CURRICULUM VITAE


 

Academic Qualifications

BSc(Agric)(Hons) (University of Western Australia);
PhD
(University of Western Australia)


 

 

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 RM60 million investment by the Sarawak government to provide lab research a route to trials at commercially-relevant scales. His accumulated expertise includes managing large R&D projects, 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 short, he is able to deliver large, multi-disciplinary projects where disparate sciences/technologies/services need to be melded for on-time/on-cost successful outcomes. In his bioprocessing field, he routinely interacts with fellow bioprocess practitioners (microbial physiology and kinetics, mass balances, yield productivities, process development and optimization); chemical engineers (design and operation of processing equipment/plants); Mechanical & Electrical, and Civil Engineers (construction of facilities); GMP Specialists; lawyers (contracting); and with accountants (cost accounting; cashflow analyses; profitability analysis). He has also been a director in proprietary limited companies in both Australia and Malaysia.
 

 

Professional Experience

 

2020 -
 

a Consultant
27 June 2022 - 09 July 2022
Rhizocore Technologies Ltd.
(On-site fermentation advice/skills transfer in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK)
 
b Consultant
Dec 2021 - June 2022
Crowe Advisory Sdn Bhd
Level 13A, Tower C Megan Avenue 2, 12, Jalan Yap Kwan Seng 50450 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
(Part of a multi-disciplinary team under a contract awarded by a quasi-government entity.
Sub-contractor role for the design and costing of a GMP-compliant bioprocessing production plant within a techno-economic feasibility study for a bioproduct sector in Sarawak, Malaysia)

 
c 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)
 
d Project Profitability Consultant
June - Dec 2021
LTT Aquaculture Sd Bhd
Lot 122, Section 63 KTLD,
Jalan Datuk Abang Abdul Rahim 5,
93450 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
(Projected cashflow analysis for the estimation PB period, IRR and NPV for establishing the credentials for a financing facility)
 
e Subject Matter Expert in Rural Community Development
October 2021; August 2022; June 2023
Linkage Asia Sdn Bhd (now
Third Opinion Partners Sdn Bhd) for the Leadership Institute of the Sarawak Civil Service
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
(Training sessions for Level Q48 Sarawak government officers)
 
f Sector Scoping Committee member
June 2021 - current
Rhizocore Technologies Ltd. subsidiary of Deep Science Ventures Ltd.
Ingatestone, Essex, CM4 9D
(a commercial project in the fermentative production of fungal biomass)
 
g Specialist Bioscience Consultant
January 2020 - current
Priority Care Sdn. Bhd.
93450 Kuching, Sarawak
 
h Adjunct Research Fellow
January 2020 - current
School of Earth and Planetary Sciences

Curtin University
Bentley, Western Australia 6102

2012 - 2019
 

Professor and

Dean, R&D
Sept 2012 - Dec 2019
Curtin University Malaysia
Concurrent appointment with that as Director, Curtin Malaysia Research Institute
Curtin University Malaysia at Miri, Sarawak is a branch campus of Curtin University in Perth, Australia
 

  • 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 3-star band by 2020 by guiding academic staff and their research to goals aligned with Curtin University strategies, governmental developmental thrusts, staff capabilities, and allocated campus annual budgets.
     

  • Won MYR1.3 million 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 MYR2 million 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 MYR1.7 million to the University in 2019.
     

  • Managed an OPEX of some MYR4.5 million 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

 

Director, Curtin Malaysia Research Institute (CMRI)
2014 - 2019
Curtin University Malaysia
(Concurrent appointment with Dean, R&D)

  • R&D. Developed an array of strategic high-profile projects for the University e.g.
     

  • Pilot Plant Facility. 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.
     

  • Member of the Executive Committee of the Curtin Research Royalty Fund.
     

  • Company director, Curtin Consultancy Services Sdn. Bhd. (now Curtin Biovalley Sdn. Bdh.)

 

2009 - 2012


Associate Professor and
 

Manager, Research & Consultancy Office,

Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak Campus.
 

  • Won RM1.5 million 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


Associate Professor and


Head of the Biotechnology Program,
School of Engineering and Science
Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak

  • RM745,000 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.
     

  • Developed the tender specifications (BQ – Bill of Quantities) for the equipment for 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.

     

  • PhD supervised
    "The submerged aerobic culture of Fusarium sp. IMI397470 isolated in Sarawak for the production of Prolyl Oligopeptidase Inhibitor"

    MSc supervised
    "Heterotrophic culture of Chlorella protothecoides for the production of lipids"
     

 

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.
 

Visiting Professor,
Department of Microbiology
Quaid-i-Azam 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 Pty. Ltd.

  • 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
  • Responsible for under/postgraduate teaching/supervision (honours and PhD), and research in microbiology and fermentation.
  • Examples of research projects:
    "Production of immobilized mycelia of ectomycorrhizal fungi as forestry inoculants;" industry funded project.
    "Production of penicillin using immobilized Penicillium chrysogenum;" 3rd Year BSc. Project.
    "Aerobic degradation of phenol using Pseudomonas putida immobilized in calcium alginate;" B.Sc. Honours
    "Degradation of phenol in continuous culture using immobilized Pseudomonas putida;" Master of Sci.
    "Isolation fibrolytic rumen microorganisms and development of a novel production process for the fibrolytic enzymes;" PhD (UWSM/CSIRO project).
    "Development of versicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal inocula;" PhD.
    "The control of microbial deterioration of fruits and vegetables using naturally-occurring volatiles;" PhD (co-supervision; Uni. Of Newcastle).
     
