Biography

Dr. Norazira Abdu Rahman is an Assistant Professor at Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM) and Head of Programme for the MSc in Marine Biotechnology. She holds a PhD in Aquatic Bioscience from The University of Tokyo, Japan, and has more than 10 years of research and academic experience in algal biotechnology, marine natural products, high-value bioactive compounds, and sustainable bio-based products. Her current research focuses on climate-resilient microalgal biotechnology, circular bioprocessing, and the sustainable valorisation of algal biomass for environmental and blue bioeconomy applications. She is committed to advancing sustainable marine biotechnology through interdisciplinary research, education, programme leadership, international collaboration, and the mentorship of undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Research Interest

• Algal biotechnology
• Algal bio-based products
• Marine natural products and antioxidants
• Microalgae cultivation and optimization
• Sustainable Aquafeed
• Sustainable aquaculture practices
• Mass cultivations

Educational Background

• PhD in Aquatic Bioscience – Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Japan (2018–2021); awarded. Funded by the Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho: MEXT) Scholarship.

• MSc in Aquaculture – School of Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Malaysia (2014–2016); awarded.

• BSc in Agrotechnology (Aquaculture) – School of Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Malaysia (2010–2013); awarded.

Working Experience

• Head of Programme, MSc in Marine Biotechnology – Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM) (2026–present)

• Assistant Professor – Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM) (2024–present)

• Lecturer – Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM) (2021–2023)

• International Researcher – The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan (2017–2018)

Research Experience

• Principal Investigator – Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS): “Elucidation of high-antioxidant diatoms as feed additive in shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei”. RM103,000 (October 2023–March 2026).

• Principal Investigator – Xiamen University Malaysia Research Fund (XMUMRF): “Algae-Derived Antioxidants for Sustainable Use in Aquafeed and Cosmeceuticals”. RM60,000 (July 2025–present).

• Principal Investigator – Xiamen University Malaysia Research Fund (XMUMRF): “Bioprospecting of high ammonium tolerance algae for sustainable wastewater valorisation into biofuel production and aquaculture use”. RM60,000 (July 2022–present).

• Co-investigator/Collaborator – Xiamen University Malaysia Research Fund (XMUMRF): “Assessment of antioxidant and photoprotective potential of microalgae species for cosmeceutical application”. RM60,000 (July 2024–present).

• Co-investigator/Collaborator – Xiamen University Malaysia Research Fund (XMUMRF): “Microbiological and Molecular Assessment of Bivalve Food Safety in Tropical Coastal Ecosystems”. RM30,000 (July 2026–present).

• Co-investigator/Collaborator – Geran Pembiayaan Sepadan (Matching Grant) UMT–UMK–XMUM: “Integrated Assessment of Bivalve Health in Response to Environmental Stressors in Tropical Coastal Ecosystems”. RM30,000 (July 2026–present).

• Co-investigator/Collaborator – POPSIG (IChemE Palm Oil Processing Special Interest Group) Student Research Project Bursary: “Valorisation of blended palm oil mill effluent sediment and oil palm frond as the substrate for black soldier fly larvae (BSFL)”. RM3,000 (September 2022–February 2023).

Representative Publications

• Rahman, N. A., Katayama, T., Wahid, M. E. A., Jusoh, M., Yusoff, F. M., & Takahashi, K. (2026). Microalgae as biofactories of natural antioxidants: From stress responses to industrial applications. Journal of Applied Phycology, 38, 1139–1172. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-026-03804-0

• Tan, H. N., Yeap, S. K., Tan, J. P., Fatimah, M. Y., Malinna, J., & Rahman, N. A. (2026). Light spectra influence biomass and phenolics while sustaining high fucoxanthin in the tropical indigenous diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii. PeerJ, 14, e20835. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20835

• Indarto, F. S., Chew, S. C., Yusoff, F. M., Jusoh, M., & Rahman, N. A. (2026). Microalgae for anti-aging cosmeceuticals: Synergistic bioactivities and physicochemical potential. Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science, 49(5). https://doi.org/10.47836/pjtas.49.5.15

• Mai, T., Rahman, N. A., Pang, S. Y., Tan, J. P., & Chew, S. C. (2026). Green extraction approach for green microalga Tetraselmis tetrahele: Enhanced phenolic yield and bioactivity via ultrasound-assisted extraction. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, 127, 107774. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultsonch.2026.107774

• Yeow, T. A., Ma, M., Agustin, Y. E., Yaser, S. I. A. A., Lim, J. J. Y., Wong, M.-K., Hui, Y. W., Rahman, N. A., Tan, S. T., & Tan, J. P. (2025). Bioconversion of food waste into value-added products via black soldier fly larvae (BSFL). In Valorisation of Food Waste. CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781032718507

