TropSc Webinar | International Mountain Day: Mountains and Life
February 26, 2021
Induction Session 2020 Top Research Scientists Malaysia (TRSM)
March 30, 2021
The YSN-ASM Chrysalis Award concluded its 2020 cycle with the Grand Final Pitch held on 9 January 2021 via Zoom. The Grand Final Pitch was also broadcasted via the Academy of Sciences Malaysia’s Facebook page.
The YSN-ASM Chrysalis Award was formerly known as the YSN-ASM Rising Star Award in 2019. This award is targeted specifically at final-year Malaysian PhD students. The award aims to identify and nurture promising PhD candidates to become future pillars of our Science, Technology, and Innovation ecosystem. Selected finalists will also experience continued support and mentoring for the next five years. This step is to ensure that these finalists are groomed to be outstanding researchers who will contribute towards Malaysia’s STI ecosystem.
The fifteen finalists of the 2020 YSN-ASM Chrysalis Award are as follows:
- Chai Yee Ho from the Department of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS
- Fatihah Najirah Jumaah from the Solar Research Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
- Fong Chng Saun from the Institute for Advanced Studies, Universiti Malaya.
- Khoo Tze Sean from the UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
- Lam Jia Yong from the Department of Medical Microbiology, Universiti Putra Malaysia.
- Lee You Zhuan from the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
- Mohamad Fakhrul Ridhwan Samsudin from the Department of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS.
- Mohamad Shazeli Che Zain from the Natural Medicines and Products Research Laboratory (NaturMeds), Universiti Putra Malaysia.
- Nik Aina Syazana Nik Zainuddin from the School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
- Norfadhilatuladha Abdullah from the Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
- Norfazliana Abdullah from the Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
- Polly Yap Soo Xi from the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya.
- Saidatul Sophia Md Sha’rani from the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
- Tan Li Vern from the School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
- Wan Mohd Arif Aziz Japar from the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
In attendance to evaluate these finalists was panel of outstanding scientists and prominent members of the industry and government organisations:
- Professor Ir Dr Sharifah Rafidah Wan Alwi from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia as the Chief Judge. She is also the Chair of the 2021 YSN-ASM Science Leadership Working Group.
- ASM Fellow Professor Ir Dr Dominic Foo Chwan Yee from the University of Nottingham Malaysia.
- Associate Professor Ir Dr Rosdiadee Nordin from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
- Mr Park Seockyu from Merck Malaysia Sdn Bhd.
- Dr Bugs Tan Yeow Kiang from ViTrox Corporation Bhd.
- Tuan Hj Kamaruddin Kassim from Petrosains Sdn Bhd.
- Puan Elena Mazlinda Mazlan from Pusat Sains Negara.
The fifteen finalists formed five groups of three and were asked to harness their scientific knowledge to present innovative projects that brings science and technology front and centre to improve the quality of life. The projects that were on show are as follows:
Group 1: Automated Self-Powered Water Treatment and Monitoring System for Drinkable Water Production
Lam Jia Yong, Mohamad Fakhrul Ridhwan Samsudin, Norfazliana Abdullah
Group 2: Heart Vessel-on-a-Chip: Personalized Medicine for Coronary Artery Disease
Khoo Tze Sean, Norfadhilatuladha Abdullah, Wan Mohd. Arif Aziz Japar
Group 3: Synergistic Program on IoE Smart Monitoring of Sustainable Energy Production from Palm-Based Solar Cell and Water Conservation in A Tropical University Campus
Fong Chng Saun, Fatihah Najirah Jumaah, Lee You Zhuan
Group 4: Implementing Sustainable Agriculture in Malaysia Via Ecosystem-Based Management System
Tan Li Vern, Saidatul Sophia binti Md Sha’rani, Polly Yap Soo Xi
Group 5: Green Development of Standardized Enriched Fraction and Its Load Hydrogel from Centella asiatica L. for Diabetes Treatment in Malaysia
Mohamad Shazeli Che Zain, Chai Yee Ho, Nik Aina Syazana Nik Zainuddin
Each group were given ten minutes to present, and another five minutes to have a question and answer session with the judges.
Aside from the top three performing finalists, awards were also given to acknowledge the best group as well as the Merck Rising Star Award.
Group 1’s immaculate and spirited presentation earned them the Best Team award and received RM3,000 in cash prize from Merck Malaysia Sdn Bhd and certificates of achievement.
The Merck Rising Star Award will receive a RM1,000 cash award and a certificate of achievement from Merck Malaysia Sdn Bhd. This award went to Khoo Tze Sean (UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute).
The first place winner was Lam Jia Yong (Department of Medical Microbiology, Universiti Putra Malaysia), who received RM2,000, a reagent sponsorship worth RM3,000 from Merck Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a RM3,400 Career Development Fund from ASM and a certificate of achievement.
Meanwhile, Mohamad Fakhrul Ridhwan Samsudin (Department of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS) placed second and received cash prize of RM2,000, a reagent sponsorship worth RM3,000 from Merck Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a Career Development Fund of RM3,300 from ASM and a certificate of achievement.
Aside from receiving the Merck Rising Star Award, Khoo Tze Sean was also awarded the third place of the YSN-ASM Chrysalis Award. He received RM2,000 cash prize, a reagent sponsorship worth RM3,000 from Merck Malaysia Sdn Bhd, RM3,300 Career Development Fund from ASM and a certificate of achievement.
Aside from the prizes mentioned above, one of the winners may also secure a one-month industrial placement at ViTrox Corporation Berhad, a post-doc opportunity at Universiti Sains Malaysia, as well as a one-month professional development attachment at the Academy of Sciences Malaysia.