From Laboratory Expertise to Sustainable Innovation

By: Norul Hanizan Hazin, Alumni Centre

The career of Dr. Mohd Azman Yusoff reflects a strong blend of scientific expertise, institutional leadership, and commitment to sustainability. As a fisheries scientist and academic, he has built a career spanning research, laboratory management, and innovation.

Dr. Mohd Azman began his academic journey in fisheries science, building a strong foundation in aquatic ecosystems and resource management. He earned a Bachelor of Applied Science (Fisheries) in 2007, followed by a Master’s degree in Tropical Fisheries, graduating with a CGPA of 3.91. He later completed his PhD in 2025.

His expertise includes aquatic organism health, fisheries biosystems, and seafood processing, all of which are critical to global food sustainability.

A decade at UMT, Dr. Mohd Azman has developed expertise in fisheries laboratory operations and research management. He has led multiple specialised laboratories, including ornamental fish and aquatic plant labs, aquatic organism health labs, and fish disease facilities. He has also managed postgraduate and advanced research facilities such as challenge test labs, histology labs, and seafood processing labs.

He has contributed to institutional governance through involvement in committees related to asset and laboratory management, revenue generation, occupational safety and health, and quality assurance. His responsibilities also included risk management, biosecurity, and procurement coordination, ensuring smooth and compliant institutional operations.

A key strength of Dr. Mohd Azman is translating research into innovation. Among his innovations are Aquaboost and Ecochitin, which demonstrate how research can generate value-added products for industry. His research has been published in high-impact journals such as Science of The Total Environment and Trends in Food Science & Technology, strengthening his standing in sustainability and biorefinery research.

He has also contributed actively to student development, serving as coach and team manager for sports such as kayaking, futsal, and golf. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he served as a university frontline worker, demonstrating strong commitment to community service. He also served as an Associate Fellow in the Student Affairs and Alumni Division, supporting student leadership development.

Dr. Mohd Azman has received multiple awards, including the Excellent Service Award and the Vice Chancellor’s Special Award. He has also been awarded the Canada-ASEAN SEED Scholarship and serves as an editor for the Journal of Quality Assurance and Safety of Crops & Foods.

These recognitions highlight both his academic excellence and his growing international research influence.