USM, PENANG, 1 September 2016 - Three Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) lecturers in various fields of Engineering have made the institution proud when they were listed amongst the "Most Cited Researchers" in the recent Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities 2016 by subjects.

They are Professor Dr. Bassim H. Hameed (Chemical Engineering and Environmental Science and Engineering) and Professor Dr. Lee Keat Teong (Energy Science and Engineering), both from the USM School of Chemical Engineering, and Professor Dr. Hanafi Ismail (Chemical Engineering) from the USM School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering.

When contacted, Bassim said that he is very honored and proud as this is the first time he has been listed under Chemical Engineering and Environmental Science and Engineering in Shanghai's ranking which is based on academic subject. Prior to this, he was listed as Thomson Reuters’ the World's Most Influential Scientific Minds and Thomson Reuters’ Highly Cited Researcher 2015 and 2014 in the field of Engineering.

“I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation (MOSTI) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) for granting me research funds to make my research possible at USM.

“I also want to acknowledge the excellent works and contributions of all my Postdoctoral Fellows, postgraduate students, researchers, international collaborators and the members of my Reaction Engineering & Adsorption (READ) research group who showed tremendous commitment throughout my 17 years with USM,” said Bassim who hailed from Iraq.

When asked about his advice to the USM's young researchers, Bassim replied: “They need to be focused in conducting good research that is relevant to global issues such as environment, energy, climate change, water security etc. and avoid conducting research solely because of their personal interest.  Also, to published their results in the right top ISI-indexed journals in their fields.”

Meanwhile, Hanafi said that, with the available facilities at the Science and Engineering Research Centre (SERC), USM Engineering Campus in Nibong Tebal and the cohort of young lecturers currently in service there, USM hopes to produce more world-class researchers in the future.

"The young lecturers should always be positive and to persevere in their efforts, but as in any situation, they need to make teaching in research as their core business and also be ready to cooperate with others in their research," he added.

Lee, who is the Director of USM Research Creativity and Management Office (RCMO) and also the Director of USM International Collaborations Office, said that it has always been his objective to share his research findings with other researchers in his field around the world, with the hope that it will contribute to the advancement of science within his field of expertise.

“To the young researchers, find a niche that you are passionate about, and work all out to develop yourself to be recognised as an expert in that niche; do not let intermediate stumbling block or failures to discourage you; continue to persevere and one day you will be duly recognised by your peers,” added Lee.

Text: Tan Ewe Hoe