Varsity lecturer wins women’s engineering award

Dr Chan

MIRI: Curtin University Malaysia senior chemical engineering lecturer Dr Stephanie Chan Yen San has won the Venus International Women Awards ‘Young Woman in Engineering’ award from Venus International Foundation based in India.

According to Venus International Foundation Board of Trustees chairman Dr R Sathishkumar, the award recognises inspirational and talented women who have been demonstrating excellence in their respective disciplines.

Dr Chan was selected for the award based on an expert committee report which cited her outstanding initiatives and contributions to science and engineering.

Dr Chan heads the Engineering First Year programme at Curtin Malaysia’s Engineering and Science Faculty.

She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in chemical-bioprocess engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and received her doctorate from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

She joined Curtin Malaysia in 2014 and in addition to being a passionate teacher, she is an active researcher whose current research interests include bio-nanotechnology, bio-process engineering, biotechnology and microwave drying technology.

She has conducted collaborative research with fellow researchers at USM, UTM, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Sarawak Malaysia, International Medical University Malaysia, Swinburne University Sarawak, Hyogo University Osaka and Curtin University Australia.

She is currently the leader for bio-nanotechnology research at Curtin Malaysia and heads the biomedical and pharmaceutical cluster at the faculty.

The ‘Young Woman in Engineering’ Award is just the ltest in a string of other prestigious awards she has won, including a Young Scientist Travel Grant at the American Chemical Society, Global Innocation Imperatives Forum 2017, a Fellowship with USM’s Chemical Engineering School between 2010 and 2013, Gold Chapter Award from the Golden Key International Honor Society in 2008, and EPGT Travel Award from the Environmental Protection Administration of Taiwan and National Tsing Hua University.

Dr Chan received the award at the 3rd Annual Women’s Meet (AWM 2018) at the Radha Regent Hotel in Chennai, India, earlier this month.

“We are extremely proud that Dr Chan has been recognised internationally for her contributions to science and engineering,” said Curtin Malaysia pro vice-chancellor, president and chief executive Prof Jim Mienczakowski.

“Academics and researchers like Dr Chan not only contribute to academic and research excellence at Curtin Malaysia but also to building Curtin’s global reputation in education, research partnerships and engagement,” he said.

Venus International Foundation is a leading higher education event management organisation providing forums for the tertiary sector in India and internationally to generate new knowledge and better understanding of various disciplines.

The Foundation presents international awards in Faculty, Research, Women and Leadership categories annually.