Featured profile

Professor Datin Paduka Dr Khatijah binti Mohamad Yusoff is a highly distinguished microbiologist.

She was originally trained here at La Trobe University, where she obtained a first class BSc (Hons) in 1979 and completed her PhD in Microbiology in 1983 guided by Dr Vilma Stanisich. She started her career as a lecturer at Universiti Putra Malaysia (then called Universiti Pertanian Malaysia) in 1983. She is a highly decorated scientist, having received numerous awards and distinctions at university, national and international level in Malaysia. In 1990 she was a recipient of the Malaysian National Young Scientist Award and in recognition of her work on the molecular biology of Newcastle disease virus, she received many other awards, including the international Carlos J Finlay Prize for microbiology by UNESCO in 2005. Profesor Khatijah was only the second Asian to be so recognized. In 2001, she was selected to be the third Houghton Lecturer by the World Poultry Association and the Houghton Trust for her scientific contribution to the world’s poultry industry. She is currently a member of the Board of Trustees for the International Livestock Research Institute, based in Nairobi and Addis Ababa and is a Fellow of both the Malaysian and Islamic World Academies of Sciences. Her work is supported by numerous research grants, she has published widely, currently holds US and Malaysian patents and is also active in several local and international professional organisations.

At Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Professor Khatijah served as Deputy Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, then Dean of the Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International). In November 2008, Professor Khatijah was appointed as Deputy Secretary General (Science), Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation in Malaysia. As Deputy Secretary General (Science), she supports the Minister in overseeing and monitoring the progress of the five main clusters of the Ministry; biotechnology, Industry, ICT Policy, Sea to Space (S2S), and Science & Technology Core. In this capacity, she is involved in developing a number of national policies in science, technology and innovation. She drives a number of innovative initiatives, the latest being the establishment of the National Innovation Centre and the National Science and Research Council.

As one of La Trobe University’s most distinguished graduates, she was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2008.

Professor Khatijah is a highly accomplished virologist, having worked extensively on paramyxoviruses, notably Newcastle Disease Virus or NDV, a potent pathogen of poultry. This work included molecular and epidemiological studies, as well as vaccine development and has opened up new avenues for using NDV as a novel anti-cancer agent. She has also conducted research on several important human viruses and other subjects as far afield as bacterial surface display and animal population genetics. The results were published in nearly 140 scientific articles. An extraordinary 73 higher degree research students, including 39 PhD students have benefited from her supervision or co-supervision. In her past roles in her University, on the various boards and in the other organisations she has served, she has played exemplary leadership roles to which she has brought diverse scientific and administrative experience. Professor Khatijah’s enormous contribution to her University, to her chosen field and more broadly to international science means we can expect her to continue to make significant contributions in the future and is a highly worthy recipient of an honorary degree in recognition of her accomplishments to date.

-Citation for the award of the degree Doctor of Science (honoris causa) 25 June 2010