  • Chairman of the B.Tech.Mgt. Course Board responsible for B.Tech.Mgt.(Biotechnology), B.Tech.Mgt.(Instrumentation & Control), and B.Tech.Mgt.(Manufacturing).
    Led the accreditation of the honours program in the BTech.Mgt degree.
    Led the re-accreditation of the B.Tech.Mgt degrees.

  • Chairman of the Production Floor Sub-Committee (6-monthly rotation). This committee is responsible for the policies for and operation of the Technology Management Facility which comprises laboratories and production processes.
    Course Coordinator for B.Tech.Mgt.(Biotechnology).

  • Subject Coordinator for:
    Industrial Microbiology.
    Integrating Project (Biotechnology)
    Basic Microbiology
  • Other teaching contributions:
    Bioreactors, & Unit Operations; Microbiological Quality Assurance.
  • Maintain an interest in the issues surrounding the commercialization and economic evaluation of projects. A subject of my design [Integrating Project (biotechnology)] illustrates this.

  • Won AUD177,000 of research funds between 1991 and 1993.
     
  • Member of the design-specification team for a AUD3 million (1990 $) moot manufacturing complex at the University of Western Sydney, Macarthur which represents typical R & D and production facilities of a manufacturing enterprise. This building is used for the B.Tech.Mgt. degrees.

  • Responsible for the identification and procurement of AUD120,000 (1991 $) of fermentation equipment for initiating a process train for the Technology Management building.

  • Proposed the concept for, and co-designed a AUD150,000 (1991 $) citric acid crystallization process plant for the Technology Management Building.

  • Regular referee for manuscripts submitted to Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, published by the Society of Chemical Industry, London.

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:

  • elucidation and execution of research strategy encompassing the development of novel processes and techniques, the development of production process to a scale sufficient for the supply of large field trials, field trials, and generally the development of the project to the pilot plant stage.

  • setting up of research collaborations with the CSIRO Division of Forestry and Forest Products, Alcoa of Australia Ltd., and the W.A. Chip and Pulp Co. Pty. Ltd.

  • setting up international affiliations by visiting institutions in the United Kingdom and Brazil.
  • preparation of a design brief for a pilot plant facility.
  • setting up a fermentation research laboratory.
  • management of staff (Research Officer and Laboratory Assistant) and a fermentation research laboratory.

The commercial responsibilities included:

  • the negotiation of research and commercial contracts for the conduct the research, to define scientific integration, for commercial access to and use of scientific data, and for the regulation of royalties. These contracts were negotiated with senior management of the University of W.A., CSIRO Division of Forestry and Forest Products, Alcoa of Australia Ltd. and the W.A. Chip and Pulp Co. Pty. Ltd.

  • financial control and budgeting (cash flow; profit/loss; cost).
  • the implementation of market research for determination of market niche and size.
  • the implementation of cost-benefit analysis of the technology being developed.
  • the implementation of a valuation of the intellectual property (via cash flow and sensitivity analyses).
  • assessment and identification of a competent supplier/contractor for the construction of the pilot plant facility;
  • negotiations for a supply/construction contract.
  • development of marketing strategy.
  • liaison with the financial sector.
  • preparation of information for statutory listing requirements of the stock exchange.
1986 - 1987
 

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Research Associate
Department of Botany, the University of Western Australia

The 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 between 1985 and 2019

2019

 
Company Director
Curtin Consultancy Services (M) Sdn Bhd
(succeeded by Curtin Biovalley Sdn Bhd)
CDT 250 98009 Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia

CCS was the commercial arm of Curtin University, Malaysia.
 
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
 
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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
uwa_logo.gif (3066 bytes) 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.

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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.

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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.

1980

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.

interbac.jpg (28687 bytes)

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
03 May  2024
Out of 16 papers listed in WoS:
Sum of the Times Cited: 1,192
Sum of Times Cited without self-citations: 1,180
Citing Articles: 1,139
Citing articles without self-citations: 1,132
Average Citations per Item: 74.5
h-index: 12

Journal Impact Factors (©Clarivate Analytics) reported are 5-year values as of 2019

 

Ongetta, S.; Viswanathan, P.M.; Sabarathinam, C.; Ramasamy, N. and Kuek, C. (2022) Delineation of highland saline groundwater sources in Ba’kelalan region of NE Borneo to improve the salt-making production using geochemical and approaches. Chemosphere 307: 135721 [4 citations]

Con Stough, Andrew Scholey, Gertrude Gentile-Rapinett, Jeroen Schimdt, Antionette Goh, Keith Wesnes, Marni Kras, Clem Kuek, David Camfield (2020) An evaluation of the cognitive effects of malt extract and sucrose in school-aged Malaysian children. Bioactive compounds in Health and Disease 3(10): 179 - 193.

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. [40 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. [124 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. [32 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. [621 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. [60 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. [98 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. [16 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. [29 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. [21 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. [12 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 other 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 & Forestry 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.

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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.
 

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