PG Best Student Award and 63rd Convocation

A very good year 2019 turned out to be. Mei Ling was awarded the Best Postgrad Student Award by SPS on November 1st 2019 at a ceremony in Pulai Spring Resort. This time around, the supervisor was given the honor to put on the bonnet on his/her student to symbolize the end of the student’s study journey. May have to wait a while for the update as the picture was only taken by SPS official photographer.

The next day on November 2nd 2019, Β the 63rd convocation commenced. One surprising thing during the ceremony; found 2 other colleagues from Imperial wearing the same robe! So of course we have to take pictures πŸ™‚

& because all 3 of us was lining up together at the stairs, even the professors were taken in by the uniqueness of our robes & had to have a picture with us πŸ™‚

That aside, this is the ceremony to mark the PhD and some Master students achievement (some as in this is only the 1st session from the 4 days). Sulaiman (my 2nd PhD student) was supposed to be in this convo together with Mei Ling but he couldn’t come. Still, I’m very proud of my students and a big congratulations to them both & especially Dr Ng Mei Ling!

 

 

 

Industrial collaboration – CLM

Tough it was Saturday (July 06 2019), I went to KL with the Director of IBD to discuss on potential collaborative work with CLM. Maybe some knows this company, it’s Chris Leong Method (bone specialist) that utilizes Tit Tar method to treat bone/joints.

We went to the branch in Mid Valley via Malindo Air. I must say; this is the first time I used Malindo Air and fly with propeller type airplane πŸ™‚

Anyway, the discussion went well. Beyond well actually as the owner, Dato’ Seri Dr. Chris Leong agreed to collaborate with us via IBD, UTM for a 12 months project. A 50% check for the total amount of the work was also presented to us on the same day before we head back to JB. It was well worth spending half a day discussing and finding an agreement that satisfy both parties.

 

Viva voce-Mei Ling’s

Yesterday (May 28th 2019), my 3rd phD student Mei Ling had her viva. It was rather challenging to have a viva during fasting month. The external arrived late the night before and had a problem with Scholars Inn not providing sahur. Luckily everything went smooth, the viva ended at around 11:05 am. One of the quickest I have attended. Thank you to Prof Dr Nor Aini Shukor from UPM for attending and the fruitful comments to improve Mei Ling’s thesis, the same goes for the internal, PM Dr Saleh. Thank you goes all around to the chairperson, assistant chairperson & co-supervisor as well

Now it’s time for her to correct her thesis and then after Raya, the celebration of her passing her viva πŸ™‚

ICBME 2019

A rather late entry but 2nd ICBME 2019 was held in Bali from April 11-12th 2019. First time ever, bringing 4 students along and presenting all current research at the conference! Bravo all my students!

In actual, I played “mother” to 2 other students too πŸ™‚

From left to right, top to bottom, each student present their current/previous research according to the schedule; Heera, Mei Ling, Zetty, Punita & I presented Akmal’s work

Then off we went for some sightseeing. Maybe this kind of activities (outdoor get together) should be done every year

 

 

Viva voce-Heera

The first viva in the new year starts off with Heera’s (Wednesday, January 16th 2019). As per requirement by FS, the supervisor’s attendance in the viva is compulsory even for a master by mixed mode. This is new for us from Bioscience as it wasn’t compulsory previously & the supervisor usually opted to not attending a student’s viva. The conduct was also similar to master by research; no time limit for defense. What an experience as I’ve also never been to my own students (master by mixed mode) viva before and Heera is my 8th student from the programme. Congrats Heera on your viva!

And, as per usual with ZR lab’s tradition, we had a little celebratory lunch later on (little as in some other students are not there since this is still sem break)