Contributing to nation building
Professor Ishwar S Parhar was born and raised in Penang, Malaysia. From an island home, he has traversed the globe pursuing his education and embarking on an impressive career as a leading scientist working in the field of Neuroscience. Prof Parhar has spent most of his working career with leading research institutions including Rockerfeller University in the United States and the Nippon Medical School in Japan.
After more than 30 years studying and working abroad, Prof Parhar was invited to return home and take on a dual role at Monash University Sunway campus. He is currently Head of Neuroscience and is also the Director of the Brain Research Institute Monash Sunway (BRIMS). Prof Parhar was responsible for establishing BRIMS, a large and complex task that commenced in 2006.
“We started with nothing other than the dream to make this centre of research world renown, Prof Parhar said. “I brought along five researchers from Japan to work here, employed local staff, set up core research facilities and four laboratories,” he states. |
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In just five years, Prof Parhar has achieved great success in establishing the institute as a key laboratory for the exploration of cellular and molecular processes that control the brain. The centre also now offers a range of international standard post graduate research programs for eligible students to carry-out high level research in neuroscience.
“Monash University Sunway provides such an opportunity for Malaysia. It means that both local and international students can get a quality tertiary education right on their doorstep,” says Prof Parhar proudly. |
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| “On campus there is a fantastic mix of cultures including students from Sri Lanka, Japan, India, Thailand, and Australia. All of this cross-cultural exchange promotes tolerance, understanding and breaks down barriers. An education environment like this is the best thing you can have; it will set you up for life,” he affirms.
The Monash brand may be well known internationally, but the local impact has been profound. “The transnational campus of Monash is contributing to national building; it is creating jobs, growing human capital in Malaysia and producing the very skills we need in graduates. They will be the ones who will go on to help the country to grow and prosper,” he states. |