Professor Dato’ Dr Azhar Mat Easa, the nutrastrategist.
Dr. Azhar was born on 13th April 1969 in Sg Bakap, Penang, Malaysia. Dr. Azhar obtained his first degree of BSc. (Hons) in Food Sciences, from The University of Nottingham, England, in July 1992. He then pursued his studies to a higher level and obtained his Ph. D (Food Sciences), from the same University in September 1996. His thesis title was “Factors affecting Maillard induced gelation of protein-sugar system”.

Career

From 18th October 1996 to 30th December 2003, Dr. Azhar served as a University lecturer before being promoted to Associate Professor on 31st December 2003, and to Professor on 30st September 2009.

Administrative posts held include Program Chairman (Food Technology Program, 2001-2002), Deputy Dean (Academic and Student Development) 2003 to 2007, and briefly in 2009, Deputy Dean (Research and Postgraduates studies) 2010-2014, and 2019- till present. He served as Dean for the same school for five years (2014-2018).

His current job functions include managing the research and postgraduates affair of the school, lecturing, supervising of students in research, conducting research (mainly in the production of functional food and protein function enhancement), consultants in functional food and protein functionalities, refereeing and publication of scientific papers and writing scientific reports and scientific articles.

Other past activities include sitting in the Malaysian Ministry of Health committee for Functional Food (Codex Coordinating Committee on Functional Food Regulation for ASIA), sitting in Penang State Government committee for Science and Technology awareness program and promoting the understanding of integrated quality system development of ASEAN agro-based food industries.