ZUNITA ZAKARIA

Dr Zunita is an experienced professional in leading a research institute, Institute of Bioscience (IBS). IBS has been awarded as the Higher Institution Centre of Excellence in Animal Vaccine and Therapeutics by Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia. Amongst the latest achievements is the UPM Microbial Culture Collection as Malaysia's first culture collection recognised as the National Depository Authority in April 2024 by MyIPO (Malaysia Intellectual Property Authority). Successfully served as the country lead for Malaysia-Sandia National Laboratories, overseeing biosafety and biosecurity initiatives including the development of Biorisk management curriculum. Additionally, she was appointed as a member in the Taskforce for National Biobanking in Malaysia and the National MyAP AMR (National Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance).

• Director, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Feb 2024 to present
• Advisor, University Culture Collection Unit, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Jan 2023 to present
• Coordinator, University Culture Collection Unit, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Jan 2020 to Dec 2022
• Deputy Dean (Research and Postgraduate Studies), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Nov 2012 to Oct 2019
• Head of Department, Department of Veterinary Pathology & Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Pertanian Malaysia, May 2010 to Oct 2012

• Honorary Secretary, Malaysia One Health University Network, Jan 2023 to present
• Taskforce Member, National Biobanking Malaysia, Jan 2022 to present
• MyRA Auditor, Research University, Ministry of Higher Education, June 2021 to present
• Committee Member, National Biological and Toxic Weapons Convention (KSBT) – Jan 2024 to Dec 2026
• Country Lead, MyOHUN-SNL Biorisk Management Project, Jan 2023 to present
• Chair, Institutional Biosafety and Biosecurity Committee, Universiti Putra Malaysia, April 2022 to present
• Committee Member, National Antimicrobial Resistance Committee, Ministry of Health, Malaysia, Jan 2017 to present
• Technical Working Group Member, Department of Standard Malaysia, Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Jan 2019 - 2020
• Deputy Coordinator, National Coordinating Office, Malaysia One Health University Network (MyOHUN), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Mar 2013 to Dec 2019
• Senior Technical Assessor, Laboratory Accreditation ISO17025, Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Malaysia, Jan 2009 to present
• MyRA Lead Internal Auditor, Ministry of Education, Malaysia, 01/2017, 12/2020
• Committee Member, Laboratory Accreditation Evaluation Panel (LEAP), SAMM, STANDARDS MALAYSIA, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Malaysia, 01/2008, present
• Committee Member, Group 2, National Antimicrobial Resistance Committee, Ministry of Health, Malaysia, 01/2017, 12/2022
• Committee Member, Genetically Modified Advisory Committee, Ministry of Water, Land and Natural Resources, Malaysia, 07/2014, 07/2016

• No of undergraduate courses taught - 11
• No of postgraduate courses taught - 8
• International Accrediation Task Committee
• Leader for Standard 11 (Postgraduate Teaching and Continuing Education) -International Accreditation of DVM programme by Australian Veterinary Board Council (AVBC) –
• Supervision of Final Year Project Students - 52 (30 as main supervisor, 22 as co-supervisor)
• PhD Post Graduate Supervision - 26 ( 5 as main supervisor, 21 as co-supervisor).
• Master Post Graduate Supervision - 39 ( 7 as main supervisor, 32 as co-supervisor).
• Examiner of Thesis - 27 (11 for PhD, 26 for Masters)
• Chairman of Examination Committee -16 (10 PhD, 6 Masters)
• Chairman & Examiner for Conversion of Masters to PhD - 18

• International Project Grant as Principle Investigator -3 projects (RM155,125.00)
• National Research Grant as Principle Investigator - 12 projects (RM933,300)
• Member of Research Projects - 22 projects (RM 1,821,200)
• Research and Travel awards -20

• Technical auditor for ISO17025, Brunei Darulsalam
• ISO17025 by STANDARDS MALAYSIA
• Signatory for bacteriology diagnostic cases, Veterinary Laboratory Services Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia

• Indexed journals -96 journals
• Other journals - 26
• Books / Monographs - 1
• Proceedings / Abstracts (International -43, National : 92)
• Chapter of Book -1
• Genbank - 59
• Editor of Proceedings - 2

Bacteriology, Molecular Biology, Animal Biotechnology

Scopus H-index 21

Scopus ID- 36490971800

ORCID ID -  0000-0001-6574-0841