Testimonial

• YSEALI Marine Warriors Participant | 2022
• ITEX Silver Medal - Malaysian Invention and Design Society | 2021
• 1st Place | Three Minute Thesis Challenge – Universitas Indonesia | 2020

One of the key things I learnt during my course was ecological resilience, an ecosystem's ability to resist disturbance, absorb change and recover itself to its original structure and function, or to adapt to a new state. I believe this has taught me how to be resilient in my current field.

During my doctoral journey, I was fortunate to receive recognition at both international and national platforms, including the Best Oral Presenter Award at the 14th Asian Congress of Nutrition in China and awards from the Nutrition Society Malaysia (NSM) Scientific Conference. As a registered nutritionist under the Malaysian Allied Health Professions Act, I have also contributed to advancing the field beyond academia, serving as a working group member of the NSM Roadshow 2.0 to organise and plan roadshows to raise public awareness on nutrition. In addition, I have been given opportunities to deliver nutrition health talks to diverse audiences, including underserved communities, children, university students and working adults. Currently, I work at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH), where I apply my research and nutrition expertise to support maternal and child health, particularly preconception health, translating evidence into practice to improve patient outcomes.

UCSI University has been instrumental in shaping my academic journey and personal development over the past nine years. The scholarship opportunities, enriching curriculum and supportive staff have nurtured both my academic and personal growth. I am especially grateful to the lecturers in the Faculty of Applied Sciences (FAS), whose guidance and support have continued even after my graduation, as I transition into my early career. UCSI also encouraged active participation in co-curricular activities, which helped me develop essential soft skills, such as leadership, critical thinking, communication and teamwork.

One of my greatest achievements was to obtain my PhD in Human Genetics and Genomics from the University of Miami. Genetics has been a passion of mine since I was 14 years old. I was also fortunate to finish my PhD and train after at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard for my postdoctoral fellowship before landing a position at Novartis Biomedical Research. At Novartis, I learned how much genetics contributes to the drug discovery pipeline. Now, at Takeda, I continue to pursue my passion in empowering impactful discoveries using human genetics.

Most of the skills and experiences that I learned during my undergraduate degree has helped me through every stage of my career: as a tutor at UCSI for two years, graduate student, postdoctorate and my current role as a scientist. The one common thread that I gained at UCSI was the thirst for knowledge and innovation which helps satiate my scientific curiosities. I had amazing lecturers who cultivated and encouraged my sense of wonder and facilitated effective questioning of everything scientific: all of which are qualities that make for a stupendous scientist.

I graduated with First Class Honours in Nutrition with Wellness and was a proud recipient of the Kuok Foundation Study Award 2020. My research paper, "Emotional Eating, Stress, Food Purchasing and Consumption among Malaysian Undergraduate Students in Klang Valley during the COVID-19 Pandemic" was published in the International Review of Interdisciplinary Sciences (IRIS) in 2023.

In the field of rhythmic gymnastics, I hold a National Level 2 certification as both a coach and judge, as well as a National Level 1 certification in Aesthetic Group Gymnastics (AGG) as a coach and judge. Over the years, I have coached gymnasts who have achieved notable successes, including:

• Secured Top 10 in both ball and hoop in the Pre-Junior (age 10) category at Nexstar International Rhythmic Gymnastics Competition 2025.
• Silver and Bronze medals in the AGG SEA Championship 2024.
• Representation at district, state, national, and international competitions since 2017(such as MSSD, MSSS, MSSWPKL, Bakat Kebangsaan, National School Championships, AGG SEA Championship, Unite International Tournament and Nexstar International RG Competition, etc).

As a sports nutritionist, I have had the privilege of supporting athletes to peak performance by modifying dietary habits and conducting meal planning to suit training needs. This includes providing nutritional counselling and optimisation strategies to a Johor Women’s Artistic Gymnast (WAG). These strategies played a key role in achieving a silver medal in the SUKMA 2022 Women’s Team Event as well as qualifying for the finals in Singapore Open 2023 and SUKMA 2024.

UCSI provided me with a strong academic foundation and practical exposure, enabling me to apply scientific knowledge to real-world situations. The supportive lecturers, the university’s strong research culture, diverse learning opportunities and emphasis on critical thinking inspired me to pursue scholarly work, which led to the publication of my paper in the International Review of Interdisciplinary Sciences (IRIS). This nurturing environment, which values both academic excellence and extracurricular involvement has empowered me to excel in my dual career as a coach and sports nutritionist.

• Completed PhD in Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan; Graduated in 2023 with "Graduate Student Award for Academic Excellence" and "Director of Department Award".
• 3rd Prize of Poster Presentation Award (Category of Natural Product Chemistry); The 37th Symposium on Natural Products, Taiwan, 2023.
• The first nutritionist in Cancer Prevention and Population Science, Cancer Research Malaysia; currently focusing on research about dietary prevention in breast cancer.

With the full scholarship provided by UCSI, I was given the opportunity to pursue my studies without financial burden. UCSI equipped me with a solid foundation in nutrition and wellness and offered me a platform to practice essential skills—not only in nutrition education, monitoring and intervention programmes, but also through student activities that gave me broader exposure beyond my study field. I’d also like to give a heartfelt thanks to all the dedicated and inspiring lecturers who guided me with genuine care and support, contributing greatly to both my professional development and personal growth.

I have been with Alpha Active Industries for nearly a decade. From 2021 to 2023, I served as the Operations Manager, acting as Head of Department (HOD) for Research and Development, Procurement and Warehouse, while also maintaining my client base. Currently, as the Marketing Manager, I am responsible for 80% of the company’s sales and spearheading our market penetration into Southeast Asia. My role involves deeply understanding the science behind how our supplement products work and simplifying these concepts into layman’s terms to help both my clients and their consumers grasp the benefits and functionality of the products. This scientific approach is key to our success in educating the market and driving growth.

I think what makes a good university isn't its ranking on a leaderboard, but the lecturers who go the extra mile in getting students ready for the industry.

I credit my success to several lecturers namely Dr Rachel Tan and Dr Eric Chan who were incredibly supportive even after I graduated from the university. They gave me pivotal advice that helped me settle into the industry, which I carry with me until today. Dr Chong Pei Nee was the lecturer who set me on my career path. She introduced me to my current CEO 10 years ago after admitting, “Nicholas, you aren’t very book smart, but you can talk. Give marketing a try.”

UCSI also exposed me to multiple cultures, as there are many international students from all over the world. This helped tremendously with my market penetration efforts into different countries.

I founded Xiang Yuan Health Foods in July 2022, a wellness brand that blends food nutrition with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) principles. Our herbal soups and teas are crafted with natural ingredients to make nourishment simple, accessible and relevant for today’s urban lifestyles.

With a background in Food Science and Nutrition and over 6.5 years of experience in the organic and food trading industry, I have developed expertise in product development, sourcing, and product portfolio management. The combination of scientific training and industry experience inspired me to create a brand that bridges traditional wellness practices with modern dietary needs.

UCSI shaped my journey through two important phases:

Undergraduate years: The degree equipped me with a solid grounding in food science while cultivating the courage to innovate. Practical exposure through the co-operative programme and hands-on opportunities such as the Food Fair organised by Faculty of Applied Sciences nurtured my passion for product development and encouraged me to translate new ideas into tangible products.

Postgraduate years: Recognising the need to strengthen both my nutrition knowledge and business acumen, I returned to UCSI to pursue my Master’s. Theories gained during the postgraduate studies provided deeper insights into corporate practices, enabling me to integrate knowledge with real-world business strategies and entrepreneurial ventures.