USM PhD Students Win Poster Awards at RIKEN Summer School 2026

RIKEN Japan, 11 September 2026 – Two PhD students from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) won Best Poster Awards at RIKEN’s Summer School in Wako, Saitama, Japan.

Nor Syafiqah binti Azmi from the Institute of Nano Optoelectronics Research and Technology (INOR) won in the Engineering category, while Chin Ken Fui from the School of Physics won in the Physics category. Both students are currently conducting their doctoral research at RIKEN under the International Program Associate (IPA) exchange scheme through the collaboration program the USM-RIKEN Interdisciplinary Collaboration for Advanced Sciences (URICAS).

The awards were presented during the two-day event held from 10 to 11 September 2026. The RIKEN Summer School brings together young researchers from various countries and research fields to share their work through short presentations and invited talks.

The winning posters and their research teams are:

Nor Syafiqah binti Azmi

Main supervisors: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Norzaini binti Zainal (USM) and Dr. Hideki Hirayama (RIKEN)

Title: Surface stabilization of high temperature annealing of aluminum gallium nitride layer for ultraviolet light emitting diodes

Chin Ken Fui

Main supervisors: Dr. Muhammad Rabie bin Omar (USM) and Dr. Isao Watanabe (RIKEN)

Title: Predicting and interpreting unmeasured muSR time spectra using Kolmogorov–Arnold networks

Photo: Nor Syafiqah binti Azmi (left) and Chin Ken Fui (right) with their ‘Poster Award’ certificates.

The awards recognize outstanding presentations that clearly explain complex scientific research to a diverse audience within five minutes. Presenters were judged on their ability to make their work understandable to scientists from other disciplines while maintaining technical accuracy.

This achievement highlights the talent, active participation, and confidence of USM student researchers on the international stage.

USM, RIKEN STRENGTHEN COLLABORATIVE TIES AT 10TH URICAS SYMPOSIUM

USM PENANG, 10 December 2024 – The 10th USM-RIKEN Interdisciplinary Collaboration for Advanced Sciences (URICAS) Symposium, held in conjunction with the URICAS Review Meeting, took place on 17-18 November 2024 at INFORMM’s Conference Room 1, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

This milestone event marked another significant step in the enduring partnership between USM and RIKEN, fostering scientific excellence and multidisciplinary collaboration.

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The symposium also celebrated the long-standing history between the two institutions.
 

In his opening remarks, the URICAS Coordinator at RIKEN, Dr. Hiroshi Ohno  reflected on the journey of URICAS since its launch in 2015 as a five-year project under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on aging science.

He noted that the 2019 external review recommended broadening the research scope, evolving URICAS into the USM-RIKEN Interdisciplinary Collaboration for Advanced Sciences.

“Time flies, and there has been another five years past. During which we overcame the difficulty of the COVID pandemic, and we now have another external review today,” Ohno remarked.

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He expressed his gratitude on behalf of RIKEN to the reviewers—Professor Dr. Li Jun (National University of Singapore), Professor Dr. Norazmi Mohd Nor (Universiti Sains Malaysia), Professor Dr. Yoko Sugawara (Professor Emeritus, Kitasato University), and Professor Ts. Dr. Muhammad Rahimi Yusop (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia)—for their invaluable contributions to the review session.

Ohno also shared his hope for a bright future for URICAS, with continued success in fostering groundbreaking interdisciplinary research.

USM Coordinator for URICAS, Dr. Eugene Ong and USM Co-Coordinator for URICAS, Associate Professor Dr. Badrul Hisham Yahaya emphasised the critical role of URICAS as a platform to nurture Malaysia’s future scientific talent.

They highlighted its impact in enabling young academics and researchers to build networks with prolific scientists from RIKEN, advancing transdisciplinary research in fields such as life sciences, physics, chemistry, health, and medicine.

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“While URICAS initially focused on aging science, it has since expanded into broader areas of advanced sciences,” said Eugene Ong.  

Both coordinators stressed the importance of inviting more young and senior scientists to join URICAS, especially alumni, encouraging them to reconnect and expand collaborations worldwide while maintaining the URICAS spirit.

Meanwhile, in her opening address, the USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation, Professor Dr. Habibah A Wahab lauded the long-standing friendship between USM and RIKEN.

Habibah highlighted USM’s support through matching grants, research attachments, and mobility programmes, ensuring the collaboration thrives.

She emphasised the shared mission of charting the direction for the next five years of impactful research.

The two-day programme featured presentations by researchers from USM and RIKEN, showcasing ongoing collaborative projects and introducing new studies seeking partnerships.

Young researchers were particularly encouraged to engage, reflecting the institutions’ commitment to nurturing future scientific leaders.

The URICAS Symposium continues to serve as a vital platform for impactful scientific exchange, bridging expertise and fostering innovation between Malaysia and Japan.

