POSTGRADUATE

For further details please contact the programme chair Dr Zarul Hazrin Hashim: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Biotechnology, an area of applied biology, involves the practical application of cells or its components in manufacturing and service industries. Biotechnology is multidisciplinary, involving the integration of knowledge from microbiology, biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, chemistry as well as chemical and process engineering. This programme aims to develop a strong understanding in cellular biology involving microbiology, biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology of biocatalysts: This will then be followed with discussion on modern approaches in the modifi cation of the characteristics of biocatalysts followed by product formation through fermentation and bioconversions. Aspects of cell culture techniques in plant and animal cells will also be discussed.

Graduate of Biotechnology programme enjoy a wide range of career opportunities in research and development sectors with government institutions and private companies such as in environmental, industrial, medical, pharmaceutical, agriculture, food processing and academic related to management or manipulations of microorganisms

Our academic staff specialize in many aspects of entomology and offer training in the following areas of research: aquatic entomology, urban & structural entomology, chemical ecology, insect biochemistry and physiology, insect-plant interactions, molecular entomology, pest management, medical entomology, vector ecology & control and insect systematics. In addition, the School of Biological Sciences also houses the Vector Control Research Unit (VCRU), a leading centre in vector and urban pest control research in Asia. The unit is equipped with various facilities in insecticide resistance, toxicology and analysis, space spray applications, household and public health insecticide formulations. The VCRU also has excellent rearing facilities for many species and strains of vector mosquitoes, cockroaches, flies, household ants and subterranean & drywood termites.

For further details please contact the programme chair Assoc. Prof. Dr Abdul hafiz Ab. Majid: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Entomology and Parasitology programme is important for the development of the nation. Malaysia lies in a tropical zone, and thus is often invaded by various vectorborne diseases (especially mosquitoes and housefl ies) which are capable of transmitting diseases like malaria, dengue, fi lariasis, Japanese encephalitis and typhoid. The strategy for the control of such diseases is not through medication of sick patients, but through the reduction in the source of infection of the disease, which is often the mosquitoes and other vectors. The ability to effectively control the vectors is only possible through extensive knowledge on the biology and the behaviour of those vectors.

Extensive urbanization brings an imbalance between infrastructural development and human activities towards the natural habitats, and this has resulted in the increase of insects and urban pest population like cockroaches, ants, termites, rats, crows etc. Thus, the biology and management of vector and parasite programme will expose students to various vectors and parasites, as well as their life cycle patterns, the ecology and behaviour, so as to fully comprehend their epidemiology before effective control strategies can be formulated for the reduction of such diseases. Vector-borne diseases like malaria, fi lariasis, and dengue are still responsible for the high incidence of morbidity and mortality in many tropical countries, including Malaysia. Thus through this program, students will have a better understanding of the biology of the vectors like mosquitoes and fl ies, as well as their relationship with the transmitted parasites or pathogens.

Graduates are able to work in parasitology research, veterinary, health and academia. Other options of careers include positions in urban as well as agricultural pest control companies.

The plant biology postgraduate programme is dedicated to providing training and experience to allow talented developing scientists to become active and competent professional plant scientists and effective academics. Modern and well-equipped research facilities are available for use by students in the School of Biological Sciences. These include low temperature rooms, tissue culture facilities and GLC. The programme offers special opportunities for research in plant cell and molecular biology, and plant systematic and evolution. Modern instrumentation for all aspects of plant cell and molecular biology such as electron microscope, ultracentrifuges, electrophoresis equipment and computing facilities for DNA and protein sequence analysis housed in individual laboratories and shared facilities are also available. Interdisciplinary study is encouraged and facilitated by programmes in environmental biology, agronomy and plant pathology and biotechnology. The plant biology programme, in collaboration with the environmental and ecology programmes, is actively researching the conservation status of several threatened plant species in Malaysia such as Cryptocoryne

Environmental Biology is increasingly gaining attention, especially in these environmentally-conscience times. Malaysia enjoys the luxury of a rich biodiversity in a relatively small area. Its effective preservation and conservation requires a strong understanding and appreciation of the environment. Students are trained in fundamental and practical aspects of ecology and the environment. Since about 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, the aquatic ecosystems are the major environment and ecosystems on Earth. Aquatic biology and environmental biology are therefore very closely related. Academic personnel in the School of Biological Sciences doing research related to Environmental Biology are also involved in supervising postgraduate students working on Aquatic Biology-related research topics. For this reason, the thrust areas of Aquatic Biology and Environmental Biology are both coordinated under the same Programme Chairperson and comes under the AQEN Bio (AQuatic & ENvironmental Biology) group.

Post-graduate students planning to pursue their Masters of Science or Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees do so by completing a research project supervised by one or more lecturers associated with the AQEN Bio group. For Environmental Biology, students can choose any of the following research thrust areas:

• Animal Behaviour
• Biodiversity Conservation
• Chemical Ecology
• Environmental Pollution
• Population and Community Ecology
• Soil Sciences
• Tropical Forest Ecology
• Tropical Wetland Ecology
• Wildlife Ecology and Management

For a Masters degree, applicants should possess one of the following:

• Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Biology or equivalent.
• Bachelor of Science in Biology or equivalent with several years of experience in a relevant field.
• Foreign applicants are also required to have a minimum score of 550 in TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or minimum score of 6.0 in IELTS (International English Language Testing System).

