Dr. S.M. Iqbal S. Zainal speaking at a podium

Dr. Sheikh Mohd Iqbal
S. Zainal Abidin

Publishes as S.M. Iqbal S. Zainal

PositionSenior Lecturer in Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
RoleDeputy Director (Strategic), Research Management Centre
InstitutionUniversiti Malaysia Sabah

Research on fiber-reinforced concrete waste valorisation cementitious composites structural strengthening sustainable materials

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The record, in numbers

A decade of concrete and materials research, measured.

h-index (Scopus)
Google Scholar 9
Indexed publications
16 journal · 2 conference
Q1 journal articles
Top quartile
Research funding
Grants + consultancy
Manuscripts reviewed
Elsevier · Springer · MDPI
Awards & recognitions
2021 – 2026
Research programme

Concrete research in three pillars.

Pillar 01

Fiber-reinforced cementitious materials

Natural fibersSynthetic fibersHybrid systems Surface treatment
Pillar 02

Sustainable & waste-derived materials

De-oiled bleaching earthConcrete slurry wastePile waste Crumb rubber
Pillar 03

Structural performance & strengthening

StrengtheningComposite shear wallsBeam–column joints Structural assessment
RM 43,410Commissioned by industry · 2024 – present
Lightweight concrete polesFrom mix design to tested product
People trained
1,291
undergraduates taught since 2020
9 postgraduates supervised3 completed & awarded
Shaping the field
38
manuscripts refereed · 6 publishers
2 edited volumes34 examination panels
Innovation & service
3
innovation medals · INNOFEST, PEREKA
3 national appointments5 STEM events
Selected publications

Eighteen indexed publications.

Verify these publications
Author ID 57219260093↗ Full citation record↗ 0000-0001-7244-5226↗
By quartile
18papers
Q1 — top quartile7
Q27
Q32
Q42
By authorship · 18
First author10
Corresponding1
Co-author7
Books & chapters
Cutting-Edge Advances in Nanofibers and Fibers — book cover, IGI Global 2025
2Edited volumes
2Book chapters
IGI Global · 2025–26
Corresponding author on one chapter
Cutting-Edge Advances in Nanofibers and Fibers — book cover
Edited volume · IGI Global · 2025

Cutting-Edge Advances in Nanofibers and Fibers

Co-edited with Professor Ir. Dr. Rosalam Hj. Sarbatly.

Editor · IGI Global Scientific Publishing
View on IGI Global

Books & book chapters

Cutting-Edge Advances in Nanofibers and Fibers: Shaping Future Applications
Editor · IGI Global · 2025
Sustainable Construction with Waste Materials: Technologies and Applications
Editor · International · 2025 – 2026
Numerical analysis of steel-basalt hybrid fiber-reinforced concrete column under eccentric loading
Corresponding · Book chapter, IGI Global · 2025
The mechanical properties of concrete waste slurry containing steel fiber and rubber powder
Co-author · Book chapter, IGI Global · 2025
Optimization of the green interlocking earth brick mix design using response surface method
Co-author · Int. Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering Innovation · 2022 · non-indexed
Effect of water-binder ratio on properties of self-compacting concrete containing palm oil fuel ash
Co-author · Int. Journal of Advanced Research in Technology and Innovation · 2022 · non-indexed

Invited & conference talks

Performance and valorization of industrial waste in natural fiber reinforced cementitious composites
Invited presenter · Borneo Int. Conf. on Engineering, Science & Technology · 2026
Combined effect of crystalline admixture and ultrafine palm oil fuel ash on early-age self-healing and transport performance of concrete
Presenter · 4th Int. Conf. on Civil Engineering and Construction Technology · 2026
Performance evaluation of hybrid fiber in concrete slurry waste with de-oiled bleaching earth
Invited presenter · 1st National Symposium on Sustainable Construction · 2024
The effects of different types of fibers on crumb rubber mortar
Presenter · 2nd ICCECT · 2022
Research funding & consultancy

Six grants. Two industry projects.

Where the funding comes from
National competitive grants — FRGS / MOHERM 190K
University grants — UMS (SLB & Dana Kluster)RM 51K
Industry consultancyRM 43K
Leader
Seaweed fiber surface modification for alkaline cement
FRGS-EC · MOHE · 2024–2026
RM 20,000
Leader
Hybrid PP–PE blend fibers in natural-fiber concrete
SLB · UMS · 2021–2023
RM 20,000
Member
Polypropylene nanofibre dispersion in mortar
FRGS · MOHE · 2024–2026
RM 88,151
Member
Bond strength & ITZ microstructure of sandstone concrete with treated de-oiled bleaching earth
FRGS · MOHE · 2025–2027
RM 82,235
Member
Mixing method for synthetic-fibre mortar
Dana Kluster · UMS · 2023–2025
RM 20,000
Member
Pile waste slurry for brick production
Dana Kluster · UMS · 2024–2026
RM 11,000
Consultancy
Lightweight concrete poles — mix design, durability, structural testing
Industry partner · 2024–present · 2 projects
RM 43,410
Total research funding & consultancy
RM 284,796
National · MOHERM 190,3863 FRGS grants · 67% of total
University · UMSRM 51,0003 internal grants · 18% of total
IndustryRM 43,4102 commissioned projects · 15% of total
As project leader RM 40,000 · 2 grants|As co-researcher RM 201,386 · 4 grants
Recognition & service

Awards, service and speaking.

