Dato’ Dr. Choo Yuen May obtained her B.Sc and M.Sc with Honours from University of Waikato, New Zealand. She obtained her PhD in Chemistry from University of Malaya and Executive MBA from Asian Institute of Management, Philippines.
Dato’ Dr. Choo started her career as a lecturer at Universiti Sains Malaysia in 1980. She then joined MPOB (then PORIM) as Research Office in 1982 and is currently the Deputy Director General (Research & Development), overseeing R&D activities of Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).
She is one of the pioneers working on Palm Biofuel programme since joining MPOB in 1982 and is the project leader including commercialization aspect of the palm biodiesel (methyl ester) project This includes both the normal (pour point +15ºC) and winter grade (pour point -21ºC) palm biodiesel. She has contributed much to the success of the Palm Biodisel Program in Malaysia.
Dato’ Dr. Choo is also the project leader and involved directly as the inventor in the development of novel and green processes for the palm-based industry pertaining to i) production of carotenes rich red palm oil –tradename CAROTINO which has been marketed worldwide ii) production of palm phytonutrients (carotenes, vitamin E, coenzyme Q, sterols, squalene and phospholipids and iii) production of monoglycerides as emlusifiers and anti-bacterial agent. She has also initiated projects on palm-based lubricants, palm lubricity additives for ultra low sulphur diesel, palm-based industrial solvents, palm derived aviation fuel, Elaeis oleifera palm for nutraceutical industry and phytonutrients from palm pressed fibre.
Dato’ Dr. Choo has about 480 publications and 36 patents to her merit. She has also received numerous awards at national and international level in recognition of her scientific and invention contributions.
She is the fellow of (a) Academy of Sciences Malaysia, (b) Malaysia Institute of Chemistry, and (c) Malaysian Oil Scientists and Technologists’ Association.