The introduction of new therapeutic agents to act against various diseases is very essential nowadays due to the emergence of diseases. Schiff bases are very potential compounds which can be effective against the problem of drug resistance and they have been known to be capable of exhibiting a wide range of biological potentials such as anticancer, antibacterial and antifungal. Recently, much attention has been focused on Schiff bases derived from amino derivatives such as S-alkyl/aryl esters of dithiocarbazic acids. The main aim of this project is to explore on the green synthesis of novel straight chain and cyclic Schiff bases using a variety of carbonyl compounds and amino derivatives.
Brunei Darussalam is home to some of the most diverse species of flora and fauna. Whilst folklore medicine is commonly known within the community, very little scientific backing and evidence has been published on the natural products derived from the endemic flora and fauna of Brunei Darussalam. The active ingredients found in these natural products may be beneficial or toxic to our health.
The aim of this project is to study some selected local food products derived from selected local plants. Identifying the key ingredients in the plant extract may lead to the production of formulations of high commercial values, which may be useful for the local Bruneian entrepreneurs.
Chemical analyses and investigation of materials will be helped by methods including, but not limited to chemical assays, heavy metal analyses, nutritional composition, spectroscopy and microscopy.
In the modern world, handling waste has been a major global concern. In Brunei alone, the amount of waste generated per capita is estimated at 1.4 kg per day. From the total waste produced, almost 70% goes directly to landfills. These waste materials have the potential to be a gold mine of functional materials. Therefore, our interest lies in the development of functional materials from domestic and agricultural waste.
In this project, you will research methods of extracting useful materials from waste materials and its possible applications. This may involve making pulp or fertilisers from agricultural waste or small-scale recycling of plastic domestic waste.
Hoya species are known to have ornamental and medicinal values, however, the feasibility of propagating these plants via the stem cutting technique is still lacking despite the wild populations in Brunei Darussalam being highly threatened due to habitat loss, land conversion, and overcollection. This proposed project will expand the Hoya collection for research as well as ex-situ conservation and sustainable utilization programs at UBD. The objectives of this research are to investigate the effects of types and concentrations of auxins on Hoya species that are of conservation value while simultaneously understanding the associated physiological and biochemical changes that occur during the promotion of rooting and sprouting of stem cuttings. The study will also recommend a reliable and standard propagation protocol for epiphytic and hemi-epiphytic Hoya, which can be applied to other epiphytic plants. Multiplying the Hoya stock plants will contribute to sufficient plant materials for the herbal research group in UBD, with a focus on potential medicinal applications.
Propagation work can be expanded to other plant groups and other propagation methods other than plant cuttings (eg tissue culture, air layering and hydroponics or Kratky hydroponic). The group also has experience working on Dillenia, Melastoma, Dipterocarps, Agathis and rhizomes.
Valorisation of terrestrial biomass has long been prized, however, marine biomass, e.g. seaweeds, is still an underused biological treasure. The global seaweed industry is expanding rapidly due to its high economic returns, mainly in the food industry. Most seaweed production comes from cultivated farms, while only 2.9% is harvested from the wild. Seaweed wastes from the fish aquaculture industry in Brunei call for the growth of circular economy-based ways to valorise waste biomass. The development of high added-value products from marine wastes has received priority worldwide due to the discovery of a wide range of natural biomolecules, numerous nutrients, and functional compounds that have potential applications in various industries. This project will pioneer the use of marine waste seaweeds collected from the nets of aquaculture cages in the Brunei river as biomass resources. In addition to investigating the seaweed diversity, the characteristics of seaweeds in terms of their thermochemical, physical, chemical, and biological properties, leading to the evaluation of their potential as high value-added products in agriculture, biofuel, and functional food applications will be explored. The seaweed industry is still in its infancy stage in Brunei. Since seaweeds are regarded as an organic and environmentally safe feedstock for high-value-added products, it can become a multibillion-dollar industry in Brunei.
Food and nutritional security under global climate change is among the major challenges for crop producers around the world, including Brunei, where nutritional security is already an important issue, particularly among pregnant women and children. This project will quantify the impact of heat and drought on existing rice and maize germplasms, leading toward development of efficient screening protocols. We also aim to develop sustainable technologies for improving crop performance under current and projected hot and dry climates. The research finding will improve our understanding of the heat and stress tolerance mechanisms in crops. Innovative technologies such as green nano-fertilisers (nanotechnology) will) will be developed and tested for increasing yield stability and stress tolerance in crops. This project will serve as a foundation for studying crop physiology and stress tolerance mechanism in plants, providing training opportunities for students at UBD and overseas, and developing collaborative research links with local stakeholders and foreign institutions.
