Malaysia:
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Possibility of Completing a Ph.D. in 2 Years:
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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
2. Make TikTok Videos




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:
- 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!
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.