Professor Ker Pin Jern

Professor Ker Pin Jern

  • Professor
Department of Engineering
Google Scholar ORCID Scopus ResearchGate Web of Science
SDGs Focus
Affordable and Clean Energy
Sustainable Cities and Communities
Responsible Consumption and Production

Biography

Dr. Ker, Pin Jern is a Professor in the School of Engineering & Technology, Sunway University, Malaysia. He is a project leader or member of various government and industrial research projects, with a total amount of > RM 20 million. He has published >110 journal papers (WoS-indexed Q1 & Q2) and >60 Scopus / WoS (Q3 & Q4) indexed journal papers. His research interests are the application of artificial intelligence and development of intelligent system for energy-related applications, such as renewable energy and energy storage system. He is a Chartered Engineer (CEng.) and is awarded as the World’s Top 2% most-cited scientists for the years 2022 and 2023.

Academic & Professional Qualifications

  • PhD in Engineering, The University of Sheffield, UK. (2012)
  • BEng. Electrical & Electronics (Hons.), Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Malaysia. (2009)
  • Chartered Engineer (CEng.), Engineering Council, UK. (2022)

Research Interests

  • Artificial Intelligence-based intelligent system for energy applications
  • Techno-economic assessment and analysis for renewable energy system
  • Energy storage system and renewable energy integration
  • Optical sensors and system

Teaching Areas

  • Electrical & Electronics Engineering

Courses Taught

  • Engineering Diagnostic Tools
  • Optical Fiber Communications
  • Programming for Engineers
  • Electromagnetic Fields & Waves
  • Energy Conversions
  • Introduction to Microcontroller

Notable Publications

  1. Arsad SR, Arsad AZ, Ker PJ, Hannan MA, Tang SGH, Goh SM, Mahlia TMI. Recent advancement in water electrolysis for hydrogen production: A comprehensive bibliometric analysis and technology updates. Int J Hydrogen Energy. 2024 March 22;60:780-801. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.02.184 
  2. Arsad SR, Ker PJ, Hannan MA, Tang SGH, R S N, Chau CF, et al. Patent landscape review of hydrogen production methods: Assessing technological updates and innovations. Int J Hydrogen Energy. 2024 Jan 2;50:447–472.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.09.085 
  3. Mohamad Aziz NA, Mohamed H, Kania D, Ong HC, Zainal BS, Junoh H, Pin Jern Ker, A.S. Silitonga. Bioenergy production by integrated microwave-assisted torrefaction and pyrolysis. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews [Internet]. 2024 Mar 1;191:114097.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2023.114097 
  4. Zainal BS, Ker PJ, Mohamed H, Ong HC, Fattah IMR, Rahman SMA, et al. Recent advancement and assessment of green hydrogen production technologies. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 2024 Jan 1;189:113941.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2023.113941 
  5. Thiviyanathan VA, Ker PJ, Hoon Tang SG, Amin EP, Yee W, Hannan MA, et al. Microalgae biomass and biomolecule quantification: Optical techniques, challenges and prospects. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 2024 Jan 1;189:113926.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2023.113926 
  6. Wali SB, Hannan MA, Pin Jern Ker, Rahman SA, Le KN, Begum RA, et al. Grid-connected lithium-ion battery energy storage system towards sustainable energy: A patent landscape analysis and technology updates. J Energy Storage [Internet]. 2024 Jan 30:109986. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2023.109986 
  7. Lee HJ, Ker PJ, Gamel MMA, Jamaludin MZ, Wong YH. Predictive analysis of the power spectral irradiance from blackbody radiation source using single pixel detector. Heliyon. 2023 Oct 1;9(10):e20585.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20585 
  8. Wali SB, Hannan MA, Ker PJ, Rahman MSA, Tiong SK, Begum RA, et al. Techno-economic assessment of a hybrid renewable energy storage system for rural community towards achieving sustainable development goals. Energy Strategy Reviews. 2023 Nov 1; 50:101217.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2023.101217 
  9. Sayem M. Abu, M.A. Hannan, Pin Jern Ker, M. Mansor, Sieh Kiong Tiong, T.M. Indra Mahlia, “Recent progress in electrolyser control technologies for hydrogen energy production: A patent landscape analysis and technology updates,” Journal of Energy Storage, Vol. 72, Part E, 2023, 108773, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2023.108773 
  10. M. A. A. A. Bakar, P. J. Ker, S. G. H. Tang, M. Z. Baharuddin, H. J. Lee, and A. R. Omar, “Translating conventional wisdom on chicken comb color into automated monitoring of disease-infected chicken using chromaticity-based machine learning models,” Front Vet Sci, vol. 10, Jun. 2023.  https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1174700 
     

Achievements & Accolades

Recent Projects (as Project Leader only)

