📝 Summary
Dr. Yılmaz Kaya from Ondokuz Mayıs University in Türkiye has joined the Faculty of Science at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia as a Visiting Lecturer to conduct collaborative research and strengthen academic networking. The collaboration is part of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two universities and focuses on projects such as isolating bacterial endophytes and evaluating their plant growth-promoting potential. The partnership aims to establish a UTM-OMÜ Satellite Research Laboratory and support multidisciplinary research in molecular biology, microbiology, and environmental biotechnology.
JOHOR BAHRU, Jul 1 – The Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), proudly welcomed Dr. Yılmaz Kaya from Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMÜ), Türkiye, as a Visiting Lecturer under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two universities.
Dr. Kaya, who also serves as the MoU coordinator from OMÜ, will be attached to the Department of Biosciences from June to August 2026.
During his stay, he will conduct collaborative research, strengthen academic networking, and explore new strategic initiatives between OMÜ and UTM.
His current visit focuses on the implementation of the international research project entitled “Isolation of Bacterial Endophytes from Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) Genotypes, Evaluation of Their Plant Growth-Promoting Potential and Screening for Selected Biotechnological Properties.”
The project is jointly conducted by Dr. Yılmaz Kaya, Principal Investigator, from OMÜ and Prof. Dr. Fahrul Zaman Huyop from the Faculty of Science, UTM. The project is funded by the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit (BAP), OMÜ, under Project Code: BAP05-2025-5836 as an International Research Collaboration Project.
Running for 18 months, from 15 April 2025 to 15 October 2026, the project represents one of the flagship research activities established under the UTM–OMÜ MoU.
Beyond the current project, both institutions are planning to further strengthen their partnership through a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) that will establish a UTM–OMÜ Satellite Research Laboratory within the Faculty of Science.
The proposed laboratory, with an estimated development budget of approximately RM100,000, will focus on advanced research in molecular biology, microbiology, microbial biotechnology and environmental biotechnology.
The satellite laboratory is expected to support multidisciplinary research involving postgraduate students and research officers from Malaysia and international partners. Future collaborative projects will include studies on bacterial endophytes, microbial biotechnology, honey bioactive compounds from the highlands of Türkiye and Pakistan and microbial degradation of pollutants in mangrove ecosystems.
During his visit, Dr. Kaya also held a series of scientific discussions with researchers from the Department of Biosciences. Among those participating were Dr. Fazilah Abd. Manan, Dr. Izzati Mohd Noh, Dr. Raihana Abdul Wahab and Prof. Dr. Fahrul Zaman Huyop.
The discussions explored potential collaborative grants, postgraduate student exchanges, joint publications, and future research directions in agricultural biotechnology and environmental microbiology.
The collaboration will continue beyond the laboratory through international academic engagement. Dr. Kaya has been invited as an Invited Speaker at the 8th International Conference on Biosciences and Biomedical (ICBME 2026), organised by the Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Science, UTM.
The conference will be held in Hat Yai, Thailand, from 26 to 28 August 2026, where he will present the latest findings from the ongoing UTM–OMÜ collaborative research project.
The Faculty of Science believes that this collaboration will further strengthen UTM’s international research profile while providing valuable opportunities for staff and postgraduate students to engage in high-impact multidisciplinary research with global partners.
