1. Dr. Avice M. Hall MBE (University of Hertfordshire, UK)
Dr Avice Hall obtained her BSC in Botany and Zoology from the University of Leicester in 1966 and then continued her studies at the University of Exeter where she obtained an MSc in Plant pathology and then a PhD studying clubroot of Crucifers. After a short period of temporary work as a plant pathologist at what was then NAAS at Woodthorne, Wolverhampton , she started lecturing in Plant pathology at the then Hatfield Polytechnic, where she has stayed as the institution developed, expanded and became the University of Hertfordshire over the last 40+ years. Her lecturing covers mycology (including fungal diseases of humans), mycological ecology, plant pathology and the effect of diseases in semi natural plant communities. From 1991 to 2001 she also lectured in plant pathology to all 3 levels of the BSc horticulture degrees at Writtle Agricultural College. This gave her a good understanding of the horticultural industry which complemented her understanding of arable agriculture.
Research interests in the last 15 to 20 years have included, phoma stem canker of oil seed rape, germination of woody seeds including Rosa laxa (HDC funded), rhododendron powdery mildew, rose blackspot (MAAF funded) and currently, powdery mildew on strawberries (HDC funded).
In 2010 she was awarded a Vice Chancellors award for ‘Educational engagement with business and the profession’ and in 2012 she was awarded an MBE for her contribution to higher education at the University of Hertfordshire and the community in St Albans. She is continuing with her research interests on strawberry powdery mildew, and is consultant on this disease in collaboration with East Malling Research on SF157 an HDC project from 2015 to 2020. In addition she is receiving funds from Orionft for work on a silicon nutrient which retards the epidemic development of strawberry powdery mildew.
2. Professor Dr. Latiffah Zakaria (Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang)
Latiffah Zakaria is a Professor from Univesiti Sains Malaysia. She obtained her PhD in Plant Pathology from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), and her research interest is focusing on diversity, systematics and phylogentics of microfungi from various genera with special reference to Fusarium, Colletotrichum, Aspergillus and Penicillium. Her collaborators arealaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Department of Agriculture, Penang, Universitas Gadja Mada, Yodjakarta, Indonesia, Fusarium Research Center (FRC), Pennsylvania State University, USA and CBS-KNAW Fungal Diversity Centre, Netherland.
3. Dr. Nik Mohd Izham (Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang)
Nik Mohd Izham Mohamed Nor is a Senior lecturer at the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang. He graduated with BSc. and MSc at School of Biological Sciences, USM in Microbiology. He completed his Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA. His research interests focuses in identification, fungal genetics, plant disease diagnosis and secondary metabolites of Fusarium species. More recently, he has worked on genetics and pathogenicity of an interspecific hybrids between F. fujikuroi and F. proliferatum and population genetics of Fusarium in mango, sorghum, and rice.
4. Chai Li Fen (Focus Biotech Sdn Bhd)
Chai Li Fen completed her Master on the screening of electrogens from brackish water using Microbial Fuel Cell in University Putra Malaysia. She joined Focus Biotech Sdn Bhd right after she completed her master. She has been working with Focus Biotech for 6 years and during these years she has attended three times Biolog product and technology training in Biolog Inc. in Hayward CA. USA. She has been working 1 year in Singapore as Business Development manager. Currently she is Business Development Manager based in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia and in charged of company product sales and marketing event in ASEAN countries.
5. Dr. Lee Woon Ching (Focus Biotech)
Lee Woon Ching has been trained in Microbiology and Cell Biology. Her PhD focused on the pathogenesis of the intracellular pathogen, /Legionella pneumophila/. She completed the study in both Monash University Malaysia and the University of Melbourne, Australia. During her post-doc research in University of Malaya-High Impact Research, she gained the experience in New England Biolabs, MA, USA for the collaboration project of studying the Genomics of /Helicobacter pylori/. She is currently the Marketing Manager of Focus Biotech Sdn Bhd, for the Biolog’s Phenotype Microarray technology services.
6. Loh Keat Lay (1st Base Sdn Bhd)
Loh Keat Lay is a Technical Support Officer at First Base Laboratories Sdn Bhd. She graduated with Master Degree of Biotechnoclogy at University Sains Malaysia. With the position of Technical Support Officer, Loh Keat Lay plays an important role in provide professional suggestion, information & resolution in Sequencing & Oligo synthesis to end-users. She always work closely with customers to troubleshoot technical applications of their research work.
Till to date, she has more than 10 years of working experience in PCR, recombinant DNA technology, designing Oligo, SNaPShot assay design and sequencing. Subsequently, she has extend her knowledge and ideas to support our Sales Team in building company capacity and again to provide advice and training in primer design and sequencing service to team members, trainees, collaborators and scientists in other institutions (UiTM, IMR, MKAK, UCSI and etc.).