Seven distinguished academics from UTAR have been named 2024 Top Scholars by ScholarGPS, a global platform that recognises exceptional research performance. This accolade places the honourees among the top 0.5% of scholars worldwide, in recognition of their strong publication records, citation impact, and scholarly influence in their respective fields.
The seven honourees are:
• Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong, UTAR Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations
• Prof ChM Ts Dr Sin Jin Chung, Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology (FEGT)
• Assoc Prof ChM Ts Dr Lam Sze Mun, Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology (FEGT)
• Assoc Prof Ir ChM Dr Lee Tin Sin, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES)
• Dr Tan Kok Tat, Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology (FEGT)
• Prof Dr Lee Voon Hsien, Teh Hong Piow Faculty of Business and Finance (THP FBF)
• Assoc Prof Dr Leong Lai Ying, Teh Hong Piow Faculty of Business and Finance (THP FBF)
Among the honourees, Prof Choong was ranked in the top 0.5% of scholars globally for his outstanding work in Finance, particularly in the areas of Foreign Direct Investment (#64) and Investment (#399) over his career. His ranking reflects not only the depth and quality of his academic work but also its broader impact on global financial markets.
Prof Choong said, “This recognition is a reflection of the collaborative research culture at UTAR and the support systems that encourage impactful scholarly work. It also serves as motivation for us to continue contributing knowledge that addresses global and regional challenges in finance and economics.”
Both Prof Sin and Dr Lam were recognised for their research excellence in the fields of antibacterial activity, environmental sciences, and palm oil.
Prof Sin was ranked #347 globally for lifetime work in Antibacterial Activity, and within the top tier for Palm Oil (#18), Environmental Sciences (#462), and Bacteria (#736) over the past five years.
Prof Sin remarked, “I am honoured to be recognised alongside other leading researchers. This achievement reflects the value of persistence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the research environment cultivated at UTAR.”
Dr Lam was listed #348 globally for lifetime contributions to Antibacterial Activity, and notably ranked #15 for Palm Oil, with further recognition in Civil and Environmental Engineering (#1,095) and Bacteria (#745) in the last five years.
Dr Lam shared, “This recognition reaffirms the importance of contributing to impactful research. I am grateful for the encouragement and resources UTAR provides to help researchers grow and innovate.”
Dr Lee was recognised for his expertise in polymer science, ranking #12 globally for Polylactic Acid and #23 for Polyvinyl Alcohol over his career. In the last five years, he achieved an outstanding #9 ranking for Polylactic Acid.
Dr Tan was honoured for his significant contributions to sustainable energy, ranked #22 globally for Biodiesel Production, #84 for Biodiesel, and within the broader Energy category (#7,343) over his career.
Prof Lee was listed as a Top Scholar in Expert System, achieving a lifetime global ranking of #285 in this field.
Dr Leong earned recognition for her interdisciplinary research spanning artificial intelligence, business, and finance. She ranked #465 globally for Artificial Neural Network and #1,503 for Neural Network in her career, while in the past five years she achieved #145 in Finance, #66 in Artificial Neural Network, #83 in Expert System, #461 in Neural Network, and #900 in Business and Management.
ScholarGPS honours top scholars worldwide based on their exceptional contributions and influential research. The platform offers a comprehensive overview of rankings across 14 broad fields such as medicine and engineering, 177 disciplines including surgery and computer science, and over 350,000 specialities, such as cancer, artificial intelligence, and palm oil research.
As a leading institution in research and innovation, UTAR remains committed to nurturing future leaders and advancing knowledge through cutting-edge research. The recognition of these scholars by ScholarGPS reinforces UTAR’s commitment to academic excellence and further strengthens the University’s role as a key contributor in the global academic landscape.
Top row, from left: Prof Choong, Prof Sin, Dr Lam and Dr Le
Bottom row, from left: Dr Tan, Prof Lee and Dr Leong
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