This posting has been long overdue,  and because I have been busy with job and my research project, I have not been able to update the blog as frequently as I once did. A year after enrolling as a Master of Science (MSc) student at the Faculty, I was offered a conversion programme to the PhD programme in molecular biology and biochemistry at the University of Malaya. But, that will be a different posting for another time. The focus of today's article is on keeping motivated and productive while pursuing a PhD or doctorate degree.

" 23,500 PhD students in North America, Australia, Europe, and Asia, 24% of all PhD students exhibited clinically significant indications of depression."

1. Join Support Groups for Postgraduates

People with similar problems come together in a support group to talk about what's bothering them. They are able to assist, encourage, and console the other group members by the sharing of their experiences and get the same in return.

Family and friends may sympathize with you while you're going through a difficult or painful moment, but they may not always know how to assist or what to say. Although doctors and other medical personnel may provide little emotional assistance, their main priority is always medical.

One of the support groups I have participated in was Doctorate Support Group (DSG) on Facebook. 

In a study conducted by Panayidou in 2021 on Enhancing postgraduate researcher wellbeing through support groups, researchers found out that over the course of the eight weeks of group attendance, participant's subjective well-being ratings significantly improved and moved out of starting score ranges linked to risk of depression or psychological distress. Participants reported feeling less alone and anxious, being happier with their lives and work-life balance, and feeling more confident about finishing their PhDs within the institution's deadlines as a result of feeling understood and supported by other group members. The findings complement earlier research on the advantages of social support and the link between low well-being and attrition.

2. Make TikTok Videos 

TikTok is one of the most widely used social networking sites among young people. Additionally, TikTok may be utilised as a learning tool in addition to being merely for amusement. Without a doubt, TikTok is an entertaining place to browse and watch brevity videos. But did you realise it may also be used as a teaching tool?

TikTok is a fantastic tool for learning in quick, digestible bits. You can easily fit the videos into your calendar because they are typically around 60 seconds long. Additionally, they are more likely to keep your attention than a standard lecture or textbook since they are frequently humorous or innovative.

I started my Tiktok journey in 2021, and one of my earlier post was on my PhD journey in Universiti Malaya and one particular video has attracted many followings from aspiring PhD students. Since then, my Tiktok profile has grown over 11,000 followers with accumulated 700,000 likes. 

https://www.tiktok.com/@aaronnavit

You could talk about literally anything, but keep in mind there are rules and regulations when you are using the platform. Make sure to follow the guidelines and enjoy!

Aaronn Avit Ajeng was recently awarded as the 'Rising Star Scientist'  during The 6th International Conference and Postgraduate Colloquium for Environmental Research 2022 (6th POCER) that has taken place from 9th June to 12th June 2022 at Langkawi, Kedah. Aaronn is currently a Ph.D. candidate from the Institute of Biological Sciences (ISB) under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Ling Tau Chuan and Dr. Rosazlin Abdullah. 

The award was given following Aaronn's active and excellence participation locally and internationally in academia as a graduate student since 2020. Aaronn has presented in numerous local and international conferences, as a oral and poster presenters, as well as published in several high impact journals in the span of 2 years of his doctoral candidacy. He was also recently selected a one of 9 Finalists in the Leave A Nest Tech Planter 2022 in Malaysia, where he will be pitching his project in front of several Japanese corporations and judges.

View Aaronn's Curriculum Vitae (CV) here: https://www.aaronnavit.com/p/hello-and-welcome-to-my-blog-thanks-for.html

Here are some highlights to look for in May 2022 when using ShopeePay:

COINS CASHBACK

For one-day only ShopeePay users can earn 12% coins cashback when they transact a minimum of RM25 offline with ShopeePay at various merchants such as Ariani, AA Pharmacy, Alook, Ninjaz, Hometown Hainan Coffee, Ninso, and many more. Don’t see a ShopeePay QR code? Don’t worry, as ShopeePay is integrated in the DuitNow QR ecosystem this means you can now pay with ShopeePay at almost 1.1 million merchants. Look out for the pink DuitNow QR code and start paying with your ShopeePay to earn more rewards.

