Summary
Dr Kuek is
a professional in a decades-long career in bioprocessing. His base expertise
in fermentation technology expanded into the design and costing of
bioprocesses at commercial scale which subsequently led to experience in the
appraisal of economic viability of bioprocess proposals, a subject which he
developed and taught for several years at the University of Western Sydney.
His career culminated in the vital role of managing the design, procurement,
fabrication, installation and commissioning of equipment for the bioprocess
and phytoprocess production floors at the Sarawak Biovalley Pilot Plant
Facility, a RM60M investment by the Sarawak government to provide lab
research a route to trials at commercially-relevant scales. His accumulated
expertise includes familiarity for the contract negotiations at head-to-head
level; requirements for drafting contracts for R&D; procurement and
tendering; specifications for tendering; and governmental protocols for the
award and administration/execution of tenders. In his bioprocessing field,
he routinely interacts with fellow bioprocess practitioners (mass balances,
productivities, process development and optimization); chemical engineers
(design and operation of processing equipment/plants); Mechanical &
Electrical, and Civil Engineers (construction of facilities); lawyers
(contracting); and with accountants (cost accounting; cashflow analyses;
profitability appraisal).
Professional Experience
2020 -
a |
Project Economic Viability Consultant
October 2021 - Nov
2021
Kawan Engineering Sdn. Bhd.
No. 18, Lebuh Perusahaan 1, IGB Industrial Park,
31200 Perak, Malaysia
(techno-economic assessment
of an algal bioenergy project in West Malaysia)
|
b |
Subject Matter Expert in Rural Community Development
October 2021
Linkage Asia Sdn Bhd for the Leadership Institute
of the Sarawak Civil Service
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
(Training sessions for Level Q48 Sarawak
government officers)
|
c |
Sector Scoping Committee member
June 2021 -
Rhizocore Technologies Ltd. subsidiary of Deep Science Ventures
Ltd.
Ingatestone, Essex, CM4 9D
(a commercial project in the fermentative production
of fungal biomass)
|
d |
Specialist Bioscience Consultant
January 2020 -
Priority Care Sdn. Bhd.
93450 Kuching, Sarawak
|
e |
Visiting Researcher
January 2020 -
School of Earth
and Planetary Sciences,
Curtin University,
Bentley, Western Australia 6102 |
2012 - 2019
|
Professor and
a.
Dean, R&D
Sept 2012 - Dec 2019 (retired) Curtin University Malaysia
(Concurrent appointment with Director, CMRI)
Key responsibilities:
|
Oversaw a rise in Malaysia Research
Instrument Assessment (MyRA) rating of Curtin Malaysia from a score
in the 1-star
band in 2013 to that in the 4-star band by 2020.
|
|
Won MYR1.3M funding from the Sarawak
Cabinet (through the Sarawak R&D Council) for a
pilot- scale project for the fermentative production of biocementing
microorganisms for
biosandstone
top-coursing for rural roads. The offer was rescinded after
I left Curtin Malaysia prior to the project commencing.
|
|
Successfully negotiated
MYR2M funding
from Sarawak Energy Bhd. for Drs. Dodge-Wade and Nagarajan at the
School of Engineering in 2013.
(see the Baram Project below).
|
|
Oversaw competitive research grant
income of some MYR1.7M to the University in 2019.
|
|
Managed an OPEX of some MYR4.5M per
annum (2019 example), and a team of four administrative staff at the Office of R&D.
|
|
Developed and
managed the
Curtin Malaysia strategic (triannual) and Operational Plan
(annual) for R&D.
|
|
Chaired the
Curtin Malaysia R&D Committee.
|
|
Curtin
Malaysia member of the Curtin University R&D Committee.
|
|
Member of the
Curtin Malaysia Senior Executive Leaders Group (the top
management decision-making body on the campus)
|
|
Managed the
University’s data collection and reporting to the Ministry of Higher Education
for the purpose of assessing Curtin Malaysia’s rating in MyRA and SETARA.
|
|
Managed the
University’s budget on R&D for efficient outcomes
|
|
Managed the
framing of R&D contracts with external parties
|
b.
