Dr. Zulfirdaus Zakaria is a Senior Lecturer at the Institute for Advanced Studies, Universiti Malaya (UM), specializing in Fuel Cell and Electrolyzer Technologies. He holds a PhD in Fuel Cell Engineering from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), conferred in 2018 under the supervision of Prof. Ir. Dr. Siti Kartom Kamarudin, who is the Director of the Fuel Cell Institute, UKM. His doctoral dissertation, titled “Development of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Based on Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) and Graphene Oxide for Micro Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell Application,” laid the foundation for his pioneering research in polymer-based fuel cell membranes. During his postgraduate tenure, Dr. Zulfirdaus demonstrated exceptional academic rigor by converting his Master's program to a PhD, publishing 7 scientific articles in high-impact journals as the first author, which included 6 Q1/Q2 WoS indexed journals, and earning the “Graduate on Time” award from the Fuel Cell Institute, UKM. Academic and Research Appointments: Prior to his current role at UM, Dr. Zulfirdaus served as a Senior Lecturer at the School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), for two years. His four-year tenure postdoctoral researcher at the Fuel Cell Institute, UKM, and at Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN), where he contributed to significant advancements in fuel cell and electrolyzer technologies. Research Focus and Contributions: Dr. Zulfirdaus’s primary research interests encompass the development of polymer electrolyte membranes for both fuel cells and electrolyzers, focusing on: Proton Exchange Membranes (PEMs) and Anion Exchange Membranes (AEMs) Utilization of synthetic polymers (e.g., Polyvinyl Alcohol) and biopolymers (e.g., Sodium Alginate and Carrageenan) Applications in renewable energy generation and green hydrogen production He has been actively involved in the research, development, and optimization of various fuel cell and electrolyzer systems, including: Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFCs) Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells (DEFCs) Alkaline Fuel Cells (AFCs) Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (IT-SOFCs) Alkaline Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) Electrolyzers His work extends to the synthesis of advanced materials, such as: Polymer Modifications for enhanced membrane performance Graphene-based Nanomaterials for conductivity improvements Catalyst Development for both fuel cells and electrolyzers Research Grants and Funding: Dr. Zulfirdaus has led and contributed to numerous high-impact research projects, including: Project Leader: Development of Novel Polymer Electrolyte Membrane for Fuel Cells. Universiti Malaya Research Excellence Grant 2025 (RM 97,614; 2025-2027)  Project Leader: Biomass to Fuel Cells: Leave to Energy. Universiti Malaya Living Labs 2025 (RM 30,000; 2025-2026) Project Leader: The Effect of Incorporating Epoxidized Natural Rubber on the Performance of Quaternized Polyvinyl Alcohol Membrane in Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells, USM Short-term Grant (RM 39,000; 2023-2025) Researcher: Development of Alkaline AEM Electrolyzer with Novel Nanocomposite Membrane, UKM PAKARUNDING-NanoMalaysia Berhad (RM 539,125; 2022–2023) Postdoctoral Researcher: New Biodegradable Membrane Based on a Hybrid Polymer Carrageenan/Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) for Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells, DANA MODAL INSAN (UKM) (RM 100,000; 2019–2020) Postdoctoral Researcher: Fabrication and Performance Study of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC), 1kW Stack, TNB Seeding Fund (UNITEN) (RM 1,698,100.70; 2018–2020) Intellectual Property and Publications: Dr. Zulfirdaus has registered multiple intellectual properties with MyIPO, including: Carrageenan Biopolymer Membrane for Passive DEFC Applications (LY2022P05229) – First Author Cross-Sectional Properties of 7% MN-Doped ZnO Thin Films (LY2023P00617) – Co-author Strategy on How to Write a Review Paper Module (LY2022E00215) – Co-author He has also authored the book “Membran Hijau Polivinil Alkohol: Aplikasi Sel Fuel Ethanol Langsung” published by Penerbit UKM. With 50 publications in high-impact journals—24 in Q1, 15 in Q2, and 2 in Q3 categories—Dr. Zulfirdaus has established himself as a leading scholar in his field, serving as the first author in 24 of these publications. Awards and Recognition: Top Downloaded Paper (2018-2019) – International Journal of Energy Research (Q1, IF 4.6) Top Downloaded Paper (2022-2023) – Journal of Applied Polymer Science (Q2, IF 2.7) World's Top 2% Scientists 2025 by Elsevier and Stanford University. Editorial and Peer Review Activities: Dr. Zulfirdaus actively contributes to the scholarly community as a peer reviewer for prestigious journals such as: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews (Q1, IF 16.3) International Journal of Hydrogen Energy (Q1, IF 8.1) Applied Energy (Q1, IF 10.1) To date, he has reviewed over 100 high-impact manuscripts across various leading journals in the field of energy research. Invited Speaker and Outreach: As an expert in academic writing, Dr. Zulfirdaus has been invited to deliver talks on “How to Write a High-Impact Review Paper” at multiple Malaysian higher education institutions, including UiTM, UKM, USM, UNIMAS and UniKL. He is open to academic collaborations and can be contacted at zulfirdaus@um.edu.my.  

Dr Mahar Diana binti Hamid is a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaya. Her areas of research interest include Safety, Health and Environment (SHE), Indoor Air Quality, combustion technology, process safety and risk engineering, inherent safety and risk management. She has also served as a safety consultant to the Department of Occupational Safety and Health, Ministry of Human Resources, Malaysia. She has co-authored two book chapters and over 50 research articles in peer-reviewed journals and conferences on combustion air emissions, process safety, risk, and reliability engineering.

      Dr Siti Adibah Othman qualified as Bachelor of Dental Surgery from the University of Malaya, Malaysia in 2000. She completed her Clinical Doctorate in Dental Surgery in Orthodontic at the University of Bristol and obtained her Membership in Orthodontics from the Royal College of Surgeon of Edinburgh in 2005. Having obtained the qualifications, she was appointed as Senior Lecturer at Department of Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics in Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya from 2006 to 2011 and was appointed as Associate Professor in 2012. She obtained her full Professorship in 2019. She was the Head of Department of Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, the coordinator of the postgraduate orthodontic programme and currently is the Deputy Dean of the Postgraduate. She is actively involved in teaching of the undergraduates, postgraduates, reviewing of the curriculums and also actively treating orthodontic patients at the University of Malaya and at the University Malaya Specialist Centre. Besides that, she is also doing research and has published a few research papers in academic journals. Her areas of interest are orthodontics, clinical research, cleft lip and palate abnormalities and 3D imaging. She is member of World Federation of Orthodontists, Malaysian Association of Orthodontists, Malaysian Dental Association and the life member of the Cleft Lip and Palate Association of Malaysia. In 2013, she was awarded Membership in Orthodontics Ad Eundem from the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and being appointed as an examiner for the Membership of Orthodontics Examination of the Royal College of Surgeons of England for overseas diet.