Dr Sam is a medical graduate from the University of Nottingham in the UK, and completed his postgraduate training in Medical Microbiology in London. He joined the University of Malaya in 2005. He is head of the diagnostic virology and advanced (molecular) diagnostics units in the University of Malaya Medical Centre, a 1000-bed tertiary referral centre. His clinical diagnostic work includes expanding molecular diagnostic services and involvement in hospital responses to emerging infectious diseases such as COVID-19. He teaches both undergraduates and postgraduates. His research interests cover clinical, epidemiological, diagnostic and pathogenesis aspects of chikungunya virus and other arboviruses, respiratory viruses (including influenza and SARS-CoV-2), and enterovirus A71, and he has held several national and international grants.

Prof. Dr. Esther Daniel Medical Education, Research and Development Unit (MERDU), Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya    Areas of Expertise  & Background Science Education (Biology); Environmental Education / Education for Sustainable Development; Science Teacher Education, Medical Education; Integrating Technology in Teaching; Learning and Cognition; Learning Sciences, Metacognition, Pedagogies. Esther is an  educator, formerly with the Department of Mathematics and Science Education, Faculty of Education, Universiti Malaya. With over three decades of experience as a teacher educator, her professional journey began in some of Malaysia’s premier boarding schools—Sekolah Datuk Abdul Razak, Seremban; the Malay College Kuala Kangsar; and Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Ipoh—where she taught science with distinction. Her academic expertise spans science education, environmental education, technology integration in science classrooms, and learning and cognition. She has conducted numerous workshops and seminars on qualitative research methodologies and pedagogical innovations, serving as a Master Trainer for new lecturers in institutions of higher learning. Her research has primarily focused on science, biology and environmental education, and many of her postgraduate students have successfully completed their studies under her supervision. She has conducted numerous workshops for Qualitative Research Methodologies. Esther has collaborated extensively with WWF-Malaysia, contributing to in-depth research and teacher training initiatives that promote sustainable development education. Her scholarly footprint includes published journal articles, conference presentations (local and international), and the authorship of several teaching and research modules—including those on Science pedagogy, Environmental Education, Sustainable Education and Qualitative Research Methods. Among her notable publications are Biology Education in a Changing Planet and Cognition in Science Education. Her contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including: The UNESCO-Hamdan Award (2016) for effective teacher training, The Venus International Women’s Award (2017) for Lifetime Achievement in Science Education (Biology), The Universiti Malaya Excellence Award (2018) for securing the highest international grant. More recently, she has ventured into Medical Education. She currently serves as an Honorary Professor at the Medical Education, Research and Development Unit, Faculty of Medicine, UM. She played a key role in developing and implementing the MOHRE (Master of Health Research Ethics) programme She is an  affiliated member of the UM-WWF-M Living Planet Centre, having recently completed a nationwide Sustainable Development research initiative. Esther led a nationwide study on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) with PPPLS (Pertubuhan Pendidikan Pembangunan Lestari Selangor) from 2022 to 2023. Esther is a senior fellow at the Asia Office of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) in Sunway University. She is also involved in the UNESCO-Chair Project for ESD (2022–2025) in collaboration with Asia Pacific University (APU), and serves as a consultant on Mission 4.7: Transformational Learning through ESD, a global initiative by the (SDSN) at the Jeffrey Sachs Centre, Sunway University (2023–2025). She is also the co-researcher for the UNESCO Action Research project for ESD (2025). She is also attached to the Asia – University (AeU) and the Asia Pacific University (APU) of technology and innovation as an Adjunct Professor. She is also a member of the Jawatankuasa Rakan Strategik Pendidikan untuk Pembangunan Mampan dan Kewarganegaraan Global KPM (2025-2026) and involved actively in preparing an action plan for ESD and Global Citizenship.    

I am a passionate academic committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service. Recognized for my innovative teaching and outstanding service, I have been honored with various awards such as Innovative Horizon Accolade Award, Professional innovator award, Service Excellence Award and the Certificate of Excellent Service. Additionally, I have played a key role in curriculum development, integrating data analytics, AI, and emerging technologies into business and information systems courses. My research contributions include 30 over publications, mostly indexed in WOS/Scopus, with a Scopus citation count of 1,348. I have been involved in nearly 18 research projects, with a total grant funding of approximately RM 900,000. At the university level, I have contributed to various committees, including the UM Research Ethics Committee, curriculum review panels, and academic advisory boards. I have also served as an e-learning coordinator and actively involved in mentoring students. Through international research collaborations, keynote speeches, and visiting scholar roles, I actively contribute to global academic discourse, foster interdisciplinary partnerships, and enhance knowledge exchange across borders.