BERTAM, November 2013 – A Science in Biomedicine (Molecular and Cellular Biology) postgraduate student from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Advanced Medical and Dental Institute (AMDI) was awarded a Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Dipertuan Agong scholarship.

Leong Yin Yee was the only student from USM who received the scholarship in a special ceremony officiated by The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Almu’Tasimu Billahi Muhibbuddin Tuanku Al Haj Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Ibni Al Marhum Sultan Badlishah  in the reception held at the Istana Negara last month.

At the same event, The Yang di-Pertuan Agong handed over scholarships to 12 recipients of whom six are pursuing master’s degrees and six doctoral degrees.

During an interview, Yin Yee said that she was overwhelmed since the criteria given are not easy to accomplish.

“I would like to thank my family, sponsor, USM, and my supervisor. I will do my best in my studies and contribute to the community in the field of cardiovascular,” he said.

Yin Yee is currently doing her studies in Biomedicine (Molecular and Cellular Biology) under the supervision of Dr. Tan Jun Jie at AMDI’s Regenerative Medicine Cluster.

To obtain the scholarship, an applicant must be a Malaysian who is 30 years-old or below at the time of application, possess a degree / masters with a minimum CGPA of 3.75 from a recognised university.

She added that the selection was made from students who are active in extra-curricular activities and those who are multilingual will have added advantage.

“Other advantages taken into consideration are that the applicants should secure a place in a local or renowned international university (such as Ivy League) and that they have to work in Malaysia for at least 5 years after completing their studies as a precondition,” she said. - Translation: Siti Faizah Abd Halim /Text and Photo: Courtesy of AMDI