Dr. Chee Kong YAP (Male; Chinese) is a Malaysian and was born in Kuala Lumpur in July 1973. He is currently an Associate Professor at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) since May 2009 and previously he was appointed as a lecturer and senior lecturer in 2003 and 2007, respectively, at the same Department. He obtained his BSc with Edu (Hons), Masters of Science and Ph.D. degrees in 1998, 2000 and 2003, respectively, from the Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies from UPM.

As an academician for more than 14 years in UPM and 19 years as a researcher, he has been active in teaching and doing research since his first degree. He has been teaching the courses of Biological Concepts, Ecology, Ecotoxicology, and Aquatic Ecosystem Management at the undergraduate level, and Research Methodology at the postgraduate level, with more than 130 credit hours since 2003. He has supervised more than 73 undergraduates and 30 postgraduate students (as a Chairman and Member of Supervisory Committee) in the fields of ecotoxicology, environmental biology, environmental sciences, water quality and ecotoxicological genetics. His research area is mainly focused on biomonitoring and monitoring of inorganic pollutants (heavy metals) in the aquatic environment using mollusks and sediments. Under his chairmanship, three PhD and seven MS students have successfully graduated so far in UPM.

In recognition of his expertise and research capabilities, he was awarded research grants as principal investigator and researcher including from Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI, Malaysia), Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE, Malaysia) and Universiti Putra Malaysia. He has successfully completed 9 research projects as a principal investigator. Owing to recognition in his field, he has been invited as a reviewer in various prominent Impact Factor Journals besides some non-cited journals. Until March 2017, he has reviewed [voluntarily] more than 300 citation-indexed and 63 non-citation –indexed journal articles, by invitation on ad hoc basis, which are submitted for consideration for publication in international journals worldwide.