Dr Sarmila Muthukrishnan has bagged Lifetime Achievement Award

Dr Sarmila Muthukrishnan has bagged Lifetime Achievement Award

• February 23, 2023

Dr. Sarmila Muthukrishnan

Firstly, I’m extremely honored to receive this prestigious award entitled “Lifetime Achievement Award '' from Women Icon powered by Times Women and World Women Council (WWC). As the famous saying by Nelson Mandela, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world’ and I personally hold to the Latin aphorism known as ‘scientia potentia est’ which simply means ‘knowledge is power’. I’m thankful to all the incredible individuals I have had the privilege of learning and I believe learning is a lifelong process.

I have been in the field of biotechnology/microbiology for the past 10 years, mostly involving genetics study, toxicology and bacteriology-related areas. However, my educational stream has brought me specifically exceptional microbiology. In terms of formal work, I've been attached to the University of Malaya (UM) as a research assistant (my first job) and have been actively experimenting in areas of bacteriology and genetic studies, bringing to deep knowledge on works such as PCR, DNA fingerprinting, running gel electrophoresis, purification of PCR products, annotations and gene prediction, mouse bioassay, toxicity test, and gene expression. Learning all these research techniques has pushed me to pursue my Master’s Degree in Microbial Biotechnology at University of Malaya (UM).

I believe that my doctorate (Ph.D.), Master's Degree (MSc) and Bachelor's Degree (B.Sc Hons) have played a vital role in my field as a biologist and manager. I've published 10 full scientific papers (h-index = 4) [refer to https://scholar.google.com.my/citations?user=jtt89YwAAAAJ&hl=en for more information on my research area and publications], twelve (12) scientific proceedings, two (2) book chapters and attended a series of conferences and even presented a few in various areas concerning bacteriology and genetics. I've been awarded as the best presenter on several occasions recognizing my research work and delivery ability, such as at:

• 18^th Biological Sciences Graduate Congress (BSGC) at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, in 2012 [Best Poster Presenter]
• International Conference on Marine Science and Aquaculture (iCOMSA), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) in 2019 [Best Oral Presenter-1^st Place]
• 5^th International Conference on Agricultural and Biological Sciences (ABS 2019) in 2019 at Macau University of Science and Technology, China.

• Joint Academic Microbiology Seminar (JAMS) in 2021 (Virtual) [Best Early Career Researcher Poster Prize]

• World Aquaculture Singapore (WAS) at Singapore Expo in 2022  

Besides that, I have been carrying out managerial work when I was working as a Manager in Biovalence Sdn.Bhd. Three years of working experience in this industry has taught me to be more responsible, mature and effective. I was actively contributing and leading in activities related to research and development (R&D) during my industrial phase. It is imperative for a biologist cum manager of any area of study to have a good level of micro observation skills, processing mind and delivery of information ability. During the three years in the aforementioned company, I have successfully supervised 21 university students from various universities in Malaysia (including both government and private universities) for their internship attachment.

I have instilled a sense of ‘thinking out of the box’. I have cultivated a sense of freedom in my mind to think beyond the normal scenarios,' freeing me from a paradox of ‘just enough’ and ‘as long as it is finished’ towards a paradigm of achieving world-class excellence. The urge to learn something new has pushed me to take up my second master's in sustainability science at Universiti Malaya during the COVID-19 pandemic and I have graduated recently (7th of December 2022) with a distinction. COVID-19 pandemic was a huge stressor to all of us. In addition, lockdown has left all our plans distraught. And that was exactly (in the year 2020) when I decided to continue my second master degree simply because I want to make the best of what the crisis gives us –‘see the glass half full’. Even, the SWOT analysis tells us, there are not only threats (T) and weakness (W), but strengths (S) and opportunities (O). Life is full of choices. 

Currently, I’m working as a postdoctoral fellow at Institute of Bioscience (IBS), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia. I’m attached to a project funded by International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada and UK's Global Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Innovation fund (GAMRIF) under the INNOVET-AMR Grant (Project no: 109055). As a researcher, I’m constantly challenged as I’m exposed to new ideas which has led me to think differently. As a result, I find that I’m always learning and relearning by the process of deconstructions and disruptions to validate the hypotheses drawn. Although the process of research requires patience, the paramount pleasure of discovering something new is endlessly exciting and delightful for a researcher like me.

Besides research and development (R & D), I’m actively involved in social service where I use to give free science tuition for the underprivileged kids during my leisure time. It is my passion and hopes to bring people closer by teaching them on how to appreciate the knowledge and put it to good use.

Last but not least, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Women Icon powered by Times Women and World Women Council (WWC) for their great efforts in recognizing women’s contributions, services, achievements and career accomplishments across the globe. I’m truly obliged for this great honour and recognition given by the Women Icon. Thank you once again. 

#Tenacityisthekeyofmyaccomplishments