Dr Salwana Md. Jaafar, Assistant Lecturer from the Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research (IBER) at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), embarked on a two-week transformative journey to Stanford University.
Funded by Nanyang Technological University Singapore (NTU Singapore) and supported by UBD, Dr Salwana’s visit was a pivotal component of a collaborative project involving IBER, the Asian School of Environment (ASE) at NTU Singapore and Stanford University, USA. Dr Salwana had the privilege of being hosted by Associate Professor Dr Kabir Peay, Director of the Earth Systems Program and an esteemed scientist renowned for his expertise in fungal biodiversity and soil microbial interactions at Stanford University.
During her time at Stanford, Dr Salwana was immersed in an intensive program focused on bioinformatics training and analysis, utilizing soil samples collected in Brunei’s tropical rainforests in 2023. As part of this collaborative project, samples were initially exported to NTU Singapore for soil DNA extraction and sequencing, with the sequencing data then utilized in the bioinformatics training. Dr Salwana’s visit was also enriched with other activities including lectures, practical classes, field visits, and lab meetings, which further deepened her understanding and insights into her field of study.
Dr Salwana conveyed her sincere appreciation to Universiti Brunei Darussalam, NTU Singapore, and Stanford University for their invaluable support and guidance on her academic journey. “I am deeply grateful for the unwavering assistance provided by these esteemed institutions,” she remarked, highlighting their pivotal role in fostering her pursuit of academic excellence.
IBER’s research collaborations with NTU Singapore and Stanford University, centered around Brunei’s pristine peat swamp forests, have directly contributed towards national conservation efforts by the Forestry Department, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism. These projects have significantly advanced Brunei’s achievements towards the Sustainable Development Goals and marks a significant milestone in IBER’s vision as a centre of excellence for biodiversity and environmental research.