  1. An Artificial Intelligence-Based Model to Determine The Water Content Of Transformer Insulation Paper (TNB R&D seeding fund: RM1,359,153) - Sep. 2021 – Sep. 2023
  2. An Optical Chromaticity-Based Deep Learning Algorithm for Early Detection of Escherichia Coli Infection in Broiler Chickens (Malaysia Ministry of Higher Education FRGS: RM79,520) – Nov. 2020 – Apr. 2023
  3. Design and Optical Characterization of InGaAs Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) Cells for Waste Heat Harvesting in Thermal Power Plants (TNB R&D seeding fund: RM1,264,991) - Dec. 2017 – Sept. 2020
  4. Development of an Optical Infrared Sensing Prototype at 3.4µm for the Detection of Transformer Insulating Oil Aging and Degradation (Malaysia Ministry of Higher Education PRGS: RM140,000) – Aug. 2017 – 2019
  5. Design and characterization of extremely high gain InAs avalanche photodiodes for photon-starved infrared sensing and Tera-Hertz telecommunication using 3-D modelling (FRGS: RM114,000) - July 2014 – Dec. 2016
  6. Development of optical sensing prototypes for the determination of transformer oil content (TNBR – RM592,000) – Jan. 2017 – Dec. 2018
  7. Research on the characterization of transformer oil content using optical detection (TNBR – RM319,000) – Aug. 2015 – Dec. 2016

 

Filed Intellectual Properties (IP)

  1. Utility Innovation – A Power Transfer System (UI2024001636), Filed on 15th March 2024
  2. Copyright – Early Detection of Newcastle Disease Virus-infected Broiler Chickens using Optical Chromaticity and Morphological-based Machine Learning Models (LY2024W01173), Filed on 12th March 2024
  3. Patent - System for Regulating and Controlling Inverter of Microgrid with Distributed Energy Sources using Fuzzy Logic Control (FLC) and Lightning Search Algorithm (LSA) and Method Thereof (PI2023007970), Filed on 27th December 2023
  4. Patent - A Method for Deriving Absorption Coefficient of a Semiconductor Material (PI2023002379), Filed on 18th April 2023
  5. Utility Innovation – An Assembly for Measuring Color Index of a Transformer Oil (UI2022227544), Filed on 29th December 2022
  6. Copyright – Renewable Energy Technologies TVET Program and Course Outlines (LY2022W03629), Filed on 12th December 2022
  7. Copyright – Power Over Fiber for Phone Charging Application (LY2022E00900), Filed on 15th March 2022
  8. Patent - A Thermophotovoltaic Cell And Method For Optimizing The Thermophotovoltaic Cell Using Real Coded Genetic Algorithm Hybridized With Simulation Tool (PI2021004714), Filed on 17th August 2021
  9. Patent - Assembly For Detection Of Inhibitor Content Present In Transformer Oil At Wavelength Below 1000 Nm And Method Thereof (PI2020000135), Filed on 9th January 2020
  10. Utility Innovation – Portable Optical Sensing Device For Determining Inhibitor Content in Power Transformer Oil (UI2018001227), Filed on 14th August 2018

 

Invited Speaker / Talk

  1. Pin Jern Ker, “Optical sensors: From fundamental characterizations to applications in energy industries,” IEEE Photonics Lecture Series, IEEE Photonics Society Malaysia Chapter, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, August 2017.
  2. Pin Jern Ker, “Lighting up your future: From invisible to visible,” IEEE Photonics Lecture Series, IEEE Photonics Society Malaysia Chapter, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, May 2018.
  3. Pin Jern Ker, “Optical Sensing in Power Transformer Monitoring,” Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM), Engineering Education Technical Division, 11th April 2019 – IEM Building (Board of Engineers Malaysia-certified 2 CPD hours).
  4. Pin Jern Ker, “Photonics Research in Energy Industry,” Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) Malaysia, 8th January 2020 – Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (Board of Engineers Malaysia-certified 2 CPD hours).
  5. Pin Jern Ker, “Thermophotovoltaic Cell: Converting Waste Heat into Electricity,” Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM), Negeri Sembilan Division, 7th Oct. 2021 – Webinar (Board of Engineers Malaysia-certified 2 CPD hours).
  6. Pin Jern Ker, “Thermophotovoltaic Cells for Waste Heat Energy to Electricity Conversion,” IEEE Photonics Lecture Series, IEEE Photonics Society Malaysia Chapter, Webinar, Nov. 2021.

Professional Associations

  1. Secretary, IET Control & Automation Technical Network, 2022-2024.
  2. Main Committee, IET Malaysia Local Network, 2019-2020.
  3. Executive Committee, IEEE Photonics Society Malaysia, 2018.
  4. Committee Member, Topical Meeting on Photonics (TMP) 2019, IEEE Photonics Society Malaysia.
  5. Secretary, 5th International Conference on Energy & Environment (ICEE) 2019.
  6. Advisor, International Automation and Control Enhancing Innovation Competition (ACEiC) 2019, IET Malaysia.