Text: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Badrul Hisham Yahaya & Dr. Eugene Ong Boon Beng, INFORMM USM/Editing: Tan Ewe Hoe  

URICAS Seminar 18 December 2023

Date: 18 December 2023 (Monday)
Time: 4.00-5.00 pm MYT
Webex: https://bit.ly/URICASeminar3

Program (4.00-5.00 pm MYT)
4.00 Introductions
4.10 Speaker 1 – Dr Isao Watanabe, Senior Scientist, RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science
4.35 Speaker 2 – Dr Wan Nurfadhilah Zaharim, Visiting Scientist, RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science

URICAS Seminar 10 Oct 2023

Date: 10 October 2023 (Tuesday)
Time: 4.00-5.00 pm MYT
Webex: https://bit.ly/URICASeminar2

Program (4.00-5.00 pm MYT)
4.00 Introductions
4.10 Speaker 1 – Dr Mitsuru Morimoto, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Laboratory for Lung Development and Regeneration
4.35 Speaker 2 – Assoc. Prof. Dr Badrul Hisham Yahaya, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, USM

URICAS Seminar – 27 June 2023

Date: 27 June 2023 (Tuesday)
Time: 4.00-5.00 pm
Webex: https://bit.ly/URICASeminar

Program (4.00-5.00 pm MYT)
4.00 Officiation
4.10 Speaker 1 – Dr Hiroshi Ohno, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences
4.35 Speaker 2 – Assoc. Prof. Dr Tye Gee Jun, Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine, USM

Speaker 1
Dr Hiroshi Ohno
RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences

Title
Bacterial metabolite elaidate from high fat diet exacerbates obesity

Abstract
Although recent studies have highlighted the impact of gut microbes on the progression of obesity and related disorders, it is not fully understood how these microbes promote these disorders, especially in terms of the role of microbial metabolites. We have found that Fusimonas intestini, a commensal species of the family Lachnospiraceae, is highly colonized in both humans and mice with obesity , produces a trans unsaturated fatty acid elaidate, and consequently facilitates diet-induced obesity. Mechanistically, elaidate impaired intestinal epithelial integrity to promote metabolic endotoxemia. Our study thus provides a mechanistic linkage between gut commensals and obesity through the overproduction of microbe-derived lipids.

Speaker 2
Assoc. Prof. Dr Tye Gee Jun
Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine, USM

Title
Combined Molecular Adjuvant (CASAC): A potential adjuvant for peptide and subunit based vaccine

Abstract
Development of vaccines have come a long way and have been further accelerated with the COVID-19 pandemic. In light of recent advances with mRNA based vaccines, protein subunit and peptide vaccines still has its attraction especially as it is one of the most studied platform for vaccine development. However, the immune system has always highlighted the importance of immunogenicity of a vaccine candidate  whereby protein subunit and peptides are seen as low in immunogenicity. This requires the addition of an adjuvant which would then prime the immune system to generate the necessary immunological response worthy of a vaccine. We have developed an adjuvant named Combined Molecular Adjuvant (CASAC) which has shown to be able to generate humoral and cellular responses which would be worthy of further investigation.

8th URICAS Symposium

Symposium delegates.

USM PENANG, 7 March 2023 – The Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM) today held the 8th USM-RIKEN Interdisciplinary Collaboration on Advanced Sciences (URICAS) Symposium 2023.

The two-day Symposium aims to provide an opportunity for participants to learn more about the current challenges in advanced science research, focusing on life science and physics.

After a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it brought together speakers, presenters and participants in a hybrid manner, combining in-person and Webex sessions.

Officiating remarks by Associate Professor Dr. Mohd Hazwan.

Attending the programme was the Deputy Director of Research Creativity and Management Office (RCMO), Associate Professor Dr. Mohd Hazwan Hussin, who represented the USM Vice-Chancellor to officiate the 8th URICAS Symposium.

In his opening remarks, Mohd Hazwan said that in aligning with the vision of USM APEX to transform higher education for a sustainable tomorrow, it is hoped that the symposium will generate extensive and useful knowledge, while contributing to sustainable development.

“We also hope that the symposium will foster greater collaboration between USM and RIKEN researchers and provide a platform that would encourage and stimulate more intellectual discourses and exchange of ideas,” said Mohd Hazwan.

Meanwhile, RIKEN URICAS Coordinator, Dr. Hiroshi Ohno in his welcoming remarks said that he was very pleased that this year USM hosted the symposium physically and he hoped that the symposium will provide a new boost for the renewed URICAS in the coming years.

Opening remarks by Dr Hiroshi Ohno.

USM URICAS Coordinator, Dr. Eugene Ong remarked that the Symposium will be a useful forum as it did in the past with regard to research discussion, exchange of information and ideas on the different subdisciplines of advanced sciences, ranging from life science to fundamental physics.

A total of 50 participants were present on site (and many more on Webex online) and 16 presenters (8 each from RIKEN and USM) from Japan and Malaysia attended the forum, which is a testimony to the strong partnership USM-RIKEN has established thus far.

Presenters shared various aspects of research related to the main theme of the forum.

Opening remarks by Dr Eugene Ong.

Also present at the symposium were the Director of INFORMM, Dr. Aziah Ismail; Co-Chairperson of URICAS Symposium, Assoc. Professor Dr. Badrul Hisham Yahaya; academicians, research officers and university officials.

RIKEN is Japan’s largest comprehensive research institution renowned for high-quality research in a diverse range of scientific disciplines. USM and RIKEN have been collaborating since 1995 and the partnership has been greatly strengthened through the introduction of the Asian Programme Associates (APA) in 2002 and International Programme Associates (IPA) in 2008.

These programmes have resulted in a flourishing collaboration between both institutions including the study of ageing science, and which have also greatly benefitted USM.

Source Text: Nur Farrah Ezlin Mohd Suhaimi/Photo: Mohd Fairus Md Isa