Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wahizatul Afzan Azmi is a leading Malaysian entomologist studying insect ecology, pollination biology, sustainable agriculture, and insect conservation. Based at the Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, she has built an impactful career advancing biodiversity research and eco-friendly agricultural practices.

Dr. Wahizatul obtained her Ph.D. in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (Entomology) from the University of Adelaide, Australia. Her early scientific contributions focused on the development of Metarhizium anisopliae as a sustainable solution against the invasive red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus), providing a vital alternative to chemical pesticides and strengthening Malaysia’s agricultural biosecurity.

She later became a national leader in stingless bee ecology, introducing innovations in in-vitro queen rearing, pollination services, and meliponiculture. Her research has contributed significantly to insect conservation through documenting pollinator diversity, forest–pollinator interactions, and the ecological roles of native insects. These findings support forest protection, habitat connectivity, and pollinator-friendly agricultural systems.

She has secured 25 grants totalling RM2.49 million from the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), Sime Darby Research, Behn Meyer Agricare, and L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Malaysia Fellowship 2014. She has collaborated with the Department of Agriculture (DoA), Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), and multiple universities and industry partners.

Dr. Wahizatul has published over 68 indexed journal articles, along with book chapters, technical reports, and six intellectual property rights, accumulating 523 citations (H-index 15). She has supervised 105 postgraduate and undergraduate students, strengthening national expertise in entomology and ecology.

Her innovations have earned 23 research and technology recognitions, including gold medals at the International Invention, Innovation & Technology Exhibition (ITEX), Malaysia Technology Expo (MTE), International Conference and Exposition on Inventions by Institutions of Higher Learning (PECIPTA) and Minggu Penyelidikan dan Inovasi (MPI). She has also received UMT’s Excellence Service Award, Young Academic Leadership Award, and Knowledge Transfer Award. Her community projects on stingless bee pollination have enhanced crop productivity for smallholders and B40 groups.

Membership in academic societies forms an important foundation of her networking and leadership. Since 2012, she has been an active member of the Malaysian Society of Applied Biology (MSAB), a Lifetime Member of the Entomological Society of Malaysia (ENTOMA), and a member of the Young Scientist Network–Academy of Sciences Malaysia (YSN-ASM). Due to her continuous contributions, she has served as an Executive Committee Member of MSAB since 2017. As a conservationist, she is also a member of the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) and has participated in numerous programmes organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF-Malaysia) since 2006.

Beyond academia, Dr. Wahizatul is one of the Directors of Honey Melon World Sdn. Bhd. a start-up translating stingless bee research into commercial pollination solutions. Through her research excellence, conservation advocacy, and commitment to sustainable agriculture, shei continues to elevate Malaysia’s scientific and environmental landscape.