For a Ph.D., applicants should possess one of the following:

• A Masters degree or a Bachelor degree with First Class Honors (CGPA > 3.67) in a related area.
• Foreign applicants are also required to have a minimum score of 550 in TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or minimum score of 6.0 in IELTS (International English Language Testing System).

Both the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees offered by the School of Biological Sciences in Aquatic Biology and Environmental Biology are by research only. However, applicants may be required to undertake and pass some courses if they are deemed to be academically lacking in certain subjects that may be important to the successful completion of their post-graduate research. A Masters degree on a full-time basis must complete at least 12 months of work and given up to 36 months to complete. On a part-time basis, the minimum time period is 24 months and the maximum period is 72 months. For a Ph.D., full-time students are given a minimum period of 24 months and a maximum of 60 months. For part-time students, the minimum candidacy period is 24 months and a maximum time of 60 months is given to complete the degree.

For admission and application procedures, please refer to the homepage of the Institute of Postgraduate Studies (IPS) at www.ips.usm.my. Information about various financial support schemes available to post-graduate students can also be obtained on the IPS website. Oftentimes, potential research supervisors possess research grants that allow them to financially support some post-graduate students. Applicants are encouraged to first identify and contact a potential research supervisor and enquire about their research project before submitting an application to IPS.

An applied programme in crop protection, plant pathology involves the study and understanding of the etiology, epidemiology and management of plant diseases with the aim of increasing agricultural production and limiting losses caused by pathogens and other predisposing factors. In addition to the traditional research on the various diseases of vegetable, ornamental, tree and fruit crops, other research disciplines include the study and use of microbial pathogens as bioherbicides and role of mycorrhizae in agricultural systems. The programme comprised of several fields including crop protection, fungal pathogens, soil science, mycorrhiza, biofertilizer, bioherbicide, entomology and plant pest management. Conventional and recent biological techniques, such as molecular tools, are adopted in research activities. Some areas of research are Fusarium diseases on agricultural crops in Malaysia, the role of mycorrhiza in agricultural systems, composting and development of biofertilizer and bioenhancer by rhizobacteria.

Aquatic Biology is an area of applied biology that entails the multidisciplinary study and research on fresh-, brackish- and marine biology and ecosystems. Since about 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, these aquatic ecosystems are the major environment and ecosystems on Earth. Aquatic biology and environmental biology are therefore very closely related. Academic personnel in the School of Biological Sciences doing research related to Aquatic Biology are also involved in supervising postgraduate students working on Environmental Biology-related research topics. For this reason, the thrust areas of Aquatic Biology and Environmental Biology are both coordinated under the same Programme Chairperson and comes under the AQEN Bio (AQuatic & ENvironmental Biology) group.

Post-graduate students planning to pursue their Masters of Science or Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees do so by completing a research project supervised by one or more lecturers associated with the AQEN Bio group. For Aquatic Biology, students can choose any of the following research thrust areas:

Aquaculture

• Aquatic Animal Nutrition
• Aquatic Animal Diseases
• Coastal Ecosystem
• Ichthyology
• Limnology
• Marine Ecology
• Oceanography
• Plankton Ecology and Productivity

For Marine & Coastal Biology, students can choose any of the following research thrust areas:

• Coral Reef Ecosystem
• Integrated Coastal Zone Management6
• Marine Pollution and Toxicology
• Marine Culture
• Study on Mangrove Ecosystem

For a Masters degree, applicants should possess one of the following:

• Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Biology or equivalent.
• Bachelor of Science in Biology or equivalent with several years of experience in a relevant field.
• Foreign applicants are also required to have a minimum score of 550 in TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or minimum score of 6.0 in IELTS (International English Language Testing System).

For a Ph.D., applicants should possess one of the following:

• A Masters degree or a Bachelor degree with First Class Honors (CGPA > 3.67) in a related area.
• Foreign applicants are also required to have a minimum score of 550 in TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or minimum score of 6.0 in IELTS (International English Language Testing System).

Both the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees offered by the School of Biological Sciences in Aquatic Biology and Environmental Biology are by research only. However, applicants may be required to undertake and pass some courses if they are deemed to be academically lacking in certain subjects that may be important to the successful completion of their post-graduate research. A Masters degree on a full-time basis must complete at least 12 months of work and given up to 36 months to complete. On a part-time basis, the minimum time period is 24 months and the maximum period is 72 months. For a Ph.D., full-time students are given a minimum period of 24 months and a maximum of 60 months. For part-time students, the minimum candidacy period is 24 months and a maximum time of 60 months is given to complete the degree.

For admission and application procedures, please refer to the homepage of the Institute of Postgraduate Studies (IPS) at www.ips.usm.my. Information about various financial support schemes available to post-graduate students can also be obtained on the IPS website. Oftentimes, potential research supervisors possess research grants that allow them to financially support some post-graduate students. Applicants are encouraged to first identify and contact a potential research supervisor and enquire about their research project before submitting an application to IPS.

Biotechnology is one of the fastest growing areas in applied biology. The practical application of cells or its components in manufacturing and service industries entail the integration of knowledge from microbiology, biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, chemistry as well as chemical and process engineering. The programme gives students theoretical and practical background in biotechnological techniques and applications while developing a strong understanding of cellular biology involving microbiology, biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology. The programme boasts modern research facilities such as an automated DNA sequence, electron microscopes, protein crystallography and a 100 liter fermented. Current postgraduate students also perform studies on gene structure and regulation. Several members of the academic staff investigate aspects of cell culture techniques in plant and animal cells.