as the current Secretary of the International Association of Tamil Research, Malaysia (1997). I also served as the General Secretary II for the 9th International Tamil Conference and Seminar on Tamil Studies (9ICSTS) held at the University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, from 29 January 2015 till February 2, 2024. I am also involved in social engagement activities at various levels. Currently, I am serving as Chairman of the Parents and Teachers Association of a Tamil School in Kuala Lumpur (SRJK (T) Jalan Cheras, (2016-2019).