Director, Curtin Malaysia Research Institute (CMRI)
2014 - 2019 (retired)
Curtin University Malaysia
(Concurrent appointment with Dean, R&D)
Key responsibilities and
initiatives taken:
Developed an array
of strategic high-profile projects for the University e.g.
Led and managed Curtin
Malaysia’s
input
towards
the
development of
Sarawak's first and only bioprocess pilot plant facility (the
Sarawak Biovalley
Pilot Plant facility) which was built on the
grounds of Curtin University Malaysia.
|
2009 - 2012
|
|
Associate Professor,
Manager, Research & Consultancy
Office,
Swinburne University of Technology,
Sarawak Campus.
|
|
Won RM1.5M for a MoSTI Flagship project
for LTT Aquaculture sdn. Bhd. and SUTS. The R&D was
Subsequently placed outside SUTS after I left the university prior
to the grant being awarded.
|
|
Established the SUTS MyRA rating
system.
|
|
Established the SUTS PhD Scholarship
Scheme.
|
|
Other administrative duties were
similar to those described under the Dean, R&D role at Curtin
University Malaysia (see above). |
2008 - 2009
Assoc. Prof. and
Head of the Biotechnology Program,
School of Engineering and Science,
Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak
|
RM745K for a Biotech Corp.
Startup
Grant with Biotech Alliance Sdn. Bhd. (2009).
|
|
Designed and equipped the
Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Chemistry Teaching Laboratories, and three research
laboratories for the Biotechnology Program in the RM110M extension
of the SUTS buildings.
|
|
Engaged and managed four members of academic and 2
technical staff for the biotechnology program.
|
2006 - 2008
Biotechnology
Consultant
|
Completed projects
|
Fermentation Consultant,
|
BSES Ltd., Brisbane,
Australia |
Provision of expert advice on the commercial
development of a bioreactor process for artificial
seeds via tissue culture. |
|
|
Project Manager, Agrifoodasia P/L.
|
|
Visiting Professor,
Department of Microbiology, Q.-i-A. University, Islamabad.
Lecturing; development of project proposals for a microbial
type culture collection; development of a proposal for a
multi-million dollar project for a bioprocessing pilot
plant. |
|
2002 - 2006
|
Project Manager
Agrifoodasia P/L |
|
Responsible for design and administration of B2B business web
portal.
|
|
Project
analysis, evaluation and development largely in the China market.
|
1991 - 2002
Senior Lecturer in Industrial Microbiology,
Department of Biological Sciences,
University of Western Sydney, Macarthur
1987 - 1991
Research and Development Manager,
Interbac Australasia Pty. Ltd. based at the University of Western Australia.
Commercial and technical development of a project on fungal
inocula for plantation forestry.
Tasks:
The scientific responsibilities included the:
The commercial responsibilities included:
1986 - 1987
Research Associate,
Department of Botany, the University of Western Australia.
Production of beta-carotene in photobioreactors.
Task:
To execute a one-year commercially funded project to examine the technical feasibility of
the production of b-carotene from Dunaliella salina in airlift photobioreactors in
a linked photobioreactor-open pond system. The definition of the cultural conditions
required for the rapid production of Dunaliella salina biomass was a major task.
Responsibilities:
|
elucidation and execution of
research strategy. |
|
design and commissioning of the
airlift photobioreactors and ancillary equipment required for the project.
|
|
experimentation and
interpretation of results. |
|
liaising with funding company.
|
|
setting up a fermentation
laboratory. |
|
managing a fermentation research
laboratory and directing the work of a graduate technician. |
Concurrent Appointments, 1985 - 1990
1991 - 1995
Company Director,
Biosynthetica Pty. Ltd.,
182, Claisebrook Road,
East Perth, W.A. 6004.
Biosynthetica P/L was a start-up biotechnology company which owns proprietary technology in
the production of fungal biomass as inoculants.
1987 - 1990
Honorary Research Fellow,
Soil Science & Plant Nutrition, the University of Western Australia.
This position was held during the life of the project on fungal inocula for plantation
forestry which was based at the University of W.A.
1985 - 1990
Guest Lecturer in Industrial Microbiology (B.Sc. and
M.Sc. courses),
Department of Microbiology, the University of Western Australia.
