COLLABORATION: Professor Taufiq (left) with Professor Ian Kerr (centre) and Professor Aaron Goh.
MIRI: Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) made another major milestone in its Research Institute (CSRI) when it appointed Professor Dr Taufiq Yap, a distinguished international scientist, as the institute’s first Visiting Professor.
Professor Dr Taufiq’s appointment offers Senior Research Fellowships, Visiting Fellowships and Early Career Development Fellowships to researchers who can contribute to Curtin Sarawak’s commitment to enhancing its research activities.
CSRI is a newly-established multi-disciplinary research institute at Curtin Sarawak committed to collaborating with distinguished professors from around the world to help achieve its vision of being a world-renowned research organisation dedicated to addressing the energy and biotechnology needs of the region.
Professor Taufiq Yap of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) is currently the coordinator of PutraCAT, the Centre of Excellence for Catalysis Science and Technology at UPM’s Faculty of Science.
He is a distinguished international scientist and has won several awards, including the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation’s ‘National Young Scientist Award’; the Junior Chamber International Malaysia’s ‘Outstanding Young Malaysian Award’ in the Science and Technology Development category; and the Malaysian Solid State Science and Technology Society’s ‘Young Researcher Award’.
Professor Taufiq Yap will contribute to research in recovering biofuels from biomass at CSRI.
He has an established track record in developing advanced materials for energy such as development of heterogeneous catalysts for biodiesel/biolubricant production, dry reforming of methane for hydrogen production and biomass conversion to syngas and bio-oil.
His other research interest is in natural products chemistry where he is involved in the isolation and structural determination of bioactive compounds.
According to Curtin Sarawak’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Kerr, the appointment of Professor Taufiq Yap as CSRI’s first Visiting Professor is an important milestone for the institute.
“Professor Taufiq Yap’s appointment underpins CSRI’s commitment to the pursuit of excellence in research and development in the areas of renewable energies and biofuels.
“His experience and expertise will also help to grow research capacity at Curtin Sarawak by nurturing and supporting Curtin researchers,” said Professor Kerr.
Sharing Professor Kerr’s sentiments, director of CSRI Professor Aaron Goh commented: “We are delighted to have a scientist of Professor Yap’s stature joining CSRI. He brings to his new role a wealth of experience in conducting research of national and international standing. I am sure the researchers at Curtin Sarawak will benefit greatly from lively and informative exchanges with him.”
Professor Taufiq Yap, meanwhile, said he was glad to be part of the team in CSRI and to contribute to its research programmes by sharing his research expertise and exchanging viewpoints with the other researchers.