Candidate Statement – Shuhaila Mat Sharani

Career Summary:

I have extensive experience in bioinformatics and molecular biology, particularly in genome assembly, prediction, and annotation. I have held various academic and research positions, and I currently serve as a lecturer at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), where I teach, supervise students, and lead research projects. I have also worked as a bioinformatician and research officer, collaborating with universities and research institutes. I have published numerous research papers, led workshops, and contributed to bioinformatics education. My research focuses on small proteins, SARS-CoV-2, and early cancer diagnosis, with notable achievements in grant leadership and conference presentations.

Contributions to APBioNET: 

I have contributed to APBioNET as a moderator for one of its seminars and have participated as a presenter in almost all the conferences it organizes, including INCOB since 2016 and InSyB 2020.

Proposed future contributions to APBioNET:

If elected as an ExCo member of APBioNET, my contributions would focus on enhancing collaboration by fostering research partnerships and networking among members. I would advocate for improved data-sharing systems and open-access repositories, while also supporting early-career researchers by providing mentoring and career development opportunities. Additionally, I aim to expand educational resources by developing online courses and webinars for continuous learning. Promoting interdisciplinary research by encouraging collaboration between biologists and other fields, as well as engaging with policymakers and funding bodies to support biological research, would also be key priorities.