1 SEN SHOPEEPAY VOUCHERS

You can also save more with the 1 SEN ShopeePay vouchers from brands such as Caltex, The Koi, Juicy Fresh Juice Bar, Big Fish Small Fish, Santan, Vivo Pizza and many more. To redeem these 1 SEN vouchers, users can purchase the vouchers using the ShopeePay Near Me feature which is available on the Shopee app.

E-DUIT RAYA TRANSFER

Besides greater savings via vouchers, ShopeePay is also rewarding users with up to 155,555 Shopee coins when transferring a minimum of RM5 to another ShopeePay user from 1 May until 5 May. So don’t miss this chance to transfer e-Duit Raya to your friends and families.

Subsequently, users will also stand a chance to win weekly cash prizes worth up to RM100,000 and earn extra Free Shipping Vouchers when they transfer money to another ShopeePay user from 6 May until 31 May 2022.

SHOPEEPAY DAY CONTESTS

To sweeten up your Hari Raya celebrations, participate in the ShopeePay x Maybank2U contest to get more with ShopeePay.

From 28 April until 5 May, top up a minimum of RM30 on ShopeePay with Maybank2U, transact offline and be in the running to win up to RM115,000 worth of prizes from Dyson, Playstation, Samsung, GoPro and more.

For more information on the contest, visit: https://shopee.com.my/m/shopeepay-top-up-and-win.

ORDER FROM SHOPEEFOOD

This Hari Raya, be a smart shopper and order from ShopeeFood for your Raya gatherings with friends and family. Now available in both Klang Valley and Johor Bahru, order your meals from ShopeeFood to get all-day free deliveries and Super Deals discounts up to 50% off on your orders.

With a variety of local and international dishes available from merchants in the Klang Valley such as Nyonya Colors, A&W, KFC, Tealive, Johnny’s Restaurant, Old Town White Coffee, Little KL Food Hall, SANTAN and many more, there is definitely something to cater for the celebratory occasion. For Johor Bahru folks, be sure to check out some local favourites such as Banafee Village, Johnny’s Restaurant, Tealive, ZUS Coffee, Shake Shake, Kenny Rogers Roasters and many more.

To find out more about the May 1 ShopeePay Day, visit https://shopee.com.my/m/shopeepayday.

Terms and conditions apply.

ShopeePay and Domino's Pizza are launching unique online and offline retail discounts to commemorate the event. Pizza lovers may get a personal-sized Domino's pizza for RM5 in-store with ShopeePay from now till June 12. Users are also eligible for a RM1 reward via ShopeePay for each personal pizza purchase.

Users ordering through the Domino's website are also in for a treat; a Large Domino's Pizza costs only RM20.90. Users must purchase the 1 Sen voucher from ShopeePay on the app and use the code at checkout on Domino's website to be eligible for the discounted pricing. When consumers utilise ShopeePay to pay for their purchases, they will receive a RM1.10 payback.

"With cashless transactions becoming increasingly popular among Malaysians, ShopeePay is thrilled to deliver convenience to consumers with cashless payment alternatives at more touch points," said Alain Yee, Head of ShopeePay Malaysia. ShopeePay is continuously searching for new ways to innovate and give people with a simple and secure payment option.

On a different note, this Ramadan, Shopee, ShopeeFood Malaysia, and partners such as Neutrovis, Munchy's, and Tealive will distribute packed Buka Puasa sets to Shopee Express and ShopeeFood Delivery Riders via #ShopeeDeliversLove 2.0. ShopeeFood delivery riders can go to specified Shopee Xpress hubs from 11 April to 22 April to get the buka puasa packs and berbuka comfortably before resuming their deliveries.