Research Grants Won
(as Chief Investigator unless
otherwise stated)
2019 |
Chief Minister of Sarawak via the
Sarawak R&D Council
RM1,300,000 for a project on biosandstone top coursing for
low-volume rural roads. |
|
2010 |
Nestle through the Brains Sciences
Institute (BSI) Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne.
RM111,292 for managing a 3-month BSI study on the
effect of nutritive drinks taken at breakfast on the cognitive skills of
children. |
|
2009 |
Biotech Alliance International Sdn. Bhd.
RM745,500 for a 2 year project on rapid composting of empty fruit
bunches from palm oil processing via inoculation with selected
microorganisms. |
|
|
Chief Minister's Department
RM304,000 for the operating costs of 2 in-service training PhD
candidates from the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre. |
|
2000 |
UWSM
Industry Links Grant
The industry partner is Fort Dodge Australia P/L.
AUD10,000 for a 10 month project to initiate investigation into the
culture parameters controlling toxin production by Clostridium
perfringens for application in the optimisation of toxin titre in
vaccine production. Joint award with Dr. M. Laurence of Fort Dodge
Australia P/L. |
|
1997 |
Xylonova R&D syndicate
AUD150,000 for a 24 month project for the development of inocula of ectomycorrhizal fungi
for elite eucalypts for saline environments. |
|
1993 |
Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
AUD30,840 for a contract consultancy for a 3-year Australian Centre for International
Agricultural Research research project (Project No. 9105) on the extension of postharvest
storage-life of fruits and vegetables. The project is based at Chiangmai University,
Thailand and the University of New South Wales, Australia. |
|
Biosynthetica Pty. Ltd.
AUD58,000 for a 12-month extension of the project for the development of immobilized fungi
for inocula. |
1992 |
Biosynthetica Pty. Ltd.
AUD67,000 for a twelve-month research contract on the further development of immobilized
fungi as inocula. |
|
1991 |
Bunnings Treefarms Pty. Ltd.
AUD42,000 for a three-month project on further development of immobilized fungi for inocula. |
1987 |
Australian Special Rural Research Council
AUD150,000 for a three-year project on the genetic improvement of ectomycorrhizal fungi
(Joint award: Dr. I.C. Tommerup [Chief Investigator]; and N. Malajczuk
[Co-investigator]). |
1986 |
Interbac Australasia Pty. Ltd.
AUD341,037 for a three-year research contract on the application of biotechnology to the
production of immobilized fungi. |
|
1985 |
Rural Credits Development Bank (Reserve Bank of Australia)
AUD58,000 for a two-year project on the production of immobilized fungi for use as inocula
(Joint award with Co-Investigator Dr. N. Malajczuk). Offer declined in favor
of the grant from Interbac Australasia Pty. Ltd. |
Papers in Refereed Journals
Bibliometric data from the Clarivate
Web of Science [all databases] (except where indicated) as of
09 Nov 2021
Out of 15 papers listed in WoS:
Sum of the Times Cited: 1,070
Sum of Times Cited without self-citations: 1,058
Citing Articles: 1019 Citing articles without self-citations: 1012
Average Citations per Item: 71.33
h-index: 11
Journal Impact Factors (©Clarivate Analytics) reported are
5-year values as of 2019
Wong, C.C.; Wu, S.; Kuek, C.; Khan, A.G., and Wong, M.H. (2007) The role
of mycorrhiza associated with Vetiver grown in Pn/Zn contaminated soils:
Greenhouse study. Restoration Ecology 15: 60-67. [37 citations][Journal
Impact Factor = 2.501]
McCabe,
B.K.; Kuek, C.; Gordon, G. and Phillips, M.W. (2003) Production of beta-glucosidase
using immobilised Piromyces sp. KSX1 and Orpinomyces sp. 478P1 in
repeat-batch culture. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol. 30(4):205-9. [6 citations]
[Journal Impact Factor = 2.859]
Utama, I.M.; Wills, R.B.; Ben-Yehoshua, S. and Kuek, C. (2002) In vitro
