UTM Student Wins RM20,000 Grant for Renewable Energy Research

Amnani

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 – Sharifah Nurain Hussain, a Master student from Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering (FKT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), along with her co-researchers, Dr. Amnani Shamjuddin and Dr. Mohd Asmadi Mohammed Yussuf, have been awarded the esteemed Science & Technology Research Grant (STRG) from the Malaysia Toray Science Foundation (MTSF). The grant was presented during MTSF’s 31st Prize Presentation Ceremony, held at the InterContinental Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

The ceremony was graced by the presence of the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, YB Chang Lih Kang, alongside other prominent figures, including the Honorary Chairman of MTSF, Dato’ Dr. Akihiro Nikkaku; the Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia; the Director of MTSF, Academician Tan Sri Prof. Emeritus Dr. Augustine Ong Soon Hock representing the Chairman of MTSF, Academician Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dr. Omar Abdul Rahman; other board of directors, committee members and honorable guests.

Sharifah Nurain with her co-researchers, Dr. Amnani (right) and Dr. Mohd Asmadi (left).

This team was among the nine distinguished recipients selected from an impressive pool of 368 applicants. Their winning research project, titled “Kinetic Studies of Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation of Ozone Pre-treated Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch for Enhanced Bioethanol”, will be supported with a grant amounting to RM 20,000. This grant will empower them to advance their research in biomass conversion and reaction engineering, with a goal to make a meaningful impact in renewable energy solutions.

STRG of RM 20,000 award certificate was received

Sharifah Nurain Hussain (fifth from the right) stands proudly among the award winners and esteemed VIPs

MTSF is Malaysia’s premier charitable science foundation established by TORAY Industries, Inc., Japan and TORAY Group (Malaysia) to promote science and technology in Malaysia, through supporting deserving Malaysian scientists, young researchers and science educators. This prestigious grant underlines MTSF’s commitment to advancing scientific research and fostering innovation in Malaysia. The recognition of Sharifah’s work and that of her co-researchers, Dr. Amnani Shamjuddin and Dr. Asmadi Mohammed Yussuf highlights UTM’s role in contributing cutting-edge research towards sustainable and innovative solutions. It demonstrates the potential of Malaysian researchers in addressing key scientific and technological challenges.

By: Sharifah Nurain Hussain, Dr. Amnani Shamjuddin