BIOGRAPHY

EUR ING. Ir. Ts. Dr. Tan Mei Ching received her PhD degree in Food Engineering from Universiti Putra Malaysia in 2015. She is currently Assistant Professor at School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University Malaysia. Her research focuses on ultrasonication on food unit operation, bioplastic synthesis, and wastewater treatment. She has high publication in high impact factor journals and patented intellectual property. She was awarded as Professional Engineer by Board of Engineer Malaysia (BEM) in 2022, Chartered Engineer by Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), UK in 2021, and Professional Technologist by Malaysia Board of Technologists (MBOT) in 2020. She has won several invention and innovation awards in national and international levels, and secured full sponsorship from Research Link Scheme offered by Newton-Ungku Omar Fund (NUOF), the British Council and Academy of Sciences Malaysia for Innovation Workshop on Food Aeration in Campden, UK. She has many years experience in supervising undergraduate final year projects and postgraduate research projects in Chemical Engineering as main supervisor with distinguished output on publication and award.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Bioplastic synthesis, Agricultural waste management, Food unit operation, Wastewater treatment, Ultrasonication

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

• Post-Graduate Diploma in Tertiary Teaching, UCSI University, Malaysia (2018)

• PhD (Food Engineering), Department of Process and Food Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia (2015)

• MSc (Food Engineering), Universiti Putra Malaysia (2011)

• BSc (Process and Food Engineering), Universiti Putra Malaysia (2009)

WORKING EXPERIENCE  

• Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, UCSI University, Malaysia (2017 to 2022).

• Lecturer, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, UCSI University, Malaysia (2015 to 2017).

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE / GRANTS

• Ultrasound effect on extraction of lignin from potential plants as UV-protector film, UCSI Research Excellence & Innovative Grant, RM50000, Principal Investigator.

• Synthesis of biodegradable plastic: The properties and biodegradation mechanisms, UCSI Research Excellence & Innovative Grant, RM45000, Co-Investigator.

• Ultrasound and osmotic assisted solvent extraction of hazelnut oil and protein, UCSI Pioneer Scientist Incentive Fund, RM35000, Principal Investigator.

• Ultrasound treated adsorbent for dye and heavy metal removal, UCSI Pioneer Scientist Incentive Fund, RM24000, Principal Investigator.

REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS

• Yap, K.Y., & Tan, M.C. (2021). Oil adsorption onto different types of microplastic in synthetic seawater. Environmental Technology & Innovation, 101994. (Q1)

• Geow, C.H., Tan, M.C., Yeap, S.P., & Chin, N.L. (2021). A review of extraction techniques and its future applications in industry. European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology, 2000302. (Q1)

• Geow, C.H., Tan, M.C., Yeap, S.P., & Chin, N.L. (2021). Application of osmotic dehydration and ultrasound to enhance hazelnut oil extraction. Food Analytical Methods, 1-11. (Q1)

• Geow, C.H., Tan, M.C., Yeap, S.P., & Chin, N.L. (2021). Kinetic mechanism of hazelnut oil extraction with ultrasound assisted osmotic dehydration pretreatment. Food and Bioprocess Technology, 1-8. (Q1)

• Chan, Y.T., Tan, M.C., & Chin, N.L. (2019). Application of Box-Behnken design in optimization of ultrasound effect on apple pectin as sugar replacer. LWT – Food Science and Technology, 115, 108-449. (Q1)

• Chan, Y.T., Tan, M.C., & Chin, N.L. (2018). Effect of partial sugar replacement with ultrasonically treated citrus pectin on aeration and rheological properties of batter. Journal of Food Processing and Preservation, e13827. (Q2)

• Low, S.K., Tan, M.C., & Chin, N.L. (2018). Effect of ultrasound pre-treatment on adsorbent in dye adsorption compared with ultrasound simultaneous adsorption. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, 48, 64-70. (Q1)

• Low, S.K., & Tan, M.C. (2018). Dye adsorption characteristic of ultrasound pre-treated pomelo peel. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 6(2), 3502-3509. (Q1)

• Tan, M.C., Chin, N.L., Yusof, Y.A., & Abdullah, J. (2016). Novel 2D and 3D imaging of internal aerated structure of ultrasonically treated foams and cakes using X-ray tomography and X-ray microtomography. Journal of Food Engineering. (Q1)

• Tan, M.C., Chin, N.L., Yusof, Y.A., & Abdullah, J. (2015). Effect of high power ultrasonic treatment on whey protein foaming quality. International Journal of Food Science and Technology. (Q1)

• Tan, M.C., Chin, N.L., Yusof, Y.A., Taip, F.S., & Abdullah, J. (2014). Improvement of eggless cake structure using ultrasonically treated whey protein. Food and Bioprocess Technology: An International Journal, 1-10. (Q1)

• Tan, M.C., Chin, N.L., Yusof, Y.A., Taip, F.S., & Abdullah, J. (2014). Characterisation of improved foam aeration and rheological properties of ultrasonically treated whey protein suspension. International Dairy Journal. (Q1)

• Tan, M.C., Chin, N.L., & Yusof, Y.A. (2011). Power ultrasound aided batter mixing for sponge cake batter. Journal of Food Engineering, 104 (3), 430-437.  (Q1)

• Tan, M.C., Chin, N.L., & Yusof, Y.A. (2010). A Box-Behnken design for determining the optimum experimental condition of cake batter mixing. Food and Bioprocess Technology: An International Journal, 5(3), 972-982. (Q1)

• Chin, L. N., Tan, C. M., Pa, N. F. C., & Yusof, Y. A. Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), 2015. Method and apparatus for high intensity ultrasonic treatment of baking materials. U.S. Patent No. 9,028,131.

• Chin, N.L., Tan, M.C., Che Pa, N.F., & Yusof, Y.A., Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), 2012. Method and apparatus for high intensity ultrasonic treatment of baking materials. Malaysia Patent International Publication No. WO2012/047092A3.

HONORS/AWARDS

• Best Researcher Award (2019), Faculty of Engineering, Technology and Built Environment, UCSI University.

• Silver Medal, Outstanding Performances Award (2015), International Trade Fair “Ideas-Inventions-New Products” (iENA), Germany.

• Silver Medal, Invention and Innovation Award (2015), Malaysia Technology Expo (MTE).

• Best Paper Award (2014), Ist International Conference on Food Properties (iCFP).

• Bronze Medal (2011), Invention, Research and Innovation Exhibition (PRPI), University Putra Malaysia.