LOOKING at the calibre of students studying at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom once made Calvin Shee Yin Ming (pic) question whether he would belong in such an environment.
That self-doubt began to ease when the Batu Pahat, Johor, native was awarded the Jardine Foundation Scholarship to pursue his master’s degree at the university.
For the 25-year-old, the offer was more than an achievement – it was a sign that he was heading in the direction he had always hoped to take.
“I am aware that this is only the beginning, so I will steward this opportunity to grow in my knowledge and thinking to the best that I can, to be the scientist that I yearned to be,” he told StarEdu.
At Oxford, Shee, who will begin his studies in October, will pursue a master’s degree in integrated immunology, a field that brings together different aspects of the immune system to examine how they relate to infection, disease and human health.
“What fascinates me about infectious disease is that infection is never just about the pathogen. Disease is the result of a very complex interaction between the microorganism, the immune system and the host environment,” the Universiti Malaya microbiology and molecular genetics graduate said.
Shee’s fascination with the microscopic world began early. As a curious child, he was always interested in understanding why things happened and how different pieces fit together.
“Microbiology and genetics are especially fascinating to me because there is an enormous world that we cannot see with our eyes, yet it profoundly affects our health and our environment. I love bacteria and imagining their interactions,” he said.
That curiosity grew into a passion for research. During his undergraduate years, he actively pursued research in areas ranging from microbiology and metagenomics to antimicrobial resistance and host-microbe interactions.
His experiences took him beyond Malaysia through the Amgen Scholars Programme in 2024, where he gained international research exposure at the National University of Singapore and the University of Tokyo.
In 2025, he was awarded the Merdeka Award Grant for International Attachment, allowing him to further his research into the microbiome of pitcher plants to serve as natural compounds for new antibiotics.
Apart from research, Shee founded United for Global Antimicrobial Stewardship, a youth-led initiative that promotes antimicrobial resistance awareness, responsible antibiotic use and greater youth participation in public health advocacy.
Set to complete his master’s programme in 2027, he hopes to eventually return to Malaysia and contribute to the country’s academic research landscape, particularly in areas related to infectious diseases, immunology and antimicrobial resistance.
“There are many important scientific questions that are especially relevant to Malaysia and South-East Asia, yet research capacity and resources are not always distributed equally around the world,” he said.
For students who may doubt whether they are good enough to apply for competitive universities or scholarships, Shee advised: “Do not reject yourself before anyone else has the opportunity to consider you.
“Scholarships and universities can be extremely competitive, and there is never a guarantee of success, but not applying guarantees that you will never receive the opportunity.”
He also encouraged students to look beyond building a “perfect” curriculum vitae.
“Instead, focus more on genuinely pursuing things you care about. Research, volunteering, leadership and community work become much more meaningful when you are driven by curiosity or purpose,” he said.
