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Could you describe your trajectory up to this point?
THE MAKINGS OF A SUCCESFUL

WOMAN SCIENTIST
Having completed a 4- year BSc (hons) degree
the
Sydney
program in University of majoring in
Plant Physiology, my Prof wanted me to stay on

for a PhD. But I had promised my parents to

When did you first become excited about science? return and start work as Dad was near

retirement by then. It was in my Third Year at

I guess from school days itself. You see as I was growing up, it Sydney University that a major change came

became clear that only the best students would be allowed to about. One day on a visit to Dr Brady’s room

do Science. So that was where I directed my ambitions and with a couple of friends to clear some doubts
career path. But I also loved literature, cultural and sporting about protein pools and the complex

activities as well as forays into elocution and the literature and intracellular equilibrium that controls cellular

debating societies. And this was all possible within the processes, we were allowed to sit-in on a pre-

environment provided during my boarding school days at conference presentation by one of the CSIRO

Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus in Taiping. No extra tuition staff on our teaching team. It blew my mind. I

classes and lots of sports, concerts and healthy social was so inspired by the interesting work he

activities. It must have been the good influence of the nuns described and above all by his own excitement

and our excellent teachers that made me want to be a and joy at the discoveries that he and his team

teacher. In fact, immediately after graduating I was urgently had made. There and then I set my mind on

called back to temporarily teach Science in the Form 4 and 5 getting into the world of scientific research and

classes, as the school had lost its longstanding teacher who discovery but only if coupled with teaching and

didn’t return after her home-leave to UK. It was a great hence the seed was sown that led to an

challenge but I enjoyed the experience. It consolidated my academic life! Professor Pitman, from Sydney

desire to become a Science Teacher. University put me in touch with the School of

Biological Sciences (SBS) at UM through Dr

Sinclair. And thus, I met Professor Raghavan,

Head of Physiology, who in time became my
PhD supervisor. When he decided to move back
was
the
to The States, I fortunately at right place

at the right time, to take over his courses as a

Temporary Assistant Lecturer, after serving as
SBS.
1974,
tutor at The PhD was awarded in and

I haven’t turned back since. On retirement, and

after moving into one-year contracts, came a
the
rainbow in sky,the opportunity to help build

a private university from ground zero! It was

daunting at first but my husband encouraged
me, “you can put all your ideas forward now and

help to build something outstanding.” After 7

years at AIMST and retiring as a Senior

Professor of Biotechnology and Dean of the
retreat
Science, I
Faculty of was called upon to a

similar effort at Quest International University

" It was by extending my horizons Perak. I count these years in the private

beyond the local scene that I finally universities as especially happy and rewarding
could
years, more so since I excitedly draw upon
felt sufficiently buoyed up to continue

all my years of extensive experience in UM to
trying for fruits higher up the tree." help me meet the huge challenges presented.

was!
What a truly great opportunity it
S c i e n c e @ U M 3 6 5 1 9