GHASEM D. NAJAFPOUR

Professor, Faculty of Chemical Engineering

Chairman of Biotechnology Research Group, Faculty of Chemical Engineering,

Babol Noshirvani University of Technology, Iran

Professor Ghasem D. Najafpour is a distinguished professor in Chemical Engineering and Chairman of Biotechnology Research Center, Babol Noshirvani University of Technology, Iran. He is an educated scholar from University of Arkansas, USA with strong background in biological processes. He is deeply involved in research and teaching in biochemical engineering subjects and he has conducted many practical researches in enzyme technology, fermentation processes, biodiesel, biofuel, biosurfactant, wastewater treatment and biochemical engineering.

He is a Chemical Engineer and Biotechnologist, B.Sc., Medical Technology University of Isfahan, Iran (1972), M.Sc., Chemical Engineering University of Oklahoma, USA (1977) and Ph.D., Chemical Engineering University of Arkansas, USA (1983). He served as assistant professor at University of Mazandran, Iran (1983-1989). Visiting Professor at University of Waterloo Canada and University of Arkansas, USA (1990-1991). He also spent his sabbatical leave at University of Arkansas, USA (1992-1993). There, he has expanded his scientific research activities on single cell protein (SCP), Microbial fuel cells, renewable energy and synthetic fuels. He served as associate professor at University of Mazandaran, Iran, (1994-1998) and Universiti of Sains Malaysia, Malaysia (1998 – 2005). Since 2005, he was qualified and appointed as professor in Faculty of Chemical Engineering at Babol Noshirvani University of Technology, Iran.

Since 2008, he is serving as Editor in Chief of International Journal of Engineering, World Applied Sciences Journal, and Middle East Journal of Scientific Research. He is also Editor in Chief of Iranica Journal of Energy and Environment since 2006. In addition, he is Editor of Journal of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Academic Journals, since 2007. He is an active member of many international institutes, editor and reviewers of number of international journals and many scientific societies. Often he is invited to many international conferences as keynote speakers.

In past decades, he has supervised more than 165 master and 38 Ph.D. students. He has published more than 450 papers in international journals and has written 10 books in the field of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology. In year 2006, he has published his 1^st edition of his book with Elsevier entitled "Biochemical Engineering & Biotechnology". The 2nd edition of "Biochemical Engineering & Biotechnology" with 20 chapters is published by Elsevier on Feb. 2015.

A few times, he has been awarded and appointed by the Ministry of High Education of Iran as the best and top researcher in Iranian Universities. He won number of awards for research achievements and winner of gold medal for the Invention/Innovation sponsored by Ministry of Science, Technology Malaysia, 2004. His researches for formulation of transparent soap and natural biodegradable liquid detergent from palm oil’s fatty acids, was patented with SIRIM Berhad, Malaysia (2003). Currently, he is supervising number of PhD scholars and conducting top research projects on microbial fuel cells, biodiesel biohydrogen, biodiesel, biofuel from algae, bioethanol from agro-wastes, enzyme technology, renewable energy, heterogeneous catalytic processes, wastewater treatment and biological treatment processes.

PROF. DR. NORANI MUTI MOHAMED

Norani Muti is a professor at the Department of Fundamental & Applied Sciences at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP). Currently she is holding the position as a Director for UTP Centre of Innovative Nanostructures & Nanodevices (COINN). She obtained her BSc, MSc and PhD in Physics from University of Essex, UK. She specializes in the area of Thin Film Technology, Semiconductor Technology and Nanotechnology. She established “Centre of Innovative Nanostructures and Nanodevices (COINN)” at UTP with the objective of establishing a library of nanomaterials and synthesis techniques for accelerated production of innovative and beneficial commercialized products. In 2011, COINN had been recognized as NanoMalaysia Centre of Excellence based on its continuous effort on R&D on nanotechnology, focusing on alternative and renewable energy. Research works undertaken are very much focused on cutting-edge research areas ranging from novel materials with innovative nanostructures to novel nanodevices. She has published over 200 research papers with some of her achievements been awarded medals at various local and international exhibitions. About RM25 million in research funding has been secured with accomplishment of more than 10 research grants as principle investigator. She is also actively involved in International Organization of Standardization in Nanotechnologies (ISO/TC229) as the technical expert and as chairperson of working group 2 (measurement and characterization) in Malaysia.  At international level, she is a Programme Management Board member of Lloyd’s Register Foundation International Consortium of Nanotechnologies (LRF-ICON) which is based in Southampton, UK. Nationally, she is the fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) and the project leader in NanoMalaysia Institute for Innovative Technology (NanoMITe) Global Research Consortium.

DR. THANG KA FEI

Dr Thang Ka Fei graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering and a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Bath, UK. He is also a Chartered Engineer and a member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), UK. Before joining APU, Dr Thang has served as Senior Technical Manager with an engineering software firm for eight years of which his primary roles are on leading a team of Application Engineers in providing engineering software solutions in MATLAB and Simulink to R&D communities in South-East Asia. He was also a professional trainer in engineering software solutions for the areas of signal and image processing, optimisation and artificial intelligence. Dr Thang is now serving Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU) as Head of School of Engineering. His responsibilities are to manage the quality processes of the School in teaching and learning as well as ensuring continuous professional accreditation for all the engineering programmes with Board of Engineers, Malaysia (BEM). Dr Thang has also been involving proactively in securing internship placement for engineering students and in industry collaborations with companies.