Dr. S.M. Iqbal S. Zainal receiving the Anugerah Perkhidmatan Cemerlang folder in a handshake on stage at Universiti Malaysia Sabah, with two university officials
Excellent Service Award · UMS · 2025

Anugerah Perkhidmatan Cemerlang

Awards & recognitions per year · 14 total
2026
Nomination — 17th Malaysian National Academic Award
UMS · University
2025
National, private-sector & international grants
APUMS · University
2025
Faculty award — indexed-journal publications
APUMS · University
2025
Faculty Promising Researcher Award
FKJ · Faculty
2025
Faculty Best Academic Advisor Award
FKJ · Faculty
2025
Excellent Service Award
AKU · University
2025
Exceptional Reviewer — MDPI Materials
International
2025
10-Year Long Service Award
AKU · University
2024
Top 3 High-Indexed Articles Contributor
APUMS · University
2023
Commendable Service Award
UMS · University
2022
Best Presenter — international conference
International
2022
Commendable Service Award
UMS · University
2021
Faculty award — journal publications
APUMS · University
2021
Top 5 Impactful Publication 2020
FKJ · Faculty
Silver · INNOFEST
Standard mixing procedure — PP-fibre cement paste
International Innovation Festival · 2024
Bronze · PEREKA
Standard mixing method — PP microfibre paste
Reka Cipta Competition · 2024
Bronze · PEREKA
Ternary mortar: eggshell powder & silica fume
Reka Cipta Competition · 2024
Editorial Board · 2025 – present

Scientific ReportsNature Portfolio

Peer review38 manuscripts
Elsevier · Springer Nature · MDPI · Taylor & Francis · Springer Open
★ Exceptional Reviewer — MDPI · 2025
Manuscripts reviewed, by publisher · 38 total
Guest Editor
Cement & Concrete Materials Collection
Scientific Reports · 2025–26
Editor
Sustainable Construction with Waste Materials
Edited book · 2025–26
Editor
Cutting-Edge Advances in Nanofibers & Fibers
IGI Global · 2024–25
Editor
IJSCET Special Issue
UTHM · 2023
Available for
Keynote Invited seminar Workshop Panel & jury English Bahasa Malaysia
Talk topics — tap any card to read more
01

Fibers that shouldn't work

Why seaweed, abaca and other plant fibers fail in cement — and what surface treatment does about it.

02

Refinery waste as cement

De-oiled bleaching earth and concrete slurry waste as supplementary cementitious materials: evidence, limits, mix design.

03

Designing with hybrid fibers

Post-crack residual strength, toughness and crack control — aimed at practising engineers and postgraduates.

04

Publishing & reviewing well

What an editorial board member and reviewer of 38 manuscripts looks for, for early-career researchers.

Where I have spoken and judged
Dr. S.M. Iqbal S. Zainal presenting at the Borneo International Conference on Engineering, Science and Technology 2026
Presenting Performance and Valorization of Industrial Waste in Natural Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Composites — BICEST / ICECon 2026, Universiti Malaysia Sabah.
Teaching & students

Teaching, supervision and the group.

Students taught per academic session

26/27 shows semester 1 only (80 students so far).

KA10603
Applied Mechanics
3 credits · every year
KA10102
Civil Engineering Materials
2 credits · every year
KA24201
Structures Laboratory
1 credit · every year
KA34303
Reinforced Concrete Design
3 credits
KA30603
Design of Steel & Timber Structures
3 credits
KA20703
Fluid Mechanics
3 credits
9Researchers supervised
3Completed
34Examination panels

Current & recent students

Chen Dejin
Main · Master's
2021 – present · UMS
Adriana Amierah Arsat
Main · Master's
2026 – present · UMS
Mohamad Salam Mabrok Alhiali
Co · PhD
2025 – present · UMS
Gernevie Charlie
Co · Master's
2025 – present · UMS
Affif Mohammad Sapawi
Co · Master's
2025 – present · UMS
Basyid Hamid
Co · Master's
2022 – 2026 · UMS
Samnursidah Samir
Co · Master's
Graduated 2024 · UMS
Muhammad Iman Hakim Mohd Fazly
Co · Master's
Graduated 2025 · UiTM Shah Alam
Nur Aqilah Izzati Mohd Nor Kamal
Co · Master's
Graduated 2025 · UiTM Shah Alam

Examination panels

PhD
panels
Master's
panels
External FYP
UiTM

Open to enquiries — PhD and Master's, by research.