This project will consider how intertidal ectotherms behaviourally thermoregulate and acclimate to the temperature extremes experienced when exposed in air. We are especially interested in unraveling the nature and mechanisms of rapid heat hardening. Other elements include multi-stressor responses, such as the coupled effects of heating and drying when air-exposed.
This project will explore the constraints on energetic balance of circumstances leading to limited energetic uptake and the apparently high energy costs of life in acidified estuarine ecosystem. It will involve gastropods as a model system.
Conjugated semiconducting polymers are promising materials for low cost solar cell due to the ease of large scale production with roll to roll printing. However these materials require more study to determine their photochemical stability and thermal stability for use in organic solar cells.
Explore and optimise different donor-acceptor pairs or even ternary blends for use in the photoactive layer of organic solar cells. An advanced technique to probe the photophysics of the active layer is using Transient Absorption Spectroscopy (TAS).
Aquatic ecosystems are at risk of ecological deterioration due to increasing local environmental changes and/or global climate changes. Brunei Darussalam has various unique marine and freshwater ecosystems throughout the country (e.g., coral reefs, estuaries, rivers, lakes) but many of the environments have not been explored and monitored in details. This research project aims (1) to study biological (e.g., diversity and physiology of primary producers), chemical (e.g., organic matter, nutrients), and physical (e.g., temperature, salinity) conditions of the aquatic ecosystems in Brunei, (2) to understand biogeochemical cycles of major biological elements (e.g., C, N, P), and (3) to develop a strategy for the conservation and management of the ecosystem.
Seaweeds (marine macroalgae) have been globally receiving attention from many industrial areas (e.g, food, pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, biofuel). Brunei Darussalam has a rich diversity of marine life but the diversity of seaweeds and their potentials as an economic source have never been studied. This research project aims (1) to identify seaweed species in Brunei and make a database of the diversity for conservation, (2) to study physiological and ecological characteristics of local seaweeds, and (3) to search for useful substances for industry and commercialization.
Lead(II) ion is a serious environmental contaminant from various sources such as pesticides, burning of coal and from automobile emissions. Another source of contamination is perovskite-based solar cells which contains lead that can leak into the environment via waste water routes. Perovskite-based solar cells have seen a rapid advance in research over the past few years (at UBD included), due to improved efficiencies which makes it a competitor for large scale and low-cost photovoltaic technology. Therefore, to limit human exposure, lead contamination (whether from perovskite solar cells or other sources), should be removed. There are several ways of trapping lead, among them are adsorption onto nanoporous materials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), activated carbon/charcoal, graphene oxide and other materials; through permeable functionalised membranes; or through the complexation with small organic ligands/molecules. Thiohydroxamic acids are small organic ligands that have been shown to bind selectively to Pb but have so far not been conjugated to solid supports. The main advantage of utilising solid supports is their easy removal simply by filtering away the solid, which contains the captured lead. Therefore, in this study, we propose to conjugate novel modified thiohydroxamic acid molecules which act as lead chelators onto a solid support such as magnetic nanoparticles or activated carbon, for the sequestering of lead from water and other environmental sources.
Interested candidates should email natasha.keasberry@ubd.edu.bn
Power conversion efficiencies of solution-processed organic solar cells have recently exceeded 14% through the development of novel high-performance organic materials. Further improvements in performance can be achieved with a better understanding of the factors that limit organic solar cell efficiency. This project aims to identify the structure-property relationships that govern organic solar cell performance and gain detailed insights into the approaches for optimizing the structural, morphological, optical and electronic properties of the organic materials.
Interfacial solar vapor generation (ISVG) has recently emerged as an efficient solar-thermal conversion technology with promising applications in water purification and desalination. Using specially-designed solar evaporators, the heat generated from absorption of solar irradiation can be utilized to vaporize water at the water-air interface. This localized heating at the interfacial region allows for higher solar-to-vapour conversion efficiency compared with conventional solar evaporation systems. This project will focus on designing a suitable ISVG system using low-cost materials and the performance of the ISVG system will be characterized and optimized to gain insight into the best approach to achieve high solar-to-vapour conversion efficiency.
