Associate Professor Dr. Shafinaz Shahir is an expert in the field of Environmental Biotechnology exploiting microbial systems and bionanomaterials to promote the bioremediation and biodegradation of heavy metals and organic contaminants. She assumed her role as the Dean of the Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (FS) in September 2023.
Science has been the educational foundation of UTM ever since the university’s establishment in 1972. Our earliest program offerings in chemistry, physics, and mathematical sciences have evolved significantly to include biosciences, reinforcing our commitment to scientific innovation and a strong legacy of academic excellence that we proudly promote.
FS continues to shine and rapidly develop with the growing prominence of UTM, having won the prestigious UTM’s Academic Quality Award three times. This award is a testament to our utmost commitment to delivering the highest quality educational experience for our students. Our academic programs are also at the forefront and widely recognized, with FS as one of the first faculties to receive the ASEAN University Network Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) certification.
At the core of the Faculty’s mission lies the close nurturing of students, instilling in them a passion for scientific discoveries and creativities to unlock their professional and personal potential. We proudly hold the enduring record of producing the two youngest PhD holders in Malaysia, a distinction recognized by the Malaysia Book of Records. Furthermore, FS also significantly contribute to UTM’s stellar achievements in graduate employability and the development of highly-skilled graduates.
Our Faculty thrives on strong collaborations with universities and industry partners spanning diverse countries, fostering a vibrant ecosystem for fundamental and applied sciences. In the realm of research, FS has an impressive portfolio, especially through its many outstanding research groups, and the three Centres of Excellence: Centre for Sustainable Nanomaterials (CSNano), the Laser Centre, and UTM Centre for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (UTM-CIAM), which showcase our dedication to innovating sustainable solutions for transformative learning and living.
Our staff members are actively engaged in various scientific and professional bodies, such as being inducted as Fellow, Top Research Scientists Malaysia (TRSM), and Associates of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM), and members of the Young Scientists Network – Academy of Sciences Malaysia (YSN-ASM). Additionally, our staff are also prominently listed among the top 2% of highly-cited scientists in the world.
FS also champions various STEM outreach-related engagements, as evident from our close collaborations with national and international agencies, learned and civil societies, and the local communities. We also endeavour to maximize our impacts on the local communities through knowledge transfer projects, such as our successful urban farming initiatives, and the collaboration with the local fishermen community in the application of our proprietary heavy metal removal technology.
For more detailed information and updates about the Faculty of Science, please visit our official website: https://science.utm.my.