My Academic Background

I am always fascinated by the concept of life beyond death, from natural and biological perspectives. The interconnections of countless insects on decomposing cadavers produce an ecosystem of unfamiliarity and mystery. I was introduced to forensic entomology when I was completing Biomedical Science (Hons.) Degree Program in 2003 at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. There, I was trained to recognize the specific roles of flies and beetles, not only as decomposers but also as forensic indicators. In 2006, I received Master of Criminal Justice from Universiti Malaya, and it gave me a clear understanding on the role of entomologists as expert witnesses and insects as scientific evidence. I met scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) in 2009 through my doctoral advisor, Prof. Emeritus Baharudin Omar and from there on I found my purpose. In 2014, I earned my PhD and wrote a thesis on the Bionomics of Forensic Scuttle Flies, which was greatly influenced by the world’s authority in scuttle flies, Dr. R. Henry L. Disney from the University of Cambridge. We have worked together on the taxonomy and bionomics of forensically important scuttle flies including describing new species and new geographical distributions of scuttle flies from Peninsular Malaysia. For me, examining these remarkable tiny creatures of extremely diverse morphology, habits and habitats are a truly humbling experience.