Visit https://shopee.com.my/m/domino-shopeepay for more details on the ShopeePay Domino's offer.

Need more reasons to sign-up or use your ShopeeFood app? Here’s our top pick for why:

1. Jaw-dropping promo for NEW USERS to ShopeeFood!

Sign-up and make your first order on ShopeeFood ‘cause we have a truly special deal just for you. Every new user sign-up to ShopeeFood will be entitled to receive RM25 off with a minimum spend of RM0 on 15,18 and 25 March and get RM18 off with a minimum spend of RM0 on other days in the month of March. March doesn’t get better than this!

2. Variety of merchants with exclusive promo!

Mcdonald’s is on ShopeeFood and there’s a special promo happening from 14 to 31 March 2022. Existing ShopeeFood users are eligible for RM3 off with a minimum spend of RM 10 with free delivery. New ShopeeFood users are in for a bigger discount with RM7 off with a minimum spend of RM0 and free delivery.

3. Easily available on your Shopee app.

Available from 6 am - 12 am you can now order with ShopeeFood by clicking on the ShopeeFood icon available on the home page.

4. Order your meal and get rewarded with prizes!

Exciting prizes to be won when you order your meals. ShopeeFood is not just about mouth-watering dishes and deals but there are also weekly and monthly contests. Follow @shopeefood_MYInstagram account so you won’t miss these exciting prizes!

ShopeeFood Day Order & Win Contest taking place now until 14 March 2022

5. Awesome discounts and promotions. Did we say AWESOME yet….

For the bargain hunters, there are always ongoing deals, promotions and discount vouchers available for you. Other than free deliveries, users can browse discounts that are available and refreshed daily.

-

There is definitely a lot to explore on ShopeeFood mouth-watering offers. With expansion to other states in the pipeline, ShopeeFood hopes to service more Malaysians in the near future. So the next time you are hungry, head over to ShopeeFood to order your favorite meals!

Terms and conditions apply.

END

Shopee, Southeast Asia's and Taiwan's premier e-commerce platform, has launched 3.15 Consumer Day, the year's first major sale. 3.15 Consumer Day, which runs from now through March 15, will bring the excitement of Shopee's year-end celebrations to all users, offering them even more reasons to rejoice and reward themselves as they prepare for the next year.

Shopee is the first to launch 3.15 Consumer Day in order to provide greater value and excitement to all customers who now use e-commerce to meet their demands all year. 3.15 Consumer Day is open to everyone and offers the biggest selection of items, as well as 95 percent off promotions, free delivery with no minimum expenditure, and the chance to Spin & Win a Nissan Almera.

Shopee has appointed Dato Pandelela Rinong and Datuk Abdul Latif Romly as its 3.15 brand ambassadors in Malaysia, adding to the celebrations. Both sportsmen have a fantastic track record of overcoming adversity and committing their life to placing Malaysia on the map across the globe, acting as examples of how to achieve big things by prioritising well-being and enjoying modest victories. Dato Pandelela has two Olympic medals and five World Championship medals to his name, while Datuk Latif has two Paralympic gold medals. Until recently, he held the world record for Long Jump T20.

"This Shopee 3.15 Consumer Day, we want to celebrate you,This Shopee 3.15 Consumer Day, we want to celebrate you. Be kind to yourself. Go at your own pace, celebrate the small wins and reward yourself. To better serve our consumers, we first have to understand what Malaysians have been buying since 2019." stated Kenneth Soh, Head of Marketing Campaigns at Shopee Malaysia. "At Shopee, we always put our customers first, so we're continually coming up with new ideas and campaigns like the 3.15 Consumer Day to better meet their requirements," he said.

Recognizing Malaysian shopping habits

As more individuals become acclimated to remaining at home, Shopee has seen that many are seeking to improve and prioritise their health, well-being, and stress management. As a result, demand for Self-Care Products on the platform increased sixfold in 2021 compared to 2019, before the epidemic

The top three self-care trends were identified as physical wellbeing, environmental self-care, and social well-being, with Shopee reporting a tenfold increase in demand for improved house and living.

