Dr Jayaprakash Muralitharan, a 44-year-old Diplomatic and Administrative (PTD) officer and father of two, has become the first Malaysian atmospheric scientist to earn a PhD from the University Cambridge in England. He was awarded his doctorate in Chemistry (Atmospheric Science) on October 25, marking a historic achievement for both the nation and the scientific community.
Image credit: Jayaprakash Murulitharan
Growing up in Heawood Estate, Sungai Siput, Jayaprakash described the prospect of studying at Cambridge as “almost impossible” due to his humble background. He credited his father’s encouragement and a Malaysian government scholarship for enabling his journey to one of the world’s most prestigious universities.
Tracking Malaysia’s haze crisis
His doctoral research focused on transboundary haze, a pressing environmental challenge in the region. Using atmospheric modelling, satellite imagery, statistical analysis, and big-data techniques, Jayaprakash studied how particles from biomass burning in Sumatra travel into Malaysia, particularly affecting air quality in Kuala Lumpur.
Image credit: Jayaprakash Murulitharan
After returning to Malaysia, he developed the country’s first AI-based proof-of-concept tool to forecast haze. The system combines data from multiple government agencies, machine-learning expertise from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), and infrastructure support from the Department of Environment.
“Recognized as a potential regional benchmark, the tool is designed to help authorities anticipate haze episodes and mitigate their impact more effectively,” he said.
Image credit: University of Cambridge
Bridging science and policy
“Jaya’s work shows how scientific excellence can lead to innovative solutions like AI forecasting while strengthening regional collaboration,” UKM’s Professor Mohd Talib Latif commended by connecting scientific research with actionable policy.
Guided by mentorship and innovation
Jayaprakash also acknowledged the mentorship of Professor Alex Archibald, Professor Chiara Giorio and Jennifer Schooling at Cambridge, who played a pivotal role in guiding his research. His innovative use of satellite data has provided valuable insights into haze movement patterns across Malaysia and Southeast Asia.
Image credit: Canva
With his PhD complete, Jayaprakash intends to focus on public service,
“I hope to apply my skills in coding, modelling, and data analytics to support the development of AI policies for environmental management in Malaysia,” he stated.
His academic background also includes:
- University of Strathclyde, Glasgow: Chevening Scholarship Master’s degree in Sustainability and Environmental Studies
- Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai: Chemical Engineering degree
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