As an academic and researcher, my professional journey is rooted in the fascinating fields of Human Anatomy and Neuroscience, with research interests spanning cognitive and behavioral neuroscience, the gut-brain axis, natural products and drug discovery, developmental toxicity, and medical education. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to secure several research grants, leading to meaningful collaborations, publications, and the supervision of a number of postgraduate students. I’ve also served as an examiner for dissertations and contributed to advancing research both within and beyond my institution.Teaching is a joy and a cornerstone of my career. I teach Human Anatomy (Gross, Embryology, and Histology) to both undergraduate (MBBS, Dentistry, etc.) and postgraduate students. I’ve been involved in curriculum development, Anatomy Practical exam coordination, OSCEs and serve on vetting committees across various UG and PG medical /dental programs—including Surgery, ENT, Ophthalmology, and Clinical Dentistry. Whether preparing students for anatomy quizzes or guiding young researchers, I believe learning should spark curiosity—and definitely a bit of laughter along the way. After all, who says the brain can’t enjoy a little tickle while studying itself?I remain engaged with several professional bodies in anatomy (MAA) and neuroscience (MSN, IBRO), and have had the privilege of serving on scientific committees, participating in conferences, and being invited as a speaker / external examiner at various academic institutions. Mentorship is particularly close to my heart—whether it's nurturing critical thinking, building confidence, or simply helping students navigate their academic journey with a steady hand.I welcome opportunities for collaboration, idea exchange, and interdisciplinary research. Whether you're working on a related project or simply passionate about the brain, the body, or how nature might influence both—feel free to connect. There’s always something new to discover, especially when minds meet across disciplines.

Dr. Sonia Kumari is Senior Lecturer at Department of Development Studies, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Malaya. She holds PhD (Financial Development and Economic Growth, UNIMAS, Malaysia), MEcon (Public Policy, UKM, Malaysia) and BEc (Management Economics, UKM, Malaysia).  Her research expertise includes, Financial Development ; Financial Integration; Financial Inclusion; Sustainable Finance; Climate Finance; and Financial management of small businesses, with main focus on multidisciplinary themes related to emerging and developing economies. Her previous work experience includes: Associate Economist at the Central Bank of Malaysia (BNM) ; Visiting Research Fellow at Bocconi University, Milan, Italy; Visiting Research Fellow at Instituto Complutense de Estudios Internacionales (ICEI), Complutense University of Madrid, Spain; Lecturer at Help University, Malaysia.  She has taught several courses at Undergraduate level including:  Microfinance and Social Enterprise, Analysis of Development Projects, SME Development, Agriculture Business Management, Agriculture Development, Development Economics and Research Methodology (at University of Malaya); Principles of Business Management, Principles of Macroeconomics and Principles of Microeconomics (at Help University). Postgraduate courses: Sustainable Finance (Universiti Malaya).  She supervised over 50 UG projects including industrial placement projects (at University of Malaya); over 15 Masters Research Projects (at University of Malaya); and 1 Doctoral completion (current PhD supervision = 8).   Produced over 30 publications, including book chapters, articles in internationally refereed journals, policy briefs and reports. She has also reviewed several papers for journals and conferences.  She has led research projects on: "Financial Inclusion and Inclusive Growth" and "Government Supports And Food Operator's Performance In Klang Valley" (University Grant). She is also a co-researcher for projects such as "Role of Social Enterprise in Poverty Alleviation and Inclusive Development in Malaysia" (University Grants); Developing Environmental Reporting Framework for the Small and Medium Enterprises in Malaysia: Using Q-Methodological Approach" (FRGS, Government of Malaysia) and "Catching-up along the Global Value Chain: models, determinants and policy implications in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution" (European Commission Grant). She has research collaborative links in several countries including South Africa, China and Bangladesh.  She is an Associate Editor for Journal of Institutions and Economies.  

Yong Yee is a passionate social scientist dedicated to exploring the transformative power of sport and its impact on society. She is particularly interested in understanding the experiences of marginalized and underrepresented groups, such as women, refugees, and people with disabilities. Her research seeks to identify and address the challenges that these groups face in participating in sport, as well as to promote equitable and inclusive practices. Yong Yee's current research projects include capacity building for youth-led refugees' sport events, the future of sport and sustainability, and educating Paralympics Sports volunteers using the design thinking approach. These projects reflect her commitment to using research to inform and improve sport policy and practice.