Personal grooming, supplements, gym equipment, cooking and baking materials, sleepwear, and bath and spa products accounted for 42 percent of self-care items sold last year, according to Shopee, as Malaysians become increasingly concerned with their physical well-being.

Shopee saw a 12 times increase in snacks and a 13 times increase in cooking and baking materials in 2021 compared to 2019. This is due to Malaysians spending more time at home with their family.

Malaysians were also becoming increasingly interested in environmental self-care in order to create a better home environment. Among other things, they began new DIY projects, installed new wallpaper, and planted indoor plants. Over the last two years, demand for home renovation goods has increased by 12 times.

In terms of social well-being, more Malaysians are receptive to the notion of having a furry friend at home, as demand for pet supplies increased 13 times between 2019 and 2021, as owners pamper their pets with grooming, houses, pet food and treats, as well as fashion and accessories.

In a deeper look into self-care keyword searches, Shopee discovered that 'keropok' was searched approximately 7 times more in 2020 and over 25 times more in 2021 than in 2019.

'Kids books' has also become one of the most popular keyword searches, with a rise of almost 11 times in 2020 compared to 2019, as parents went to Shopee to instil a love of reading in their children.

Furthermore, since ShopeeFood's start in September 2021, the keyword search for 'bubble tea' had increased by more than 7 times by December of last year, indicating a rising tendency among Malaysians to reward oneself with sweet delicacies via meal delivery.

Shopee will also launch its #ShopeeCelebratesYou activity as part of the Shopee 3.15 Consumer Day to provide extra happiness to users during the 3.15 timeframe.

Users may play Sampul Misteri, a game that will keep them on the edge of their seats, on Shopee Live every day until March 15th. Callers will be asked to answer a Question of the Day in order to open an envelope and be entered to win cash prizes.

Before the broadcast, viewers may guess which envelope holds the ultimate cash prize and get Shopee Coins if they guess correctly.

On 3.15 Consumer Day, tune in to TV3 or Shopee Live at 9 p.m. to get your hands on the finest TV bargains in town while watching some mesmerising local celeb performances and a little Korean flavour on the Shopee TV Deals show.

Visit https://shopee.com.my/m/Consumer-Day for more information about Shopee 3.15 Consumer Day.

About Shopee

Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia & Taiwan. Shopee connects shoppers, brands and sellers across Asia and other fast-growing markets, empowering anyone to buy and sell anywhere and at any time.

Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. It offers a wide product assortment, supported by integrated payments and logistics, as well as popular entertainment features tailored for each market. Shopee is also a key contributor to the region’s digital economy with a firm commitment to helping brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.

Shopee is a part of Sea Limited (NYSE:SE), a leading global consumer internet company. In addition to Shopee, Sea’s other core businesses include its digital entertainment arm, Garena, and digital financial services arm, SeaMoney. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology

On ShopeePay Day, March 1, 2022, you may have a more rewarding experience with Shopee. For a limited time, ShopeePay customers may get 12% coins payback when they spend a minimum of RM25 offline using ShopeePay at stores including Ninjaz, Tiger Sugar, GSC, Hometown Hainan Coffee, Ninso, and others.

Additionally, on March 1, 2022, ShopeePay will award customers with up to 39,393 Shopee coins if they fill up their mobile wallet with a minimum of RM30. During this time, ShopeePay will offer new telecom users a 50% discount with no minimum expenditure, limited at RM5 on all telco reload coupons, as well as a 20% off with no minimum purchase, capped at RM4 on all bill payments done through ShopeePay.

Not only that, but foodies may rejoice as ShopeeFood has arrived in Johor Bahru. Don't miss out on the Super Deals sale of up to 50% off when ordering in the Klang Valley and Johor Bahru.

