Distinguished Professor Dr. Phang Siew Moi

Distinguished Professor Dr. Phang Siew Moi pioneered Applied Phycological Research in Malaysia.  She co-founded the Asia-Pacific Society of Applied Phycology (APSAP) and served as its President, as well as President of the Asian-Pacific Phycological Association, Member of the International Phycological Society Board of Directors, and Overseas Vice-President of the British Phycological Society.  

She is a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM); Fellow of the Marine Biological Association, UK; and Executive Committee Member, International Association for Biological Oceanography.  She served as the Founding Director, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), University of Malaya, from 2003 – 2018 and joined the UCSI University in 2019 as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Postgraduate). 

Prof. Phang leads the Algal Research Group, which focusses on the applications of algae in food, biofuel, biomaterials and their role in environmental and climate management, which has active collaborations with international partners. She established the University of Malaya Algae Culture Collection (UMACC) and the University of Malaya Seaweeds and Seagrasses Herbarium   (UMSSH). 

She has received several awards, including the International Foundation for Science/King Baudouin Award; the University of Malaya Vice-Chancellor’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Publications; Newton Prize 2017, British High Commission; and the ASM “Top Research Scientist Malaysia, 2012” Award. She has produced 290 papers in indexed journals, 18 books and 58 book chapters; awarded 10 patents with 7 filed; produced 33 PhDs and 73 Masters graduates.  

She is Associate Editor of the Journal of Applied Phycology; Maritime Technology & Research Journal; Geoscience Letters; Resource Person, Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS) and Chair, ASM Committee on Blue Economy.