efficacy of plant volatiles for inhibiting the growth of fruit and vegetable
decay microorganisms. J. Agric. Food. Chem. 50: 6371- 6377. [105 citations]
[Journal Impact Factor = 3.791]
McCabe, B.K.; Kuek, C.; Gordon, G. and Phillips, M.W. (2001)
Immobilization of monocentric and polycentric types of anaerobic chytrid
fungi in ca-alginate. Enz. Microbial Technol. 29:144-149. [11 citations]
[Journal Impact Factor = 2.804]
Mohammad, A.;
Khan, A.G. and Kuek, C. (2000) Improved aeroponic culture technique for
production of inocula of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Mycorrhiza 9:
337-339. [26 citations] [Journal Impact Factor = 2.991]
Khan, A.G.; Kuek, C.; Chaudhry, T.M.; Khoo, C.S. and Hayes, W.J. (2000)
Role of plants, mycorrhizae, and phytochelators in heavy metal contaminated
land remediation. Chemosphere (Special issue: Environmental contamination,
toxicology and health) 41: 197-207. [585 citations] [Journal
Impact Factor = 4.551]
Hannaford, A.M. and
Kuek, C. (1999) Aerobic batch degradation of phenol
using immobilized Pseudomonas putida. J. Industrial Microbiology &
Biotechnology 22(2):121-126. [58 citations] [Journal Impact Factor = 2.859]
Mordocco,
A.; Kuek, C. and Jenkins, R (1999) Continuous degradation of phenol at
low concentration using immobilized Pseudomonas putida. Enzyme and
Microbial Technology 25: 530-536. [93 citations] [Journal Impact Factor =
2.804]
Kuek, C.
(1996) Shake flask culture of Laccaria laccata, an ectomycorrhizal
basidomycete. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 45: 319-326. [15
citations] [Journal Impact Factor = 3.602]
Kuek, C., Tommerup, I.C. and Malajczuk, N. (1992) Hydrogel bead inocula for the
production of ectomycorrhizal eucalypts for plantations. Mycological
Research 96: 273-277. [28 citations] [Journal Impact Factor = 2.923]
Kuek, C.
(1991) Production of glucoamylase using Aspergillus phoenicus
immobilized in calcium alginate beads. Applied Microbiology and
Biotechnology 35: 466-470. [20 citations] [Journal Impact Factor = 3.602]
Kuek, C. (1986)
Immobilized living mycelia for the growth-dissociated synthesis of
chemicals. International Industrial Biotechnology 6: 123-125.
Kuek, C.
and Armitage, T.A. (1985) Scanning electron microscopic examination of
calcium alginate beads immobilizing growing mycelia of Aspergillus phoenicus.
Enzyme and Microbial Technology 7: 121-125. [28 citations] [Journal Impact
Factor = 2.804]
Kuek, C. and Kidby, D.K. (1985) Determination of glucoamylase in culture filtrates
containing other amylolytic enzymes. Starch/starke 37: 161-162. [3
citations] [Journal Impact Factor = 1.744]
Kuek, C.
and Kidby, D.K. (1984) Screening fungi for improved glucoamylase
productivity using buffered dextran broth cultures. Biotechnology Letters 6:
561-566. [11 citations] [Journal Impact Factor = 1.779]
Refereed
Papers in Books
Chaudhry, T.M.; Hill, L.; Khan, A.G. and Kuek, C. (1999) Colonization of
iron- and zinc-contaminated dumped filtercake waste by microbes, plants, and
associated mycorrhizae. In: "Remediation and Management of Degraded Lands",
M.H. Wong; J.W.C. Wong and A.J.M. Baker (eds.), CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton;
pp. 275-283. [26 citations]
Kuek, C.
(1994) Issues concerning the production and use of inocula of
ectomycorrhizal fungi. In: “Management of Mycorrhizas in Agriculture,
Horticulture and Forestry", A. D. Robson, L. K. Abbott and N. Malajczuk
(eds.), Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht; pp. 221-230. [25 Google Scholar
citations
here]
Book
Manurung, R.; Abdullah, Z.C.; Ahmad, F.B.
and Kuek, C. (2010) "Biodiversity - Biotechnology: gateway to
discoveries, sustainable utilization and wealth creation." Sarawak
Biodiversity Centre, Kuching. ISBN 978-983-40638-3-2
Conferences and Posters
Ng, L.T.;
Kuek, C. and Yeo, Y.T.C. (2012) Production of prolyl oligopeptidase
inhibitor via repeat batch culture of immobilized Fusarium sp.
