PUTRAJAYA: A young researcher from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Dr Ng Chi Huey, has achieved national recognition after winning the Excellence in Outstanding Early Career Research Award (Science & Technology) at the Malaysian Scopus Research Star Award 2025, Thursday.
Dr Ng, a lecturer with the Oil and Gas Programme at UMS’s Faculty of Engineering, is leading a RM1 million research project funded by Petronas to produce hydrogen from water using catalyst splitting technology — a cutting-edge innovation seen as key to Malaysia’s clean energy transition.
Her project aims to extract hydrogen, a renewable and pollution-free energy source, through a process that uses advanced catalysts to split water molecules.
The breakthrough has the potential to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and support Malaysia’s sustainability goals.
The award ceremony, held at The Everly Hotel in Putrajaya, was organised by Elsevier in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT) to honour researchers whose work demonstrates exceptional impact and innovation based on Scopus citation data.
Dr Ng received a RM2,000 contribution from Elsevier in recognition of her excellence in research and innovation during the early stages of her academic career.
Dr Ng said the achievement is deeply meaningful to her, it reflects the spirit of collaboration and curiosity that drives her team at UMS.
“Our goal is to develop solutions that contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future for Malaysia,” she said.
Her work places UMS among the growing ranks of institutions contributing significantly to national and international scientific advancement, particularly in the field of green and renewable technology.
UMS Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Prof Ir Dr Rosalam Sarbatly, said Dr Ng’s achievement proves the capability of young UMS researchers to excel at the highest levels.
“UMS is very proud of her success, which strengthens our position in new energy and green technology research.
“This also shows our strong commitment to nurturing young researchers with the talent and vision to bring meaningful impact to society.
He added that Dr Ng’s award represents not only an individual triumph but also a collective success for the university’s growing research community.
The Malaysian Scopus Research Star Award is one of the country’s most respected recognitions for academic excellence, celebrating contributions that advance national progress through science and innovation.
Dr Ng’s success highlights the rising influence of young scientists from Sabah and East Malaysia — and marks an inspiring milestone for the next generation of Malaysian researchers working toward a cleaner, greener future.
