Assoc. Prof. Dr. Madihah Md Salleh: Pioneering Biorefinery and Industrial Biotechnology for Sustainable Solutions

Associate Professor Dr. Madihah Md Salleh graduated with a BSc (Biotechnology) from Universiti Pertanian Malaysia in 1990. I was employed as a contract researcher at the Department of Biotechnology, Institute Medical Research (IMR), Kuala Lumpur before pursuing my Master’s degree in the year 1992. I obtained my PhD in Biotechnology from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and joined Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) as a lecturer in the year 2000. I have developed a strong research interest in the field of Biorefinery Technology and Industrial Biotechnology. My project focuses on the utilization of several types of biomass such as agricultural wastes to value-added products via enzymatic reactions and fermentation processes. In addition, I have also made significant contributions to research in microbial nanocellulose, enzyme and fermentation technology, and Environmental Biotechnology. Apart from leading projects funded by MOSTI, Industry and University Grants, I have also lent my expertise to several projects related to microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) in collaboration with Malaysian Oil and Gas Company, PETRONAS. I expanded my research expertise through collaborations as a co-researcher on the UK-Southest Asia Small Scale Research Partnerships Project-Newton Ungku Omar Fund (UK-SEA-NUOF) for the project entitled “Sustainable production of compost, biofuels, and chemicals from oil palm residues” in collaboration with the University of York, UK.

My expertise in fermentation and enzyme technology has been applied to the project entitled “Harnessing Sustainable Development Opportunities from Oil Palm Waste: Black Soldier Fly Larvae as a Novel Income Stream in Malaysia”. This project is funded by the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) and the Biotechnology and Biological Research Council, UK under the Newton Fund Impact Scheme. Additionally, I am involved in several projects related to the food industry, such as ADABI, focusing on the development of cat food flavor from chicken wastes using biorefinery concepts.

In my academic capacity, I actively participate as an Executive Board Member of the Asian Federation of Biotechnology (AFOB), AFOB Malaysia Chapter (AFOBMC), and the Korean Asian Biomass Consortium. Over my 24-year tenure as an academic staff at UTM, I have supervised and co-supervised more than 100 postgraduate (Ph.D. and Master) and 200 final-year undergraduate project students.

Beyond my research endeavors, I play a role in academic auditing at UTM and Malaysia Qualifying Assurance (MQA) since 2007. As a senior auditor for MQA, I am appointed as an auditor for Biotechnology programs in both IPTA and IPTS institutions