CMI397470. Sixty second Annual Meeting of the Society of Industrial
Microbiology and Biotechnology; 12 - 16 Aug 2012; Washington DC, USA.
Ng, L.T.;
Kuek, C. and Yeo, Y.T.C. (2011) Shake flask production of prolyl
oligopepetidase inhibitor by Fusarium sp. CMI397470. In: "Proceedings of the International Congress
of the Malaysian Society for Microbiology 2011"; 8 - 11 December 2011,
Penang, Malaysia; R.A. Rahim; W.Z. Saad; S.C. Chin et al. (eds.),
Malaysian Society for Microbiology, ISBN 978-983-99873-1-7; pp. 492 - 495.
Asif, M.; Khan, A.; Khan, M.A. and Kuek, C. (1995) Growth response of wheat
to sheared root vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae inoculum under field
conditions. In: “Mycorrhizae: Biofertilizers of the Future; Proceedings of
the Third National Conference on Mycorrhizae;” 13-15 March, New Delhi,
India.
Mordocco, A.; Kuek, C. and Jenkins, R. (1995) Continuous degradation of
phenol at low levels using Psuedomonas putida immobilized in calcium
alginate. Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian Society for
Microbiology, September, Canberra, Australia.
Smitamana, P.; Boonyakiat, D.; Kuek, C.; Warton, M.A. and Yuen, C. (1995)
Control of decay microorganims in tropical fruits using ethanol vapor.
Australasian Postharvest Horticulture Conference, 18-22 September,
Melbourne, Australia.
Utama, I.M.S.; Kuek, C.; Jenkins, R. and Yuen, C. (1995) In vitro screening
of volatile compounds for the control of fruit and vegetable decay
microorganisms. Australasian Postharvest Horticulture Conference, 18-22
September, Melbourne, Australia.
Thomson, B.K.; Gordon, G.L.R.; Phillips, M.W. and Kuek, C. (1994) Anaerobic
fungi as a source of an enzyme mixture for fibre digestion; Annual
Scientific Meeting of the Australian Society for Microbiology, 25-30
September, abstracted in Australian Microbiologist 15:A140
Kuek, C.; Malajczuk, N. and Tommerup, I.C. (1990) Hydrogel bead inocula for
the production of ectomycorrhizal eucalypts for plantations. 8th Nth. Am.
Conf. on Mycorrhizae, Jackson, Wyoming.
Kuek, C.; Malajczuk, N. and Tommerup, I.C. (1988) Inoculation of eucalypts
with hydrogel bead inocula of ectomycorrhizal fungi: An efficacious method
for the production of mycorrhizal plants. Conference on the Biotechnology of
Fungi for Improving Plant Growth, Uni. of Sussex, U.K.
Tommerup, I.C.,
Kuek, C. and Malajczuk, N. (1987) Ectomycorrhizal inoculum production
and utilization in Australia. In: "Proceedings of the 7th North American
Conference on Mycorrhizae"; D.M. Sylvia and L.L. Hung (eds.), pp. 293-295.
Theses
"Some factors affecting the rate of ethanol production in
rapid batch fermentation.
Honours thesis, Department of Soil Science & Plant Nutrition, the University of W.A.,
1978.
"Glucoamylase of Aspergillus phoenicus: Strain improvement and production
using immobilized mycelia".
Ph.D thesis, School of Agriculture, the University of W.A., 1985.
Conferences and Consultancies
2012 |
Authored the
LTT Aquaculture Sdn. Bhd. application for a MOSTI Flagship
grant.