Triboelectric nanogenerators or TENGs have received a lot of attention over recent years for their potential as an alternative energy-harvesting device. TENGs can harness mechanical energy and convert it into electrical energy through a combination of contact electrification and electrostatic induction. Due to its versatility, TENGs can be designed with various device structures made from a wide selection of triboelectric materials. In this project, the aim is to produce a working TENG using low-cost materials. The device performance of the TENG will be characterized and optimized. Chemical, physical and/or structural engineering approaches will be employed to investigate their effect on device performance.
This project on microplastics invites undergraduate, Masters, and PhD students to delve into a pivotal area of environmental research. We aim to understand the extent, sources, and distribution of microplastic pollution within Brunei's diverse ecosystems. Your involvement will contribute to the development of innovative techniques for microplastics detection, analysis and removal from various environmental sources and matrices in Brunei. This research represents more than academic exploration; it's an endeavor to safeguard our environment and protect public health. Immerse yourself in the intricate world of microplastics and make a significant impact on a pressing global issue.
This project seeks to develop a laboratory-scale electroflocculation system that capitalizes on direct electrochemical reactions to treat wastewater, effectively eliminating the need for potentially harmful chemical additives.
Our research focuses on the principle of flocculation - the process of clumping together fine particles into larger masses - triggered through electricity. By applying an electric field to wastewater, pollutants, heavy metals, and microorganisms coagulate and can be easily removed, resulting in clean, reusable water. This direct electrochemical process provides a safer, more sustainable alternative to conventional chemical-based treatments, reducing environmental damage and health risks.
Undergraduates, Masters, and PhD students are invited to contribute to this cutting-edge research. Your involvement can help shape the future of wastewater treatment, replacing traditional hazardous methods with innovative, green solutions. This project is not merely academic, but a pressing ecological initiative. Join us to make an impactful stride towards sustainable wastewater management and a cleaner future.
Ophiolites represent remnants of the Earth's Upper Mantle and Oceanic Crust. Knowledge of their geotectonic evolution and petrogenesis are considered as fundamental keys to the reconstruction of the Earth's history and geotectonic evolution, as they comprise huge and important parts of the Earth's interior. Recently, it has been suggested that these rocks are responsible for the production and exhalation of methane of abiotic origin, which is a theme of growing interest. The present study deals with the detailed investigation of the Borneo ophiolite suite, aiming to unravel the complex geological history of Borneo Island with several implications on the geological development of Malaysia. Geological mapping in certain areas of interest in the Sabah region (Pulau Malawali, Kundasang, Ranau, Telupid, Beluran, please see map provided), collection and preparation of specimens, as well as their thorough microscopic investigation, employing polarising and Scanning Electron Microscope techniques, will be performed. Gas emissions from the ophiolite will be analysed, in order to test the hypothesis for the production of abiotic methane.
The proposed research aims at: (i) unraveling the genesis and evolution of the Ancient Mantle and Oceanic Crust of the area of Borneo from the acquisition of data during a thorough petrological investigation, and (ii) investigating the role of these rocks in the formation of the unconventional production of abiotic methane.
Geochemical mapping of large regions is a challenge for applied geoscientists as it is a fundamental tool for the exploration of a plethora of Earth resources, as well as for environmental monitoring and land management. For this reason, regional-, national- and global-scale geochemical mapping projects have been carried out in various countries the last decades (e.g. Geochemical Map of Europe, USA, large regions of Africa, etc.).. The current project is proposed to cover the District of Brunei-Muara as a first effort to construct a similar Atlas in Brunei Darussalam. The area is dominated by sedimentary formations of Miocene to Quaternary age and characterised by various geological units, which have been accumulated from the discharge of ancient and modern rivers and their interaction with a marine environment. A large number of samples will be collected and analysed in order to highlight potential geochemical organic and inorganic anomalies. Subsequent interpretation of these anomalies will lead to implications regarding: (i) the potential existence of economic resources, (ii) environmental applications (e.g. biosorbents of pollutants, waste filters), iii) adverse environmental impacts (anthropogenic and natural) and the consequences to public health, and (iv) the provenance of the sediments and consequently the geological history of Brunei Darussalam.