MOHE schemes UMS schemes Self-funded Sponsored
The group right now
2Supervising as main
4Supervising as co
34Examination panels
Four research directions — tap any card to read more
Direction 01

Surface treatment of natural fibers

SeaweedAbacaOil palm

Plant fibers degrade in the highly alkaline pore solution of cement. This work develops chemical and hybrid surface treatments, then measures what they do to interfacial bond and long-term durability.

Direction 02

Waste as cementitious material

DOBESlurry wastePile waste

De-oiled bleaching earth from palm-oil refining, concrete slurry waste and pile waste — characterisation, pozzolanic behaviour, and how far cement can be replaced before strength suffers.

Direction 03

Hybrid fiber systems

SteelBasaltPolypropylene

Combining fibers of different stiffness and length so one controls micro-cracking and the other carries load after cracking — including dispersion and mixing-sequence effects.

Direction 04

Structural strengthening

ExperimentalNumerical

Slabs, beam–column joints and composite shear walls retrofitted with fiber and composite systems, tested physically and modelled numerically.

How to apply
Email me about supervision →
Leadership & career

From program secretary to deputy director.

Now · 2026

Deputy Director (Strategic)

Research Management Centre, UMS.

Now · 2025

Head of Research Group

Nanotechnology Cementitious Materials.

7Appointments held
3Levels: program, faculty, university
2020First leadership role
Appointments, 2020–2027
Professional memberships
National · Graduate
Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM)
2013 – now
National · Graduate
The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM)
2013 – now
National · Member
Malaysian Structural Steel Association (MSSA)
2024 – 2026
2022 – present
Senior Lecturer
Civil Engineering Program · Universiti Malaysia Sabah
2018 – 2022
Lecturer
Universiti Malaysia Sabah
2016 – 2018
Graduate Fellow
Universiti Malaysia Sabah
2015
Engineer
Sabah Electricity Sdn. Bhd.
2014
Engineer
Sabah Urban Development Corporation
Doctor of Philosophy
Structural Engineering
Universiti Putra Malaysia
2021
Master of Science
Civil with Structural Engineering
University of Portsmouth, UK
2013
Bachelor of Engineering (Hons.)
Civil Engineering
University of Nottingham, UK
2012
3National ministry appointments
4Universities in one research consortium
5School STEM events judged or led
Appointments & committees
National · Ministry of Higher Education
Associate Trainer — Training-of-Trainers, Research Impact Assessment Rubric
2026
National · Ministry of Higher Education
Secretariat — Centralised MyRA 2024 & 2025 Assessment Session
2026
National · MOSTI
Officer in Charge — National Nanotechnology Laboratory Network Portal
2024
Inter-university
Secretariat — Strategic Collaboration on Flagship Research Project Funding (UM, UPNM, UKM)
2026
University · UMS
Committee Chair — UMS Research Awards (APUMS)
2026
University · UMS
Committee — Rainwater Harvesting System Installation, Phases I & II
2024
University · UMS
Mace Bearer — 25th UMS Convocation Ceremony
2023
Community · Sabah State Education Department
Jury — STEM SPATRAN F1, Hari Bitara 3.0
2026
Community · UMS U-Science
Invited Speaker — 3S STEM Speaker Series for secondary schools
2026
Community · Sabah State Education Department
Jury — STEM SPATRAN F1, Hari Bitara 2.0
2025
Community · Ministry of Education
Judge — Innovators for Tomorrow (SK/SMK), Karnival STEM
2024
Community · Ministry of Education
Jury — Pertandingan Kemahiran Melalui Rekabentuk (KMR)
2024
Contact

Let's build something durable.

Collaboration · consultancy · supervision · peer review

How can I help?
Prospective student Enquire about supervision Tell me which research direction interests you
Journalist or editor Request expert comment Concrete technology, construction waste, sustainable materials
Event organiser Invite me to speak Keynote, seminar, workshop or panel
Researcher or industry Propose a collaboration Joint projects, consultancy, examination
Profiles & affiliation
Emailiqbal.zainal@ums.edu.my ORCID iD0000-0001-7244-5226 Google ScholarView profile Scopus · h-index 9Author ID 57219260093 LinkedInS.M. Iqbal S. Zainal ResearchGateResearch profile AffiliationFaculty of Engineering, UMS · Kota Kinabalu, Sabah