Staff Profile

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Dr. Tay Ai Chen

Senior Lecturer
Ph.D. in Science (Plant Ecophysiology) (Nara Women’s University, Japan) M.Sc. (Environmental Chemistry) (Universiti Putra Malaysia) B.Sc. (Environment) (Universiti Putra Malaysia)

Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Science

Office No:260 958
Fax No:+60 82 260 813
Room No: E609
Email: [email protected]
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Biography

Dr. Tay Ai Chen obtained her Bachelor of Science in Environment in 1999 and Master of Science in Environmental Chemistry in 2002 at Universiti Putra Malaysia, Doctor of Philosophy in Science specializing in Plant Ecophysiology in 2006 at Nara Women’s University, Japan. Her master research focussed on characterization of acid deposition by evaluating the physico-chemical properties of soils at Pasoh Forest Reserve and Sepang fire-peat swamp. Her Ph.D. research was on the ecophysiological role and function of vines related to the constriction effect on host plant, stomatal distribution and diurnal gas exchange.

She worked in Chemsain Konsultant Sdn Bhd conducting Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) projects for 8 years, then shifted to academic career at Curtin University Malaysia for 10 years before joining Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak as a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering, Computing, and Science in July 2025. She is actively doing research including hornbill monitoring, vegetation growth, biodiversity protection, and teaching innovation. She has strong project collaboration with industries and government agencies, such as Eco-ideal Consulting Sdn Bhd, OCIM Sdn Bhd, Sarawak Energy Berhad, Sarawak Forestry, Department of Agriculture, and Natural Resources and Environment Board.

Research Interests

  • Environmental DNA
  • Environmental conservation
  • Environmental impact assessment
  • Climate change
  • Forest ecosystem
  • Agriculture

Professional Membership

  • Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) of UK Energy Institute
  • UK Fellow, The Higher Education Academy (HEA)
  • Member (MEI) of the UK Energy Institute

Research Grants

  • Ecological studies of Miri River: Establishing Potential Conservation Areas along Riverine Ecosystem for the benefits of Miri communities. External Grant: Ministry of Natural Resources & Urban Development 2025.
  • Incorporating Industrial Wastes from the Polysilicon Industry for Geopolymer: External Grant: OCIM Sdn Bhd 2024
  • A Smart Rural Development Decision-making Framework to Improve Socioeconomic: External Grant: Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) 2022
  • Energy Efficient Design of High Rise Occupant: Case study on Menara Sarawak Energy Building. External Grant: Sarawak Energy Berhad 2022
  • Energy Efficient Design of High Rise Residential Buildings: External Grant: Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) 2021
  • Digitizing the Map of Agricultural Plantation Areas: Southern Region of Miri. External Grant: Sarawak Multimedia Authority 2019

Awards

  • Curtin Malaysia Teaching and Innovation Project 2025
  • Curtin Malaysia Higher Degree Research 2024
  • Curtin Malaysia Student Learning Awards 2024
  • Curtin Malaysia Community Engagement Fund 2024
  • Student’s Choice Award, Curtin University Malaysia 2019
  • Staff Service Award, Chemsain Consultant Sdn Bhd 2014
  • Monbukagasho Scholarship, Japanese Government (MEXT) 2006

Publications

  • Stengle, P.A., Low, W.W., Wong, K.S., Wang, C., Tay, A.C., Wong, S.Y. and K.K. Lee. (2024). Review of Studies on Smart Rural and Rural Resilience. Grenze International Journal of Engineering & Technology, 10(2): 2185-2194.
  • Toh, Y.M., Selowara Joo, M., Sadeghifam, A.N., Tay, A.C., Mahdiyar, A. and M.F. Mohamed. (2023). Delphi method for ranking the passive design parameters impact on the cooling load of high-Rise residential buildings in Malaysia. Journal of Engineering and Science Research, 7(4): 01-09.
  • Tay, A.C. and P. Ratnam. (2020). Comparison of soil erosion control by mulch and cultivated Grass. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 943. doi:10.1088/1757-899X/943/1/012025
  • Tay, A.C. and H.F. Lee. (2018). Traffic condition with road upgrading during construction and operation stages based on level-of-service (LOS). IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 344: 1-7.
  • Tay, A.C. and A. Furukawa. (2008). Variations in leaf stomatal density and distribution of 53 vine species in Japan. Plant Species Biology, 23(1): 2-8.
  • Tay, A.C., Abdullah, A.M., Awang, M. and A. Furukawa. (2007). Midday depression of photosynthesis in Enkleia malaccensis, a woody climber in a tropical rainforest. Photosynthetica, 45(2): 189-193.