UPM names deputy VC for research and innovation

Ministry of Higher Education has announced the appointment of Professor Dr Zulkifli Idrus as Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (UPM) deputy vice-chancellor (research and innovation) with effect from April 15, 2018 to April 14, 2021.

Zulkifli replaced Professor Datuk Dr Husaini Omar, who was appointed vice-chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) on Jan 1.

Zulkifli is a professor at the Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, UPM. He studied veterinary medicine at UPM in 1984 and later pursued a Master’s in Poultry Science at the same university in 1990.

He subsequently obtained a PhD in Poultry Science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, US in 1994. He started his career as a lecturer at the Department of Veterinary Science, UPM in 1994 and was promoted to Associate Professor in 1999 and Professor in 2004.

He has devoted his professional career to excellence in teaching and research in the field of poultry science and animal welfare. He has received numerous public, international and industry research grants totalling more than RM15 million.

From 2012 to 2017, he led the Long Term Research Grant Scheme programme, worth RM11.68 million on food security, titled Ministry.

Throughout his service at UPM, he was appointed deputy director (2003-2005) and director (2004-2010) at the Research Management Centre. He has been the Tropical and Food Security Institute (ITAFoS) director since 2010.

During his leadership, ITAFoS was recognised as an Higher Institution Centre of Excellence in the field of Tropical Agrifood by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia on Jan 1, 2017. He is also former president of the World Poultry Science Association (Malaysia branch) (2012 -2017).