The Research and Postgraduate Centre congratulates Tey Ker Yee and Dr. Yip Chi Kiong for being awarded Science & Technology Research Grant and Science Education Award Winner Prize by the Malaysia Toray Science Foundation 2022 (MTSF 2022), respectively.

Tey Ker Yee, a master’s student in New Energy Science and Engineering, won a grant of RM12,000 with her work “Enhanced 1,3-Propanediol Productivity via Microbial Immobilization of Locally Isolated Strain” focuses on the 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO) production from pre-treated glycerol fermentation using an immobilized microbe. 

In Malaysia, crude glycerol is the main by-product generated in the biodiesel production process and it appears as a low-cost carbon source for microbial fermentation. Among the various value-added chemical commodities, 1,3-PDO receives great attention due to its high demand in a multitude of applications. In her study, Tey Ker Yee proposed that the two bottlenecks of this biotechnology, inhibitory effects of direct crude glycerol fermentation and low cell density to achieve competitive productivity, could be combated by implementing pre-treatment and cell immobilization techniques.

“I am very grateful for the guidance of my main supervisor, Dr. Tan Jian Ping, co-supervisors Dr Yeap Swee Keong and Dr. Hui Yew Woh from China-ASEAN Institute of Marine Sciences, co-researcher Dr. Abdullah Amru Indera Luthfi, as well as the endless support by XMUM,” said Tey Ker Yee.

"This research project which aims to combat the industrial waste, crude glycerol in Malaysia via a relatively environmental friendly microbial fermentation to produce a valuable chemical, 1,3-propanediol has motivated me to apply for this grant, which allows me to make a little contribution to the science and technology in Malaysia."

, a senior lecturer from the School of Computing and Data Science, was awarded 2022 Science Education Award Winner Prize with the project “Contactless Ultrasonic Musical Instrument”, an award to Malaysian science educators in recognition of their innovative and effective teaching methods in science education. 

Each note of the piano can be represented as a frequency. By moving the hand over this instrument, the place of the hand will be detected and translated into a frequency using a combination of microprocessor sensing instruments. This project also collaborated with Associate Professor Ir. Dr. Wong Shen Yuong from the School of Electrical Engineering and Artificial Intelligence. 

It is worth mentioning that Dr. Yip also won the Science Education award from MTSF in 2019 and 2021. 

https://www.xmu.edu.my/2021/0305/c16257a427507/page.htm 
https://www.xmu.edu.my/2019/1127/c18050a400478/page.htm 

Malaysia Toray Science Foundation is funded by Toray Japan Science Foundation to promote science and technology in Malaysia, awarding outstanding achievements which contributed to the advancement of scientific and technological progress. The awarding ceremony will be held on 22 November 2022 at InterContinental Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. 

Image Tey Ker Yee

Image Dr. Yip Chi Kiong