• Yeow, T. A., Agustin, Y. E., Ma, M., Goh, C. K., Lim, C. X., Clyde, C. W., Liu, S., Hui, Y. W., Rahman, N. A., Chew, S. C., & Tan, J. P. (2026). Coculture of Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens in immature black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) frass for liquid biofertilizer production. ACS Agricultural Science & Technology, 6(1), 130–141. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsagscitech.5c00427

• Lau, J. H. H., Rahman, N. A., Nyam, K. L., & Chew, S. C. (2025). Antioxidant activity of marine microalgae Isochrysis galbana, Chaetoceros calcitrans, and Nannochlorum sp.: Identification and quantification of phenolic compounds. Journal of Applied Phycology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-025-03706-7

• Yeow, T. A., Agustin, Y. E., Lee, X. Y., Ismail, A. A. S., Hui, Y. W., Rahman, N. A., Tan, S. T., Ngan, C. L., & Tan, J. P. (2024). Upcycling lignocellulosic palm biomass via black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) composting incorporated with ex-situ fermentation by Bacillus subtilis. Industrial Crops and Products, 222, 119764. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2024.119764

• Song, W. R. L., Keong, Y. S., Yusoff, F. Md., Ping, T. J., & Rahman, N. A. (2024). Potential of culturing microalgae Chlorella vulgaris and Nannochloropsis oculata with aquaculture wastewater for simultaneous aquafeed production and wastewater remediation. Blue Biotechnology, 1(1), 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s44315-024-00020-8

• Katayama, T., Rahman, N. A., Khatoon, H., Kasan, N. A., Nagao, N., Yamada, Y., Takahashi, K., Furuya, K., Wahid, M. E. A., Yusoff, F. Md., & Jusoh, M. (2022). Bioprospecting of tropical microalgae for high-value products: N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and carotenoids. Aquaculture Reports, 27, 101406. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aqrep.2022.101406

• Rahman, N. A., Teh, J. C., Katayama, T., Wahid, M. E. A., Nagao, N., Yamada, Y., & Takahashi, K. (2022). Effect of newly isolated high antioxidant diatom on the reproduction and stress tolerance of the marine copepod Acartia erythraea under crowding stress. Aquaculture Research, 53(15), 5365–5374. https://doi.org/10.1111/are.16019

• Katayama, T., Nagao, N., Kasan, N. A., Khatoon, H., Rahman, N. A., Takahashi, K., Furuya, K., Yamada, Y., Wahid, M. E. A., & Jusoh, M. (2020). Bioprospecting of indigenous marine microalgae with ammonium tolerance from aquaculture ponds for microalgae cultivation with ammonium-rich wastewaters. Journal of Biotechnology, 323, 113–120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiotec.2020.08.001

• Rahman, N. A., Katayama, T., Wahid, M. E. A., Kasan, N. A., Khatoon, H., Yamada, Y., & Takahashi, K. (2020). Taxon- and growth phase-specific antioxidant production by chlorophyte, bacillariophyte, and haptophyte strains isolated from tropical waters. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2020.581628

• Khatoon, H., Rahman, N. A., Suleiman, S. S., Banerjee, S., & Abol-Munafi, A. B. (2019). Growth and proximate composition of Scenedesmus obliquus and Selenastrum bibraianum cultured in different media and condition. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences, 89(1), 251–257. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-017-0938-9

• Khatoon, H., Haris, H., Rahman, N. A., Zakaria, M. N., Begum, H., & Mian, S. (2018). Growth, proximate composition and pigment production of Tetraselmis chuii cultured with aquaculture wastewater. Journal of Ocean University of China, 17(3), 641–646. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11802-018-3428-7

• Khatoon, H., Kok Leong, L., Rahman, N. A., Mian, S., Begum, H., Banerjee, S., & Endut, A. (2018). Effects of different light source and media on growth and production of phycobiliprotein from freshwater cyanobacteria. Bioresource Technology, 249, 652–658. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2017.10.052

• Khatoon, H., Haris, N., Banerjee, S., Rahman, N. A., Begum, H., Mian, S., Abol-Munafi, A. B., & Endut, A. (2017). Effects of different salinities on the growth and proximate composition of Dunaliella sp. isolated from South China Sea at different growth phases. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 112, 280–287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2017.04.010

• Rahman, N. A., Khatoon, H., Yusuf, N., Banerjee, S., Haris, N. A., Lananan, F., & Tomoyo, K. (2017). Tetraselmis chuii biomass as a potential feed additive to improve survival and oxidative stress status of Pacific white-leg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei postlarvae. International Aquatic Research, 9(3), 235–247. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40071-017-0173-2

• Khatoon, H., Rahman, N. A., Banerjee, S., Harun, N., Suleiman, S. S., Zakaria, N. H., Lananan, F., Abdul Hamid, S. H., & Endut, A. (2014). Effects of different salinities and pH on the growth and proximate composition of Nannochloropsis sp. and Tetraselmis sp. isolated from South China Sea cultured under control and natural condition. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, 95, 11–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2014.06.022