22 June 2026 – The Talent@IBS Program for the 18th Series of 2026 Scheme C Technical Presentations of the Institute of Biosciences (IBS) was held at the Microscopy Unit, IBS. This technical presentation brought together a group of laboratory staff. The program, organized by the IBS Laboratory Services Management Secretariat, featured three technical presentations focusing on the application of analytical instrumentation and molecular methodology.

The first session was conducted by Mrs. Anidazura Zulkiffli, Grade C9 Science Officer from the Aquatic Animal Health and Therapeutics Laboratory. Through a presentation titled Application of YSI in Water Resource and Aquaculture Monitoring, she discussed the methodology for comprehensive monitoring of water quality parameters in aquaculture ecosystems and natural environments using YSI sensor instruments.

Emphasis was placed on the importance of maintaining the sustainability of the ecological balance between the environment, host, and pathogen as a prophylactic measure against fish pathology and ensuring food security. She also detailed the aspects of field utility which included calibration protocols, optimal probe orientation in active fluid medium, and the implementation of proactive data analysis.

The second presentation by Ms. Noraini Omar, Assistant Science Officer C5 from the Vaccine and Biomolecule Laboratory, entitled Cracking the Cage: Nucleic Acid Purification, provided a comprehensive technical overview of the nucleic acid purification process, focusing on methodological optimization for the isolation of high-purity deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). She outlined critical quality control parameters to ensure the integrity of genetic material meets specification standards for complex downstream analytical applications, especially for Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS).

For the third session, Ms. Farrah Deba Jamiauddin, Assistant Science Officer C6 from the  Microscopy Unit (EM), presented a Demonstration of Knife Making. This session covered the theoretical framework and technical demonstration of glass knife fabrication using the Leica Glass Knife Maker instrument.

The production of precisely specified cutting instruments is a fundamental pre-analytical procedure for the preparation of Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) specimens. The precise ultra-thin axial glass splitting technique is mandatory to ensure the acquisition of optimal sample cross-sections, thus ensuring that the resolution of the micrographs and the accuracy of ultra-structural diagnostics are not compromised.

The presentation concluded with a briefing session by Mr. Rafiuz Zaman Bin Haroun, Head of the IBS Laboratory Services Management Secretariat. He explained the initiative to organize the Greenlab@IBS program, which is coordinated with the organization of the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Putra Synergy Month. Among the sustainability interventions scheduled in the nearest phase is the organization of the Greenbench Market. The session closed with a speech to the entire laboratory management committee for their synergy and continued commitment in making the scientific sustainability agenda at the university level a success.

Hopefully, this monthly Talent@IBS program can strengthen technical knowledge and increase staff understanding of the operation of equipment and specialized laboratory techniques, as well as being a platform for the exchange of ideas and experiences among IBS laboratory staff.

Date of Input: 24/06/2026 | Updated: 24/06/2026 | azah