Calvin Shee Yin Ming

Recipient of Outstanding Contribution to Science, Technology & Innovation 2025

Institution

French National Centre for Scientific Research (Centre national de la reserche scientifique), France

From Taxonomy to Function: Unlocking Biosynthetic Gene Clusters in the Microbiome of Nepenthes Pitchers via Functional Metagenomics

Health, Science and Technology

Dato' Professor Dr. Adeeba Kamarulzaman

Recipient for Year 2022

Something that is worth doing is often tough, but the rewards can be big.

Bridging Genomics and Public Health: Advancing Antimicrobial Resistance Research

Calvin Shee Yin Ming, a graduate in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from Universiti Malaya, has been awarded the prestigious Merdeka Award Grant for International Attachment for his pioneering proposal to integrate microbial genomics with public health policy in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

The 23-year-old researcher, youth leader, and founder of United for Global Antimicrobial Stewardship (UGAS) has already built a reputation as one of Malaysia’s most promising young scientists and advocates for global health.

From Pitcher Plants to Pathogen Genomics

Calvin’s scientific journey is deeply rooted in curiosity about the natural world. His work on the Nepenthes pitcher plant, a carnivorous plant that forms self-contained microbial ecosystems within its digestive fluid, has revealed how unique bacterial communities thrive in extreme, enzyme-rich environments.

By applying functional metagenomics to these pitcher plant systems, Calvin seeks to uncover novel enzymes and antimicrobial compounds that may inspire new solutions to resistant infections.

This ecological exploration informs his broader mission: to harness genomic surveillance for resistant pathogens in clinical and environmental settings. By tracing resistance pathways across hospitals, agriculture, and ecosystems, his work bridges biodiversity research with urgent public health needs.

Building Expertise Abroad, Bringing Solutions Home

Through his Merdeka Award Grant, Calvin will undertake an attachment at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Paris, where he will train in Nepenthes functional metagenomics and advanced genomic tools under leading scientists.

There, he hopes to adapt frontier techniques into frameworks that can be applied in Malaysia and ASEAN countries to monitor resistant bacteria across hospitals, communities, and the environment.

Calvin has already made notable contributions to microbiology: discovering a potential new fungal genus, identifying plastic-degrading bacteria in insect gut microbiomes, development of qPCR diagnostic kit for new emerging virus, and conducting probiotic–antibiotic interaction studies. He is also spearheading AMR awareness campaigns through UGAS, including the award-winning “Pills to Art” initiative with Watsons Malaysia and Universiti Malaya, which combines safe medicine disposal with public education.

Recognition at National and Global Platforms

Calvin’s voice has been featured across scientific, policy, and youth leadership arenas.

He has presented at international conferences, served as a Malaysian representative to International Diplomats Conference at the United Nations, Bangkok; ASEAN Foundation Model ASEAN Meeting (AFMAM) East Asia Summit 2025 (AFMAM EAS 2025); ASEAN Youth Economic Forum 2025, Global Goals Summit 2025 (where he emerged as won the champion among 100 delegates from 25 countries in an academic speak up competition with the topic: “Antimicrobial Resistance and its relation to SDGs”), and led Malaysia’s first youth-driven NGO tackling AMR (www.myugas.com). His collaborations span universities, government agencies, including the Ministry of Health Malaysia, NAHRIM, NGOs and international partners.

Disclaimer:
The information in this award recipient's profile is accurate to the best of our knowledge as of the time the award was presented. Any subsequent changes, updates, or developments in the individual's life or achievements may not be reflected in this profile.

Other Recipients

Outstanding Contribution to Environment and Planetary Health

Amaziasizamoria Jumail

Outstanding Contribution to Science, Technology & Innovation

Dr. Kong Xin Ying

Outstanding Contribution to Environment and Planetary Health

Dr. Ng Chuck Chuan