Tropical peatlands are under stress worldwide and Brunei Darussalam hosts some of the last undisturbed ones in the world. They require special attention and environmental protection, as they are significant sinks and sources of carbon and freshwater but above all they comprise important ecosystems governing the biodiversity of Borneo. The Project aims at investigating the stratigraphic structure of peatlands in Brunei Darussalam, in an effort to obtain geological, and palaeoecological information from them. This will enable us to unravel the recent geological and ecological history of Brunei Darussalam for the first time with a high scale of resolution. The Project also aims to increase awareness of the natural heritage of Brunei Darussalam and to guide the necessary actions for integrated environmental protection including the conservation of some endangered plant species. We will use modern techniques and science for environmental management. A well-designed methodology will eventually result in the production of a series of maps, which will include the geological and ecological data to be used for future conservation and research activities.
This work is a cooperative project joined by more than 200 researchers worldwide. It currently contains data from more than 3000 individual plots, about 800,000 trees, including approximately 12,000 tree species. This data will be used for mapping and understanding tropical tree species distributions worldwide. Please contact me if you like to join by contributing your tree inventory data.
This project will establish a large network of permanent plots in the many undisturbed forest types of Brunei Darussalam. This network will function as a research infrastructure for the study of tropical forests under climate change. Data will be collected on tree species composition, tree growth, recruitment and mortality, soil parameters, climate and any other relevant environmental parameters. The idea is that researchers from around the world will come to Brunei to use this research infrastructure. We hope to have this project ready and running by 2016.
In 2012 we established 50 permanent plots in forest fragments ranging in size from one to several 1000 hectares in Xishuangbanna, southern China. These forest fragments are surrounded by rubber plantations that have sprung up in the region since the 1990s. Again, the idea is that researchers from around the world will come and use this permanent research infrastructure to study the effects of forest fragmentation on both animals and plants. If you are interested to work in this plot network, please contact me.
Synthesizing novel and smart nanomaterials using green approach for sustainable energy and environment applications.
Synthesizing novel perovskites nanomaterials for possible energy and environment applications.
Fabrication of novel graphene- and g-C3N4-based nanomaterials using green approach for energy and environment applications.
Please visit the website or email for more:
https://ubdbiosensors.wordpress.com/research-impacts/
Email: minhaz.ahmed@ubd.edu.bn
Please visit the website or email for more:
https://ubdbiosensors.wordpress.com/research-impacts/
Email: minhaz.ahmed@ubd.edu.bn
Please visit the website or email for more:
https://ubdbiosensors.wordpress.com/research-impacts/
Email: minhaz.ahmed@ubd.edu.bn
Geochemical mapping of large regions is a challenge for applied geoscientists as it is a fundamental tool for the exploration of a plethora of Earth resources, as well as for environmental monitoring and land management. For this reason, regional-, national- and global-scale geochemical mapping projects have been carried out in various countries the last decades (e.g. Geochemical Map of Europe, USA, large regions of Africa, etc.).. The current project is proposed to cover the District of Brunei-Muara as a first effort to construct a similar Atlas in Brunei Darussalam. The area is dominated by sedimentary formations of Miocene to Quaternary age and characterised by various geological units, which have been accumulated from the discharge of ancient and modern rivers and their interaction with a marine environment. A large number of samples will be collected and analysed in order to highlight potential geochemical organic and inorganic anomalies. Subsequent interpretation of these anomalies will lead to implications regarding: (i) the potential existence of economic resources, (ii) environmental applications (e.g. biosorbents of pollutants, waste filters), iii) adverse environmental impacts (anthropogenic and natural) and the consequences to public health, and (iv) the provenance of the sediments and consequently the geological history of Brunei Darussalam.
The petroleum system concept helps oil companies to decide which prospects are most likely to contain oil or gas. Source rock and reservoir rocks are critical to the success of a petroleum system, and includes generation and maturation of organic matter to become source and the migration of these source rocks to the reservoirs. Every exploration initiates with the evaluation of source rock on a regional scale. Of high importance in this scope is the estimation of hydrocarbon potential of the source rock. This information can be further integrated with various components of basin development, which include the rate of sedimentation, rate of subsidence, burial history and thermal history. In this study, the source rock analyzed are from the Cretaceous-Paleocene Hoiho and Taratu formations. Organic geochemistry helps determine whether the source rock has the capacity for oil or gas generation, and whether the source rock is mature enough for hydrocarbon expulsion. Reservoir characterization studies is another part of that study using well log data, and seismic section to discover the subsurface structural configuration and evaluate the reservoir quality evolution in terms of porosity and permeability to accommodate adequate amount of hydrocarbon.
