Senior Lecturer,
School of Biological Science
Qualifications:
- PhD in Biotechnology, USM (Pursuing)
- MSc in Biotechnology (USM, 2012)
- Bsc in Industrial Biology (UTM, 2008)
Teaching and Research Experience:
Teaching
- Senior Lecturer: 2016- Present (Faculty of Integrated Life Sciences
- Lecturer: 2014-2015 (Faculty of Science and Technology)
- Lecturer: 2011-2013 (Centre for foundation studies)
- Programmes taught:
- Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology (Honours)
- Bachelor of Environmental Technology (Honours)
- Diploma in Environmental Technology
Research
- Development of silver nanoparticles/hydrogel nanocomposite: Characterization, antimicrobial, and antibiofilm study
- Development of antimicrobial silver nanoparticle coatings on cotton fabrics.
- Antibiofilm and membrane leakage study of silver nanoparticles synthesized using Streptomyces sp. PBD 311B
- Invitro and insilico investigation of antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles synthesized using Streptomyces PBD311B.
- Study of antimicrobial mechanism of silver nanoparticles synthesized using Streptomyces PBD-311B
- Study on preparation and characterization of green synthesized silver nanoparticles hydrogel nanocomposite.
- Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using Streptomyces sp. and evaluation of its antibacterial property.
- Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using Streptomyces and its antibacterial and cytotoxic properties
- Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles using Actinobacteria and Evaluation of its Antibacterial Property
- Isolation and characterization of psychrophilic bacteria producing chitinase.
- Study on the potential use of eco-enzyme for the treatment of wastewater rich in Copper.
- Bio catalytic potential and antibacterial properties of Eco-enzyme produced from citrus fruit peels.
- Strain improvement by the mutagenic effect of ultraviolet (UV) light in bacterial strain for amylase production.
- Isolation and molecular identification of pectinase-producing bacteria from rotten fruit.
- Isolation and molecular identification of amylase-producing bacteria from soil contaminated with decaying material
- Enhancement of chitinase production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa using response surface methodology.
- Effect of pre-treatment on shrimp waste for the production of chitinase through submerged fermentation.
Administrative Appointments / Committee Involvements
- Coordinator of Trainer the Trainer (2023)
- Coordinator of Industrial training for Biotechnology Programme (2016-2019)
- Programme coordinator for Foundation in Science (2013-2015)
- Advisor of Biotechnology Club, (2019-2022)
- Scientific and Technical committee member, UISS 2023
- Scientific and Technical Committee member QISS 2022
- Head of the Registration committee, QISS 2019
Recognition, Grants and Professional Membership
Awards
- Best Oral Presenter for category Biotechnology. IMTGT-UNINET conference.2025.
- Silver medal at Malaysia Technology Expo 2023. Antibiotics Mighty Hydrogel patch: The Germs Buster. (2023)
- Silver Medal at Malaysia Technology Expo 2022. BioSil NanoHydrogel: Application of BioAGNPs -CNS-Alg as an antibacterial hydrogel film against antibiotic resistant bacteria. (2022)
- Best Young Researcher Award at 2nd edition of Global Biotechnology Conference, 18&19 March 2021
Grants
- Research University Grant by University Science Malaysia for the project title ‘Strain Improvement and Glucoamylase Production through Solid State Fermentation’ (2009-2011)
Professional membership
- Certified Trainer of Train the Trainer, HRDCorp (2023)
- Graduate Technologist (Biotechnology), Malaysia Board of Technologists. Membership Id: GT22010167
- Quantum Journal of Engineering, Science and Technology- Editorial board member (2022-present)
- Malaysian Journal of Microbiology – Reviewer (2020-2021)
- Asean Federation of Biotechnology -Member
- National STEM Association- Member
- Association of Science Technology & Innovation -Member
Publications
- Hemalatha Murugaiah, Ahmad Ramli Mohamad Yahya, Nur Asshifa Md Noh, Noor Hana hanif Abu Bakar and Yazmin Bustami. (2025) Response surface methodology for optimization of antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles synthesized using Streptomyces sp. PBD 311B. Malaysian Journal of Microbiology. 21(2), 259-270.
- Xinmin Yang, Hemalatha Murugaiah, Nurulhasanah Othman & Yazmin Bustami. (2025) Evaluation of anti-quorum sensing activity of biosilver nanoparticles against Pseudomonas aeruginosa using invitro and in silico approaches. Malaysian Journal of Microbiology. 21(5), 690-701
- Sevakumaran Vigneswari, Muhammad ShahrulMd Noor, Fazilah Ariffin, Azila Adnan, Amirah Alias, Lakshmanan Muthulakshmi, Hemalatha Murugaiah, Nor Omaima Harun, Nurul Nadhirah Ruzelan, and Lakshiminarayanan Rajamani. (2025) Bacterial Biorefineries: Transforming agro-industrial waste into a sustainable solution for a circular bioeconomy. Journal of Renewable Materials. Online publication. Doi:10.32604/jrm.2025.02025-0148
- Hemalatha Murugaiah, Yazmin Bustami. (2023) Invitro and In Silico Investigation of Antimicrobial Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized using Streptomyces sp. PBD311B.Asia Pacific Journal of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. 31(1).
- Hemalatha Murugaiah, Chow Lun The, Kai Chew Loh, Ahmad Ramli Mohamad Yahya, Nur Asshifa Md Noh, Noor Hana Hanif Abu Bakar, Daruliza Kernain, Rokiah Hashim and Yazmin Bustami. (2021) Study of Antibacterial and Anticancer Properties of bioAgNPs Synthesized Using Streptomyces PBD-311B and the Application of bioAgNP-CNC/Alg as an Antibacterial Hydrogel Film against P. aeruginosa USM-AR2 and MRSA. Molecules, 26, 6414.
- Hemalatha Murugaiah, Visantini Perumal. (2020) Potential use of ecoenzyme for the treatment of metal based waste effluent. IOP conference Series: Materials science and engineering. 716 012016
- Murugaiah, Yazmin Bustami. Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles using Streptomyces sp. PBD311B and The development of Antibacterial Hydrogel film. (2022). 5th International conference on Molecular Biology and Biotechnology 2022.
- Hemalatha Murugaiah, Rin Darath, Yazmin Bustami (2022). Study on preparation and characterization of green synthesized nanoparticle hydrogel nanocomposites. Quest Intervarsity Science Symposium.
- Hemalatha Murugaiah, Yazmin Bustami. Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using Streptomyces And evaluation of its antibacterial property. (2021) 2nd edition Global Biotechnology Conference.
- Hemalatha Murugaiah, Visantini Permal. Potential use of eco-enzyme for the treatment of metal based effluent. 2019. In the 3rd Bioprocessing and Biomanufacturing Symposium.
- Hemalatha Murugaiah, Amirul Al Ashraf. Strain improvement for glucoamylase production by Aspergillus niger van Tieghem. 2010. In the 7th regional IMTGT Uninet conference.
- Hemalatha Murugaiah, Phor Khai lyn, Amirul Al Ashraf. Glucoamylase production via solid state fermentation by Aspergillus niger van Tieghem. 2009. International Congress of Malaysian society for microbiology.
