UTAR staff and students bag several Malaysia Toray Science Foundation awards

(Fourth from left) Goh Xue Xin, Prof Dato’ Ewe, Tan Sri Chuah, Ir Prof Goi, Dr Yap, Goh Kai Wey, Zain (second from right) and Dr Yong at the award ceremony

Staff and students from Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science and M. Kandiah Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (MK FMHS) made UTAR proud when they won several prestigious awards at the 29^th Prize Presentation Ceremony of Malaysia Toray Science Foundation (MTSF), held on 22 November 2022 at InterContinental Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

Among the winners were UTAR Vice President for Internationalisation and Academic Development Ir Prof Dr Goi Bok Min and his team, who won the 2022 Science and Technology Award for their research titled “Cryptology, fast implementation of cryptographic algorithms, information security, digital watermarking and template protection biometrics”.

Ir Prof Goi and his co-winners, namely Assoc Prof Ts Dr Yap Wun She, former UTAR Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) student Dr Lee Wai Kong, Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) student Dr Chai Tong Yuen and Prof Ir Dr Raphael Phan Chung Wei from Monash University Malaysia were awarded RM30,000.

Since 2001, Ir Prof Goi and his team have designed many secure efficient cryptographic schemes including merging and integrating several techniques such as biometrics, watermarking, image encryption, homomorphic encryption, and more, creatively to propose new variants of security techniques. His team has also successfully analysed or achieved successful breaks in cryptographic literature in several published cryptographic schemes to prevent these poorly designed insecure schemes from being deployed and thus jeopardizing the security of such systems. Their engineering knowledge and skills in embedded systems design have given them an added advantage to examine not only the security aspects but also the design and fast implementation of advanced cryptographic algorithms in smartcards and GPUs.

From left: Prof Dato’ Ewe, Tan Sri Chuah, Ir Prof Goi and Dr Yap

In addition, UTAR Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) student Goh Xue Xin and Doctor of Philosophy (Medical Science) student Zain Illyaaseen bin Khairudin also won the 2022 Science and Technology Research Grant at the MTSF prize presentation ceremony.

Goh walked away with a research grant worth RM20,000, funded by Toray Science Foundation, Japan. Titled “The in vitro inflammatory gene expression effect of schizophrenia-associated gut and oral bacteria species on SH-SY5Y cell line”, Goh’s research study aimed to assess Schizophrenia patients’ in vitro inflammatory gene expression effects of interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) on SH-SY5Y cell line.

Zain, on the other hand, walked away with a research grant worth RM12,000 for his research study titled “Effects of overexpression of selected heat shock protein genes on Candida albicans virulence”. Zain’s study aimed to explore the effects of overexpressing heat shock protein genes on C. albicans virulence. The results of this study are expected to contribute to a better understanding of the roles of heat shock proteins and more informed research on the development of antifungal drugs.

Last but not least, Centre for Foundation Studies lecturer Goh Kai Wey and his team member Chia Phee Phee were the consolation prize winners of the 2022 Science Education Award. They walked away with RM2,000 as the prize money. Their project titled “Experiment design simulation as the course-based research experience (CRE) in Pre-U Biology Curriculum” aimed to provide students with opportunities to interpret data and practice higher-order thinking.

The award winners were all present at the 29th Prize Presentation Ceremony of Malaysia Toray Science Foundation (MTSF) to receive their respective awards and prizes. Also present were UTAR Council Member Ir Academician Emeritus Prof Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik, who was part of the selection committee for the Science and Technology Award and Science and Technology Research Grant; UTAR President Ir Prof Dato’ Dr Ewe Hong Tat, who was part of the examination committee for the Science Education Award, and Institute of Postgraduate Studies and Research Director Assoc Prof Dr Yong Thian Khok.

MTSF was established in 1993 through a RM4million initial endowment. MTSF is a premier privately-funded charitable organisation with the primary objective of advancing science and technology in Malaysia.