A Chemical Engineering doctoral candidate received the prestigious Robert S. McNamara Fellowship to undertake research work in Sweden

The School of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia celebrates the recent achievement of Mr. Zulkarnain Mohamed Idris, a doctoral student who has been awarded the Robert S. McNamara Fellowship by the World Bank. Zulkarnain is currently working on a project entitled 'Synthesis of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Ordered Mesoporous Composite for Biomolecules Recovery' under the supervision of Dr. Azam Taufik Mohd Din. He will be leaving for a 9-month research attachment beginning July 2017 until March 2018 in Lund University, Sweden working in the laboratory of Professor Emeritus Dr. Bo Mattiasson. Bo is a renowned scientist in the field of biotechnology and had published many high impact publications as well as edited a number of research books in the area. He will supervise Zulkarnain during the 9-month stay in Lund.

Mr. Zulkarnain (left) with his PhD supervisor, Dr. Azam (right).

The Robert S. McNamara Fellowship Program provides support to candidates from the developing countries who are working on doctoral research within the academic and research institutions. The Fellowship Program provides funding up to USD25,000 for the candidate to undertake research work in a World Bank member country other than their home country or country of residence. Since the inception of the Program in 1982, 247 candidates have been granted the fellowship from a pool of about 9,000 applicants representing all regions of the World Bank. The Robert S. McNamara Fellowship Program has achieved a wide recognition, especially in the developing countries and has also become well-known within the World Bank, especially with recent efforts to link research topics to the World Development Report (WDR).

The School of Chemical Engineering is indeed very proud to have an active researcher such as Zulkarnain and hope that the research tradition will continue among other postgraduate students to expand their horizon abroad.

Text : A.P. Dr. Mohamad Hekarl Uzir