A biophysicist by interest, Dr. Vengadesh Periasamy is based in Low Dimensional Materials Research Centre (LDMRC), Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia as a Senior Lecturer/ Research Fellow. His field of expertise and interest mainly involves DNA electronics, Langmuir-Blodgett (LB), Biophotovoltaics (BPV) and Nanomedicine (Riboflavin, Green Synthesis of Nanoparticles for Antipathogenic and Anticancer Properties). His current research groups consist of numerous final year projects, interns, research assistants, MSc. and PhD. students comprising of various disciplines and nationality. Resulting research outputs have been published in various high impact factor journal papers, proceedings, patent, book and book chapter. Research covers a comprehensive multi-disciplinary approach whereby underlying fundamentals are thoroughly investigated to enable possible applications by constructing, characterizing and testing prototype sensors/devices. Using LB technique to fabricate pure novel DNA films, we are actively pursuing frontier research into fundamental DNA electronics, which would ultimately enable DNA genomic sequencing for rapid DNA detection and also the fabrication of DNA based environmental sensors. LB method also allows flexibility in designing different types of graphene films either as porous anodes or highly transparent conducting material. These highly customized electrodes will then be utilized to investigate bio-signals or intrinsic cellular noises from antipathogenic/anticancer reactions and other biological pathways of interest. Current research directions are therefore directed towards understanding interfacial properties by deciphering extracted bio-signals to be applied in the fields of nano-bioelectronics, nano-medicine and biomedical technology. Dr. Vengadesh’s interest in BPV is partly as a result of an MOU between University of Malaya and Centre of Research for Electrochemical Science and Technology (CREST), Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge to undertake combined research efforts in algae biotechnology. He and his group is developing LB derived high porosity graphene films for application as an anodic material in BPV platforms. Initial results indicating an increased power output and open potential suggest the possibility of substituting the currently used conventional ITO anodes. The LB method utilized allows for attaining higher electrode surface area and better attachment of biofilms. Coupled with the presence of functional groups, the films fabricated enables easier and effective algae attachment onto the graphene anode surface resulting in superior biocompatibility and hence the improved power output. Dr. Vengadesh visited CREST as a Post-doc/Academic Visitor from 21 January until 20 October 2014 to facilitate the collaborative research further and to establish a roadmap in BPV research between the two research centers.

Awanis is an Associate Professor majoring in membrane technology and fabrication at the Department of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Malaya. She started working at UM as a lecturer since November 2004 and became a senior lecturer in 2011. She pioneered membrane fabrication research using phase inversion process in UM since 2011. Prior to that, she worked as a Plant Engineer at Hitachi Semiconductor Penang upon  completion of her Bachelor Degree sponsored by Monbusho Scholarship (currently known as MEXT Japan). She received a PhD from Imperial College London, Masters in Environmental Biotechnology from University of Manchester (UMIST) and a Bachelor Degree in Chemical Engineering from Osaka University, Japan. Sekolah Tun Fatimah, Johor Bahru is her alma mater. Awanis represented Malaysia in the ASEAN-US Science Prize for Women competition in 2014 due to her work in improving the availability and safe drinking water in ASEAN region through novel membranes. She was awarded Hitachi Research Fellowship by Hitachi Global Foundation in 2016 to perform research in collaboration with Membrane Research Centre, Kobe University and she received Yamaguchi University Visiting Scholar award and MEXT Global Networking award in partnership with Osaka University, both in 2019. Awanis was awarded the JSPS Bridge Fellowship Award in 2023 hosted by Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan. She was awarded a special grant in 2015 by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia through Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) special grant for disaster mitigation and prevention during flood using membrane technology. Awanis has been extensively involved in 16 research projects, in which she has been the Principal Investigator for 12 internal and external grants worth of more than RM1.5 million.  Awanis is a Chartered Engineer of Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET), UK and a Professional Engineer of Board of Engineers Malaysia. She is currently an Exco of JSPS-JAAM and the member of the Board of Engineers Malaysia. Since 2004, Awanis served in a number of administrative positions including; chemical engineering undergraduate program coordinator, faculty auditor, undergraduate curriculum review committee, design project coordinator, lab coordinator, departmental quality manager, and the timetable coordinator. She has been the Head for the Center of Separation Science and Technology from January 2020 until December 2021.  Her recent research activities include 1. Membrane fabrication and modification 2. Membrane technology and separation 3. Separation processes 4. Water and wastewater treatment using membranes 5. Carbon dioxide capture using a membrane gas absorption process. Awanis has more than fifty published articles in ISI-indexed journals and she has presented papers in national and international conferences and seminars as a plenary speaker, invited speakers and oral presenters. Awanis is currently seconded at the Policy and Research Division, Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia, where she can be reached via nurawanis.hashim@mohe.gov.my.  

Feng-Hsu Lee, a Taiwanese composer, has received numerous awards, among them, the first prize of the Washington International Competition for Composition (2012), the runner-up of the Minnesota Orchestra Composer Institute (2010), the Anthony and Carolyn Donato Prize of the Eastman School of Music (2008), the second prize in the Literature and Arts Creation Award of the Ministry of Education in Taiwan (2008), the first prize of the Taipei Percussion Composition Competition (2002), the first prize of the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra International Composition Competition (2001), etc. Until now, he has accepted commissioned works from the Council for Cultural Affairs Taiwan, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand, Evergreen Symphony Orchestra, YinQi Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Association of Vocal Artists of R.O.C., Central Connecticut State University Chamber Players, Performance 20/20 of the Hartt School, Taipei Century Choir, Tabernacle Women’s Choir, Taiwanese Choral Society of Rochester, Chiasong Ensemble, Sharing Chamber Orchestra, Camerata Youth String Orchestra, Lien Percussion, Sylvanus Ensemble, Composition VII Saxophone Quartet, Ensemble Yeon, The Woven Sounds, and Oboe Duo Agosto. Currently he works as a senior lecturer in Department of Music, Faculty of Creative Arts at Universiti Malaya. He holds the degrees of music composition from The Hartt School (DMA), Eastman School of Music (MM), National Taiwan Normal University (MFA) and Soochow University (BL, Music), studying with Larry Alan Smith, Stephen Michael Gryc, Robert Carl, David Macbride, Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon, Carlos Sánchez-Gutiérrez, and Gordon Shi-Wen Chin. For more information, please visit his website: http://fenghsulee.com