Professor 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. He was promoted to Associate Professor on 31st December 2003, and to Professor on 30st September 2009. From the period of 2003 to 2007, and briefly in 2009, he held the position of Deputy Dean (Academic and Student Development) of the School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia. He also served (2010-2015) as the Deputy Dean for Research and Postgraduates studies. Currently he is serving as the Dean for the same school.

From a period of 2001 through to 2002, Dr. Azhar was the Program Chairman of the Food Technology Program of the School. 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.