Hani Farhana Nazir

Profile

My name is Hani Farhana Nazir from Malaysia. I graduated from the University of Malaya, Malaysia, with a bachelor's degree in Biohealth Science. Then, I furthered my studies in Molecular Medicine at the University of Sheffield, United Kingdom. After returning from the UK, I worked as a Research Assistant (RA) in the Biochemistry Unit at the Institute for Medical Research, Malaysia. I gained a lot of experience there, especially in laboratory skills, and managed to work with an experienced researcher from the institute. After a few years, I got an opportunity to work in one of the private labs, which mainly focuses on genetic testing. Currently, I am pursuing my PhD in Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Leeds, under the supervision of Dr Alan Javier Hernandez Alvarez (main supervisor), Dr Matthew Nosworthy (co-supervisor, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada), Dr Raul Tapia Tussell (CICY Mexico) and Dr Idolo Ifie (co-supervisor).

Research interests

My primary research interest leans towards plant-based protein and its sustainability. Apart from its functionalities in many food products, I am also interested in exploring its bioactive compounds, which are potentially beneficial to human health. Currently, I am working with an underutilized plant, originally from the south Mexico, which could potentially serve as a sustainable protein source. My research project consists of characterizing the nutritional and antinutritional composition of this underutilized seeds and assess the protein fraction as ingredient with potential food use and health benefits.

Qualifications

• BSc (Hons) in Biohealth Science
• PG Dip in Molecular Medicine