The project was awarded RM1.5M. |
"62nd Annual Meeting of the Society for
Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology"; Aug. 12-16, 2012,
Washington, DC. |
2011 |
"International Congress of the Malaysian
Society for Microbiology 2011"; 8 - 11 December 2011, Penang, Malaysia |
2005 |
Consultant to BSES Ltd., Brisbane (to 2008)
for an artificial seed commercialization project. |
2002 |
Consultant to Fujian Agricultural
University, Fuzhou on the development of a rapid testing kit for
pesticide residues. |
2001 |
“2nd
International Workshop on Edible Mycorrhizal Fungi”, Christchurch, New
Zealand, July 3-6. |
1999 |
Invited
by the China
Overseas Exchanges Association in Beijing, China to join a group of
100 experts convened on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the
founding of the Peoples' Republic of China, to visit institutions in
various provinces with a view to technical exchange. Visited the
Biotechnology Research Centre at Guangxi University, the Guangxi
Forest Research Institute, and the Academy of Forestry in Yunnan. Met
with various exchange office officials in Beijing. Sept. 19 to 3 Oct. |
1998 |
United
Nations Development Program TOKTEN/STAR consultant to the China Eucalypt Research Centre,
Zhanjiang, China; 15-22 Feb. To provide advice on inocula of ectomycorrhizal fungi for
plantation eucalypts. |
|
1997 |
End-of-Project Workshop (ACIAR Project No. 9105), 22-23 May,
Chiangmai, Thailand. |
1995 |
"Annual Meeting of the Aust. Centre for Intl. Agric. Res.
(ACIAR) Postharvest Research Program," Cunningham Laboratory, St. Lucia, Queensland,
14-15 November. Invited attendance as a consultant to ACIAR Project No. 9105. |
1994 |
"Asia-Pacific Chitin and Chitosan Symposium", 24-27 May,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Attendance to orientate for a new R & D area. |
"International Workshop on Postharvest Technology for
Agricultural Produce Including Animal Husbandry, Hanoi, Dec. 8-9, 1994. Invited attendance
as a consultant to ACIAR Project No. 9105." |
Invited
by the Guangdong Overseas Chinese Office in China to pay a visit to
the Institute for Tropical Forestry, Longdong with a view to
establishing technical exchange. |
1993 |
"International Conference on Postharvest Handling of Tropical
Fruit", 19-23 July, Chiangmai, Thailand. Invited attendance as a consultant to an
Aust. Centre for Intl. Agric. Res. Project No. 9105." |
Microbiology consultant to the Aust. Centre
for Intl. Agric. Research (Project No. 9105 - Shelf-life Extension of
Fruits & Vegetables) based in Chiangmai, Thailand; 1993 - 1995. |
1992 |
"International Symposium on Management of Mycorrhizas in
Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry", 28th Sept.- 2nd Oct., Perth, Western
Australia. Invited attendance to present a paper entitled "Issues concerning the
production and use of inocula of ectomycorrhizal fungi." |
1989 |
"3rd Brazilian Conference on Mycorrhizae", 11-14th Sept.,
Universidade de Sao Paulo, Piricicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Invited attendance to present an
address entitled "Hydrogel Bead Inocula: Developments in Western Australia." |
1988 |
"The Biotechnology of Fungi for Improving Plant Growth",
19-22nd Sept., University of Sussex, United Kingdom. Attended and presented a co-authored
poster." |
Scholastic awards
Undergraduate |
1977 |
The David Evans Memorial Prize in Agricultural
Micro-Economics, the University of Western Australia. |
Postgraduate |
1982 |
The University of Western Australia Special
Studentship.
|
1979 |
The Charles and Annie Neumann Postgraduate
Fellowship in Agriculture. Offer declined in favor of another (see immediately below). |
1979 |
The Soil Fertility Research Committee of
Western Australia Studentship in Industrial Microbiology. |
Postdoctoral |
1986 |
The Charles and Annie Neumann Post-Doctoral
Fellowship in Agriculture. Offer declined in favor of a fully funded post-doctoral project
(Production of fungal biomass; see 1986 in "Research Grants won"). |
Other
Resident, 1974 - 1977.
St. Thomas More College,
The University of Western Australia.
Resident Tutor, 1982.
Currie Hall, (later renamed
University Hall)
The University of Western Australia.
Further information and reprint requests can be made via
email
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