/ postgraduate · supervision
Postgraduate Application Guide
For prospective MSc by Research and PhD candidates considering supervision under my direction at FTSM, UKM.
Thank you for your interest in pursuing postgraduate research with me. This guide exists to help you decide whether we are a good research fit — before we both invest time in an application process.
/ first step
Before you write to me
Please read at least three of my recent first-author publications. Your proposal should connect to themes in my actual work — not just a research-area title.
Browse publications →/ what i'm looking for
Three things that predict a good fit
Technical foundation
Comfort with calculus, linear algebra, probability, and at least one of: PyTorch/TensorFlow, evolutionary-computing toolkits, or simulation environments.
Research curiosity over credential collection
Strong applicants articulate a problem they find genuinely interesting and have begun reading around it.
Communication discipline
Postgraduate research is largely a writing exercise. Concise, structured initial emails predict thesis quality.
/ supervision areas
Research areas I currently supervise in
Generative AI for domain-specific reasoning
Combining large language models with structured knowledge.
Evolutionary neural architecture search
Multi-objective AutoML.
Procedural content generation in games
AI-driven generation of levels, quests and narratives.
Agent-based simulation
Applied to education, public health and sustainability.
Hybrid metaheuristics for combinatorial optimization
Scheduling, routing and allocation.
/ your initial email
What to send
A two-paragraph introduction citing at least one of my papers by title.
Degree level (PhD / MSc by Research) and intended start semester.
Funding situation (self-funded, seeking scholarship, or secured).
A one-page research proposal (PDF) with problem statement, brief literature context and proposed approach.
CV (PDF) with transcripts and English-proficiency evidence.
/ what happens next
My response is one of three
I respond within roughly 10 working days during teaching semesters.
Let’s discuss further
The proposal resonates and there is capacity — we set up a conversation.
Not the right fit, but try X
I point you toward a colleague or a direction better matched to your interests.
Promising, but at capacity
A strong application, but supervision slots are full for the intended intake.
/ final thought
A doctorate is several years of your life.
The single most important factor in whether those years are productive — beyond funding, beyond institution prestige — is whether you and your supervisor are working on a question you both genuinely care about. Take the time to find that match.
Ready to apply?
Send your materials and I'll respond within roughly 10 working days during teaching semesters.
Email me — akmal@ukm.edu.my →