Visit https://shopee.com.my/m/shopeepayday for more information on the March 1 ShopeePay Day.

Terms and conditions apply

"We are thrilled with the good reaction that we have gotten in Klang Valley and would want to extend the same convenience to Shopee consumers in Johor Bahru," said Wong Chee Mun, Head of Business Development, ShopeeFood Malaysia.

"We believe that this new service will benefit users by providing additional options, as well as motivate more food and beverage retailers to go online and reach out to more customers, resulting in long-term growth in the digital age."

ShopeeFood will be giving free delivery and up to 40% off food and beverages with a minimum expenditure of RM5 when using ShopeePay on the app from now until the 28th of February to celebrate the launch.

Furthermore, from the 24th to the 28th of February, Johor users will have unique access to the Order & Win contest. Users may win special KitchenAid goods and ShopeeFood vouchers worth up to RM8,000 with a minimum expenditure of RM20 on food purchases.

ShopeeFood is also running a special two-day promotion for Johor users on the 24th and 25th of February, with 30% off selected goods from merchants such as ZUS Coffee, Shake Shake, and Kenny Rogers.

ShopeeFood will be giving 60 % off limited time vouchers at 3pm on the 26th and 28th of February with a minimum spend of RM15 on food and beverages. Users will also be able to take advantage of the Shopee February 25 Payday Sale, which will take place from the 20th to the 25th of February 2022. During the monthly sale, consumers will receive free shipping with a minimum spend of RM5, RM25 bargains on selected products from merchants, and 25% Coins Cashback when they top-up prepaid, pay bills, or reimburse the National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) via ShopeePay.

Visit https://shopee.com.my/m/shopeefood-jb for more information about ShopeeFood.

The following terms and conditions apply.

Shopee Malaysia employees honoured its delivery riders and partners today with a special campaign named #ShopeeDeliversLove. The promotion coincided with Valentine's Day, and personnel from ShopeeFood and Shopee delivery partners were present at various locations in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor to recognise and acknowledge the contributions of ShopeeFood riders and Shopee delivery partners.

Shopee employees headed by Wong Chee Mun, Head of Business Development, ShopeeFood Malaysia delivering #ShopeeDeliversLove packages to ShopeeFood delivery riders

In addition to Shopee Malaysia staff, the initiative drew public engagement, with consumers nominating their finest rider and delivery tales on social media. Due to the fact that delivery riders do not often have set off-days, a customer had a wonderful encounter with a ShopeeFood delivery rider over Chinese New Year, "It was pouring at the time and we were anxious that he would be stranded in the rain." "However, Zuhair not only delivered our meal order on time, but he also wished the family a Happy Chinese New Year with a bright smile," Yong said.

"Terima kasih Yazid karena tidak berputus asa untuk menjalankan tugas sebagai Abang Shopee Express," said another Aishah. Make an effort to ensure that every Shopee user is aware of how much we charge. Abang Shopee, pen merah, pen biru. We love you."

(3rd from left) Wong Chee Mun, Head of Business Development, ShopeeFood Malaysia with ShopeeFood riders and employee at #ShopeeDeliversLove event 

Another Shopee member, Faiz, commented, "Thank you Hafizan for confirming the ShopeeFood items that were ordered." "Kagum dengan dedikasi Hafizan untuk menampung 2 pekerjaan untuk menyara hidup keluarga Hafizan, memang terbaik!"

"Delivery riders play an important role in today's economic landscape," stated Wong Chee Mun, Head of Business Development at ShopeeFood Malaysia. As businesses return to opening physical locations, delivery riders serve to link businesses and users by delivering food and merchandise. The profession has various problems, such as weather and high traffic, but they are frequently quite dedicated to delivering our users their best effort. We believe that by using the hashtag #ShopeeDeliversLove, we can demonstrate to our riders and delivery partners how much they are cherished and cared for."