This study is a part of larger research topic of the analysis of petroleum system
elements of Upper Cretaceous-Paleocene Farewell Formations of Taranaki Basin, New Zealand. The petroleum system is a unifying concept that encompasses all of the different elements and processes of petroleum geology, which include the crucial elements (source, reservoir, seal and overburden rocks), essential processes (trap formation and generation-migration-accumulation), and all genetically-related hydrocarbons which have migrated from one pool of effective source rocks to reservoir accumulations, shows or seeps. Relative timing of these elements and processes are very crucial for the accumulation and preservation of hydrocarbons. Petroleum exploration is futile without these elements, and hence, tits study is highly important.
(a) The aim of this research project is to study the thermochromic materials, for glazing, whereby the change in optical property is revisable with temperature. This study mainly investigate the transition temperature of various transition metal oxides, dopants and deposition technologies in order to obtain the closest transition temperature to room temperature. This project will mainly be of experimental nature. (Available for 1 MSc student and 1 PhD student)
(b) The optical and electrical switching properties of Vanadium dioxide (VO2) are of great interested by many researchers as VO2 behave like a semiconductor whereby the transition temperature can be tuned by doping with other elements. This study aims at investigate the switching properties of the doped vanadium dioxide. (Available for 1MSc/PhD student)
In this research project, the students will be studied the efficiency of the natural dyes using the density functional theory. The ground-state, electronic structures and absorption spectra of these dyes will be studied. (Available for 1 MSc student)
Sea water is the major source of water on Earth. However, high concentration of salinity in the sea water makes it unsuitable for domestic usages. We aim to design graphene nanopores membrane for filtration and desalination of sea water.
This research consists of studying the pore sizes and pressure of the graphene sheets for the salt rejection ability by molecular dynamics. After optimised the salt rejection performance, the optimsed design of the graphene with nanopores will be fabricated. Then, characterizations will be performed.
Brunei relies heavily on its surface water resources for drinking water usage. This project will study hydrochemical changes at key sampling points (lake, river, groundwater) through longterm monitoring techniques using datalogger as well as passive samplers.The benefits of passive sampling over traditional sampling methods will be highlighted. Moreover it is planned to study the water balance of peat soils as well as perform groundwater mapping exercises using geophysical tools.
Environmental Regulations, specifying the need for Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) are new to Brunei and only become mandatory in 2017. Currently a range of significant major projects, are underway such as the building of the Brunei Temburong Bridge, the building of a fertilizer plant in Lumut as well as the harbourfront development in Bandar Seri Begawan. One of the biggest project which is currently ongoing is the construction of a fertilizer plant in Lumut. Thyssen Krupp Industrial Solution is responsible for the construction of the fertilizer plant , which has a project value of more than a Billion Dollar. The EIA is a necessity for the project to prove that adverse impact on the environment is avoided. However the monitoring duration and assessment of the baseline conditions for the EIA are not clearly defined in the regulations. This project aims to perform water sampling and analysis as wells as install observatory groundwater monitoring points for monitoring and sampling at Lumut in the vicinity of the plant. The results aim not only add value to the EIA for the project at Lumut but also to EIA’s in Brunei as a whole.
This study aims to determine the effect of SGD discharge on marine ecosystem components (water chemistry and organisms) along the Brunei coastline. The primary objective is to undertake a complete characterization of the chemistry (including aragonite saturation levels) of SGD discharge and show how this varies in space and time.
The aim of the project is to develop numerical strategies for obtaining accurate estimations of the tracer concentration fields from the ensemble of stochastic trajectory solutions of the Lagrangian particle dispersion model. Specifically, more information can be obtained in a stochastic problem than just a static density. We can go beyond standard kernel density estimation (KDE) methods by exploiting the fact that we are solving a dynamic problem. Hence we can introduce a new class of methods, which we will call the dynamic KDE (DKDE). The starting point of DKDE is the Green's function representation of the solution to the advection-diffusion equation (or Fokker-Planck equation). The Green's function for a short-time interval is then approximated by considering the leading order WKBJ series solution of the advection-diffusion equation, under the assumption that the diffusivity parameter is small.
NAFLD includes a spectrum of conditions associated with lipid deposition in liver cells (hepatocytes) and inability of the liver cells to respond to insulin (insulin resistance). We have shown previously that induction of autophagy can prevent accumulation of lipid droplets in the hepatocytes and improves hepatic steatosis which leads to the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This project is aiming to investigate the biochemical properties of several promising polyphenols in inducing autophagy in liver cell lines along with their role on lipogenesis and insulin signalling in hepatocytes.
