Profesor Dato' Dr. Azhar Bin Mat Easa (School of Industrial Technology)
31 March 2026 (Tuesday)
9.30am-10.30am
In an era of information overload, the modern scholar must evolve from a "searcher" to an "architect." This session introduces the Second Brain Strategy, a method to outsource cognitive load while maintaining absolute creative control. Participants will learn to navigate the full spectrum of modern AI. You will no longer be "chatting" with AI but will start building a research powerhouse. The talk focuses on the Practical AI Stack for USM graduate students looking to reclaim their time. Through the lens of the "Second Brain Strategy," we will cover:
Discovery: Fact-based searching via Consensus and Perplexity.
Ideation: Structured brainstorming with ChatGPT.
Optimization: Creating personalized assistants with Gemini Gems.
Synthesis: Managing thesis drafts and notes with NotebookLM.
This 1-hour session ensures that while the AI assists with the heavy lifting of organization and drafting, you decide the logic, the "why," and the final output.
Associate Professor Dr. Sasidharan Sreenivasan (Institute for Research In Molecular Medicine)
17.03.2026 (Tuesday)
9.00am-12.00pm
Description:
Publishing research is a crucial milestone in every postgraduate student’s academic journey, yet the process often appears complex and overwhelming. From Alpha to Omega is a comprehensive and practical talk designed to guide postgraduate students through the entire publication pathway from manuscript preparation and journal selection to peer review, revision, acceptance, and final publication. This session breaks down each stage of the process in a clear and structured manner, helping students understand how to choose the right journal, align their manuscript with author guidelines, craft compelling cover letters, and navigate different types of peer review systems. Participants will gain insights into responding effectively to reviewer comments, managing revisions strategically, handling rejection professionally, understanding publication ethics, and avoiding predatory journals. By demystifying the submission-to-publication journey, this talk equips postgraduate students with the knowledge, confidence, and practical strategies needed to successfully publish their research and build a strong academic profile.
Take-Away:
At the end of this session, postgraduate students will walk away with a clear understanding of the complete publication process, practical tools to prepare and submit manuscripts confidently, strategies to respond to reviewers constructively, and the ability to avoid common pitfalls that delay or prevent acceptance. More importantly, they will gain the confidence to approach publication not as a daunting requirement, but as a manageable, strategic, and rewarding part of their academic career.
Professor Dr. Andrew Tan Khee Guan (School of Social Sciences)
12 March 2026 (Thursday)
9.30 am - 12.30 pm
This lecture discusses the reasons for publishing in academic journals and the structure of an academic manuscript from the Arts and Social Science perspective. The various steps involved in publishing, choosing a journal, writing the cover letter, and revising a submitted paper are discussed.
Professor Dr. Ahmad Zuhairi bin Abdullah (School of Chemical Engineering)
11 March 2026 (Wednesday)
9.00am -11.00am
Postgraduate studies offer a valuable opportunity for academic growth, personal development, and career advancement. This lecture explores how students can maximize their postgraduate experience to achieve their career goals. It begins by examining the purpose of postgraduate studies, emphasizing knowledge enhancement, research proficiency, and career specialization. The session will highlight academic advancement, focusing on developing expertise, publishing research, and engaging in scholarly discourse. Beyond academics, personal development is crucial, as students cultivate critical thinking, problem-solving, and resilience which are essential skills for professional success. Additionally, postgraduate research contributes to society by addressing real-world challenges and informing policy decisions. The lecture will also emphasize the role of professional networking and collaboration, guiding students in building relationships with mentors, peers, and industry experts to open career opportunities. For those pursuing an academic career, insights into teaching, research, and securing funding will be provided. Furthermore, the importance of lifelong learning skills, such as adaptability and continuous self-improvement, will be discussed. The session will conclude with strategies for excellence, including effective time management, research efficiency, goal setting, development of networking, professional branding, enhanced research experience, global opportunities etc. By the end of the lecture, students will be equipped with the knowledge and tools to make the most of their postgraduate studies and align them with their long-term career aspirations.
Professor Dr. Lim Jit Kang (School of Chemical Engineering)
10 March 2026 (Tuesday)
9.30am - 11.30am
In this workshop, I will discuss philosophical perspectives on publishing and why it is essential for graduate students to publish their work. I will also briefly cover the use of AI tools in manuscript preparation, with a focus on meeting publishers' requirements. Additionally, I will introduce Whitesides’ paper-writing strategy, highlighting its role as an integral part of the research process [1]. Beyond these conceptual aspects, I will address practical elements of academic publishing, including: (i) crafting an effective research paper title, (ii) writing a clear and compelling abstract, (iii) designing a representative graphical abstract, (iv) avoiding common mistakes in figure preparation, and (v) writing a persuasive cover letter. Finally, I will provide an overview of the publication process and key pitfalls to avoid during paper submission.
[1] G.M. Whitesides, Adv. Mater. 2004, 16, 1375 – 1377.