Shining a light on Professor Kalai Mathee, a true luminary in the field of her passion - science. Not only has she made groundbreaking contributions to her field, but she is also an inspiration for women in science worldwide.

Did you know that despite Malaysia's small size, the country has produced countless successful individuals? Among them is Prof. Dr. Kalai Mathee, a distinguished professor and researcher at Florida International University (FIU).

In 2020, Mathee who hails from Ipoh made history by being inducted into the prestigious American Academy of Microbiology, as the FIRST female scientist from Malaysia and the SECOND overall. This academy is the honorific leadership group within the American Society for Microbiology, one of the oldest and largest life science societies globally.

The Academy aims to recognize scientists for their outstanding contributions to microbiology and provide expertise in service of science and the public. Fellows are selected through a highly competitive peer-review process that evaluates their original contributions to advancing science and microbiology.

With that being said, she has published over 120 articles and several book chapters in areas such as alginate gene regulation, antimicrobial resistance, gut and lung metagenome and microbiome, alternate therapeutics, forensic science, comparative genomics, and bioinformatics. She also holds four patents. Alongside Norman Fry of Public Health England, Mathee serves as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Medical Microbiology, becoming the first international editor in its 50-year history.

Professor Mathee was jointly awarded the Microbiology Outreach Prize in 2022 with Dr. Jonathan Tyrrell from the University of Swansea, UK. She was recognized for her projects, "Art meets Science" and "Engaging with New Audiences," which have significantly helped engage global communities of all ages in science conversations.

In 2008, the faculty of 1,000 Biology members honored her papers in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a prestigious recognition. Her commitment to mentorship was acknowledged in 2011 when she was named Mentor of the Year and awarded FIU’s highest distinction, the President’s Council Worlds Ahead Faculty Award, for her exceptional achievements as a student-centered professor. She also became the first recipient of the New England BioLabs Inspiration in Science Award.

Professor Kalai Mathee's groundbreaking work and important discoveries continue to inspire and pave the way for future generations in the scientific community.

A huge thanks to the gem who has made us prpud and thank you for putting Malaysia on the world map!

Source / Image Credit : LinkedIN, The Petri Dish