Dr. Shazla Mohamed is a Senior Research Fellow at the Research Development Office of the Maldives National University (MNU). She holds a doctorate in Food Science and Technology from Massey University, New Zealand. With a multifaceted background in academic and administrative roles, she brings in a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the team.

She has previously served as the dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Science and Technology (2018 to 2021) and the Faculty of Science (2013 to 2017) at MNU, providing overall leadership, advocacy, and strategic direction to the faculties. Her administrative experience extends by her former role as a Scientific Officer at the Maldives Food and Drug Authority, where she oversaw the functions of the Food Safety Department.

Shazla’s research interest is in the broad realm of food safety and quality, as well as monitoring of food contaminants and environmental pollutants. She has actively contributed to a number of research endeavors as both coordinator and researcher, and has significant experience in research grant application and research management liaising with local agencies, international partners and funding bodies. She has worked as a Senior Scientist for the project PROMISE (Prevention of Marine Litter in the Lakshadweep Sea) funded under EU Switch Asia programme. Shazla has actively contributed to several key committees at MNU and served on relevant national-level committees.

1. Food safety and quality
2. Food microbiology and toxicology
3. Pollution and contaminant monitoring
4. Antimicrobial resistance

1. Nicolai, R., Zuccarello, G., Karsten, U., Louis, Y., Cerri, F., Senna, G., Mohamed, S. & Galli, P. (2024). The benthic marine algae of the Maldives: historical insights into their diversity and distribution. Botanica Marina. https://doi.org/10.1515/bot-2024-0063
2. Cerri, F., Louis, Y.D., Fallati, L. et al. (2024). Mangroves of the Maldives: a review of their distribution, diversity, ecological importance and biodiversity of associated flora and fauna. Aquatic Sciences, 86(2), 44. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00027-024-01061-2
3. Youngblood, K., Johnson, R., Mohamed, S., Penn, E. & Jambeck, J. (2024). Circularity Assessment Protocol Maldives. Circularity Informatics Lab, University of Georgia. https://exxpedition.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Maldives-CAP-Full-Report.pdf?x21985
4. Lead Author for ‘Baseline Assessment on National Use of Chemicals and Associated Risks 2022’ report, work commissioned by Ministry of Environment Climate Change and Technology
5. Mohamed, S. Flint, S., Palmer, J. Fletcher, G. and Pitt, J.I. (2013). An Extension of the Coconut Cream Agar Method to Screen Penicillium citrinum isolates for Citrinin Production. Letters in Applied Microbiology, 57 (3), 214-219.
6. Mohamed, S. Palmer, J. Fletcher, G. and Flint, S. (2013). Fungal toxins in Maldive fish, a smoked dried tuna fish. NZ Food Technology, May 2013, 24-25.
7. Mohamed, S. Mo, Li., Flint, S., Palmer, J.  and Fletcher, G. (2012). Effect of water activity and temperature on the germination and growth of Aspergillus tamari isolated from “Maldive fish”. International Journal of Food Microbiology, 160 (2), 119-123

1. Contributed to the grant development and application and served as a Senior Scientist (2021- 2023) for the project “Prevention of Marine Litter in the Lakshadweep Sea (PROMISE)”, SWITCH-Asia and Central Asia II – Promoting Sustainable Consumption and Production grant of the European Union, led by MNU. Grant amount EUR 3.7million (2020 -2024). https://www.switch-asia.eu/project/promise/
2. Lead from MNU for the project RECOVER (Resilience to climate vulnerability and environmental risk: focus on small islands) led by University of Waterloo, Canada and funded by CLARE. https://bit.ly/3P7dPvw
3. Team lead MNU (local implementing partner). Circularity Assessment Protocol Maldives (2023- 2024) led by eXXpedition CIC with funding from Defra Ocean Country Partnership Programme. https://exxpedition.com/impact/maldives-shift-circularity-assessment/
4. Lead for consultancy to design and develop a research proposal for conducting a Total Diet Study for the Maldives for Maldives Food and Drug Authority supported by WHO Maldives (2024).
5. Consultant for the project “Baseline Assessment on National Use of Chemicals and Associated Risks” (2022), work commissioned by Environment Ministry, Maldives.
6. Assisted research application process and team member (2019) for the GCRF South Asian Nitrogen Hub – led by Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK + 40 research partner institutions from UK and Asia with MNU as a partner. https://sanh.inms.international/
7. Coordinator/ team member from MNU for the project University Network for Disaster Risk Reduction in Indian Ocean Rim (UN4DRR) funded by Erasmus+ programme of the EU and led by Vrije Universiteit Brussel. https://www.un4drr.com/
8. Erasmus Mundus EXPERTS4Asia Consortium Grant for one month staff exchange at University of Turku, Finland (2017).

1. General and food microbiology

2. Science Communication

3. Research Methods

1. Knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and antimicrobials use (AMU) among aquaculture and backyard farmers in Maldives (2021)
2. Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Bacterial Isolates in a Tertiary Care Hospital in the Maldives: A Retrospective Study (2021)
3. Contamination level of ground water at two distinct islands of Maldives: Haa Alif. Utheem and Noonu Henbadhoo (2020)
4. Risk assessment of pesticides imported in to the Maldives (2020)
5. Green Technology: Production of Rihaakuru by Low-pressure Evaporation (2019)
6. Potency Levels of Antibiotics Imported in to the Maldives (2019)
7. Microbiological quality and safety of honey imported into the Maldives (2019)
8. Effect of feeding sea grass on growth rate of sea cucumber (2019)

1. National Technical Committee Member, Good Agricultural Practices, Maldives
2. National Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Technical Committee member, AMR research and innovation Technical Committee member
3. MNU Higher Degrees Committee and Research Ethics Committee
4. Served as a member of MNU Research Grants Committee (24th May 2015 to 2019), Research Ethics Committee (Sep 2017 to 2021), Committee on Courses (12th Nov 2013 to Jan 2018), Academic Senate (12th Nov 2013 to 2020).