The Anthropocene has been proposed as a new geological period characterized by the impact of human society on native ecosystems. In an epoch characterized by rapid depletion of resources, large scale deforestation, rapid urbanization, extinction of species and aggravated climate change, agroforestry systems, small forest patches and homegardens are recognized as key factors within the landscape matrix, for conservation of biodiversity at the local level. Proponents of the emerging field of Biocultural Diversity also point out to the parallelism existing between biological, cultural and linguistic diversities, and the possibility of co-evolution and interdependencies between these entities that were hitherto considered independent of each other. In this context, the proposed project aims to study the plant diversity in the human modified landscape of Brunei Darussalam, including how the local community has contributed to plant conservation, and the economic, social and cultural importance of native plant species. We will assess: 1) the plant species diversity, 2) the contribution of the local community in conservation of native species and the economic and biocultural importance of these species. UBD students of Bruneian Nationality will participate in the research; final outputs would include scientific papers, conference presentations and distribution maps of endangered plant species in Brunei. The results will be an important tool for policy makers, researchers and local communities looking forward for the dual cause of conserving both biological and cultural diversities.
Osmindaceae is one of the most archaic fern family, within the Flora Malasyana project I am conducting a taxonomic revision of this family for the Malesian Region. Up to now we know approximately 17 species in this area. The project is expected to be published in 2019.
Discovery of high-quality gold-(copper) deposits is successively reported in the Sarawak, Sabah and Kalimantan regions of Borneo. Despite the economic significance, the extend of the Bornean gold mineralisation has never been well established. Recent discovery of extensive hydrothermal pyrite occurrence in sedimentary rocks highlights the presence of ancient hydrothermal activities in the country and thus gold prospectivity.
This 2-year project (starts in May 2018) represents our first step to develop UBD into a regional hub of Economic Geology and Mineral Resource research. With an integrated approach of ore deposit geology, radiometric age dating, geochemistry, statistics and GIS spatial analysis, we aim to delineate the space-time distribution of gold mineralisation in Borneo and assess the regional/local (esp. within Brunei Darussalam) gold-forming potential. Meanwhile, we will also investigate the potential environmental impacts of Bornean gold exploration/mining activities. The project contributes to the further strengthening/diversification of the national economy on one hand, and safeguarding the nation from cross-border mining-related pollution on another.
Brunei Darussalam has world-class oil & gas resources, yet many reservoirs are mature and their oil production may have reached its peak. Similar to many oil-producing regions worldwide, future exploration success is dependent on thorough understanding of these reservoirs, via advance reservoir characterisation technique and solid geological knowledge in both local and regional scale. Analysing land-outcrops can offer key parameters (e.g. net/gross ratio, gamma ray, permeability) on similar subsurface reservoirs (often buried >2 km underground), which is the aim of this pioneering UBD-BSP collaborative study, i.e., develop geological analogues to better understand key reservoir formations in Brunei Darussalam. Using a combination of geological mapping, high-resolution 3D-outcrop imaging, and multi-disciplinary (gamma ray, rock-mechanical and portal XRF geochemical) logging, the project will generate the most-comprehensive digital library (database) for rock outcrops across the country. These data will be correlated with borehole geophysical/rock-mechanical/geochemical data to generate geological analogues, which are used to visualise the actual rock types in the boreholes. This project will enable more accurate oil & gas exploration and train young competent Bruneian professionals for the next generation, when exploration breakthrough will become increasingly more challenging.
We are interested in the mathematical modeling of plasticity-led evolution based on gene regulatory network models. Applicants should have basic mathematical modeling, statistics, computer programming skills, and molecular biology and evolution knowledge.
Food and nutritional security under global climate change are among the major challenges for crop producers around the world, including Brunei, where nutritional security is already an important issue, particularly among pregnant women and children. This project will quantify the impact of climatic factors such as heat, drought, salinity, and elevated CO2 on rice and maize crops, leading towards development of efficient screening protocols. The research finding will improve our understanding of the heat and stress tolerance mechanisms in crops. We also aim to develop innovative technologies such as green nano-fertilisers (nanotechnology) for improving crop performance under current and projected hot and dry climates. The application of these technologies will be optimised under controlled and field environments for increasing yield stability and stress tolerance in crops. This project will serve as a foundation for studying crop physiology and stress tolerance mechanisms in plants, providing training opportunities for local students at UBD, and developing collaborative research links with local stakeholders and foreign institutions.