Wong Chee Mun, Head of Business Development, ShopeeFood Malaysia gifting #ShopeeDeliversLove box containing a power bank, phone holder, sweets, raincoat and waist bag.

As part of Shopee's ongoing #ShopeeSapotLokal initiatives, each rider receives a gift box containing needs such as a powerbank, phone holder, sweets, raincoat, and waist bag, all acquired from local merchants. This month, we're also offering special Valentine's Day offers. When you order using the ShopeeFood app, you can get RM6 off with a minimum spend of RM28 at Starbucks. Offer valid on 14 February, 21 February, 28 February, 7 and 14 March 2022.

Want to send someone a present but aren't sure what to get them? Take advantage of the Send A Gift Card campaign from the 13th to the 14th of February 2022 and save up to RM2 on each voucher purchased. Visit https://shopee.com.my/m/shopeegiftcard to view available vouchers.

The following terms and conditions apply.

Lawatan itu dimulakan dengan sesi perkongsian daripada Aaronn Avit Ajeng yang merupakan pelajar Doktor Falsafah (Ph.D) di Institut Sains Biologi (ISB) UM mengenai penggunaan 'biochar-bakteria' sebagai bahan organik yang dapat meningkatkan pertumbuhan sayur-sayuran dan buah-buahan. Sesuai dengan misi dan visi Merryganic Farm sebagai kebun organic yang diiktiraf oleh MyOrganic (MyOrg), perkongsian yang disampai oleh pelajar tersebut mendapat sambutan yang memberangsangkan. 

Gambar: Pelajar Doktor Falsafah daripada UM, Aaronn Avit Ajeng berkongsi tentang kebaikan inovasi 'biochar-bakteria' dalam meningkatkan hasil tumbuhan. 

Ujarnya dalam perkongsian tersebut, penggunaan biochar-bakteria telah terbukti dapat meningkatkan hasil tanaman, melalui kajian yang gian diterbitkan di mana baja-bio ini mendapat perhatian yang hangat daripada penyelidik-penyelidik, di dalam dan luar negara ekoran ekosistem biochar yang mampu menampung bakteria yang efektif, sekaligus memberi ruang yang banyak untuk bakteria ini untuk membiak. Hasil kajian pelajar tersebut juga telah diterbitkan dalam journal berimpak tinggi seperti Physica Scripta dan Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering di mana beliau menyelidik secara fizikokimia, mekanisma pelekatan bakteria efektif ini di atas biochar. 

Gambar: Penyelidik-penyelidik Universiti Malaya, Dr. Juan Joon Ching (kiri), Dr. Rosazlin (keempat dari kiri) dan pelajar Doktor Falsafah, Aaronn, Prof. Dr. Ling Tau Chuan (Kanan) bersama pemilik kebun Merryganic Farm (kedua dari kiri), dan pegawai Pertanian Daerah, Jabatan Pertanian Malaysia, En Hatta.(ketiga dari kiri). 

Program tersebut diikuti dengan sesi lawatan yang diketuai oleh En. Tan Teik Kiang di mana beliau membawa rombongan pelajar dan penyelidik tersebut ke beberapa plot tanaman organik di kebun Merryganic Farm. Para pelajar dan penyelidik berpeluang untuk mendengar penjelasan daripada pengusaha kebun organik, mengenai kebaikan dan cabaran penanaman secara organik. Dalam lawatan tersebut, En. Tan menjelaskan pelbagai jenis sayur-sayuran organik dan penyakit sayur yang biasa terjadi dalam kebun organik seperti 'early blight disease'. En. Tan juga menyeru agar para penyelidik dapat mengkaji lebih dalam cara-cara mengatasi penyakit-penyakit ini tanpa penggunaan pestisid atau bahan kimia yang membahayakan. Program tersebut diakhiri dengan sesi pengambaran rombongan UM bersama pemilik, dan pekerja Merryganic Farm serta pegawai Pertanian Daerah, Jabatan Pertanian Malaysia.