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 80 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.  

I obtained my BSc and PhD in Pharmacology from the University of Dundee (UK), joined the University of Malaya as a tutor in 1979, and was promoted to Professor of Pharmacology in 2000. I was the Head of the Department of Pharmacology for over 18 years from 1994, which ended in August 2014, following my appointment into the university's Board of Directors (BOD). My appointment as member of BOD ended in Dec 2015. My main research currently is in pharmacogenomics (PGx), being the country representative on PGx research for an international group (Global Genomic Medicine Collaborative under the National Institute of Health, USA) and 2 regional groups (including the Southeast Asian Pharmacogenomics Network). PGx is currently one of the fastest growing research area globally and I have supervised over 25 postgraduate students in this field over the years. My laboratory was awarded research funding of over RM3.5 million over a period of 5 years from 2011 to 2015, and our team has published over 105 papers since then. I have been invited to speak on PGx at international and national conferences.  I am also a member of at least 7 committees at the national level, the most significant being the National Committee for Clinical Research (NCCR), chaired by the Director-General of Health, Malaysia. My expertise in Good Clinical Practice (GCP) is recognised, being invited to be a speaker and facilitator at GCP Workshops throughout the country. My expertise also extends to being a consultant for contract research in the form of Bioequivalence (BE) Studies for various generic drug manufacturers since 1999, and to date, we have completed over 32 consultancies.  My Bioequivalence Centre has two accreditations, one under SAMM ISO-IEC 17025/2001, and the other is under Ministry of Health, and is one of only four accredited centres in Malaysia. I was appointed by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovations, to be a member of the National Bioethics Council (NBC) and presented the Keynote Address at its launch. I have been a Vice-Chairman of NBC. I was also appointed by the Deputy Prime Minister (who was also then the Minister of Education), to be a representive of the University's Senate to the University's Board of Directors, the appointment ended in Dec 2015.  I am also an active member of several NGOs, and frequently and passionately participate in various community and student events.  

Dr. Mohd Haniff Zainuldin is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Accounting, Faculty of Business & Economics, Universiti Malaya (UM), with over 15 years of experience in academia. He obtained his PhD in Accounting from the University of South Australia (UniSA) in 2015, specialising in financial reporting, Islamic banks, and ethics. He also holds a Master of Accountancy from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia, and a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Corporate Finance from the University of Adelaide, Australia.Dr. Haniff plays a key role in professional accreditation and academic quality assurance. He has served as a Panel Assessor for the accreditation of accounting programs at Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak and Northern Kuala Lumpur International College. He is also an External Examiner for ACCA-accredited diploma programs and an External Course Reviewer for advanced diploma programs in accounting. In addition, he was the Liaison Officer for ICAEW-UM and a member of the ICAEW Strategic Credit Papers Committee, contributing to the integration of ICAEW-accredited courses into the Universiti Malaya’s accounting programs.His research focuses on environmental, social and governance (ESG), financial accounting and reporting, corporate governance, Islamic accounting, and Islamic banking and finance. Dr. Haniff has published extensively in high-impact journals such as Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, International Journal of Bank Marketing, and the Pacific-Basin Finance Journal. He has also been an active reviewer for prestigious journals, including Sustainability, Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting, and Emerging Markets Review.Dr. Haniff has secured multiple external research grants, including funding from the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) for the development of ESG performance measurement models for banks in Malaysia, as well as grants from Universitas Indonesia and private funding sources, to explore ESG and sustainability issues in financial markets across Asia. His research contributions provide valuable insights into sustainable finance, ethical corporate governance, and the integration of Islamic principles in financial reporting.Beyond academia, Dr. Haniff actively contributes to the accounting profession through his advisory roles in academic accreditation and professional certification programs, ensuring high-quality education and industry relevance in accounting education.