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Ts Dr. Vimala Balakrishnan is an Associate Professor affiliated with the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, Universiti Malaya since 2010. She obtained her PhD. in the field of Ergonomics from Multimedia University, whereas her Master and Bachelor degrees were from University of Science Malaysia. Dr. Balakrishnan's main research interests are in machine learning and deep learning (data analytics), particularly related to social media. Her research domains include healthcare, education and social issues such as cyberbullying and misinformation dissemination. She has published more than 80 articles in top indexed journals, 55 conference proceedings and eight book chapters, has four patents and eight copyrights.

She is also a Fulbright Research Scholar (2018) and a recipient of the Leadership in Innovation Fellowship (by the Royal Academy of Engineering, UK) award. Others include Excellent Service Award 2017, Cardiff Incoming Visiting Fellowship Scheme 2017, Best Elsevier Reviewer Award 2018 (Computer in Human Behavior), and awards won both at local and international competitions (2 diamonds, 8 golds, 7 silvers and 4 bronze). Dr Balakrishnan is also the founder of HeRDS: Heels and Rouge in Data Science and co-founder of the Community of Practice in Research (Hello@UM).

She teaches both the undergraduate and post-graduate students at the faculty. She has supervised eight PhD students, two Master by Research and 18 Master by Mixed-mode students to completion. Dr. Balakrishnan is currently supervising four PhD students, and one Master by Research student. She also supervises Master of Data Science students, and has served as the Program Coordinator for the Master of Data Science program for four consecutive years (2017 - 2021). She was also listed as one of the top 2% world scientist by the Stanford University in 2020 and 2021. 

Dr. Balakrishnan also serves as an Associate Editor to the Malaysian Journal of Computer Science. She serves as an active reviewer for several International journals, and as an external examiner for PhD thesis (e.g. International University of Malaya-Wales, Kolej Damansara Penang, Maynooth University Ireland, Modi Institute India, etc.). Dr. Balakrishnan also acts as the Program Assessor for HELP University (Master in Data Science and Bachelor in IT Data Analytics), Monash University (Bachelor in Applied Data Science), Multimedia University (Faculty of Business) and International Medical University Malaysia (Bachelor in Digital Health). She has given guest lectures at Yale University (2022), University of Georgia (2018), and Georgia Technology of Institute (2018), USA, Cardiff University (2017), UK, Soongsil University (2016), Korea, and as a Keynote Speaker at the recent Artificial Intelligence and Data Engineering 2019 Conference (India). She has also appeared in the local media (BFM Radio Malaysia, TV3), local newspapers and magazine (The Star, Berita Harian, Her World), and served as an expert advisor in a round table session (Communications and Multimedia Content Forum Malaysia) on cyberbullying detection mechanisms. 

Dr Balakrishnan was recently recognized as one of the Successful People in Malaysia in the June 2022 issue as part of the British Media Publishing House publication.