Zahirunisa binti Abd Rahim is a graduate of the Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS). She holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Animal Resource Science and Management and a Master of Science in Molecular Ecology, where her research focused on Influenza A in forest birds of Malaysia.
She is currently a Wildlife Ecologist in the Research & Development Department at Sarawak Energy, where she focuses on bird research and biodiversity monitoring. Her work involves studying bird species in hydropower areas to understand how wildlife interacts with changing environments.
Throughout her career, Zahirunisa has gained valuable field experience, ranging from mist-netting surveys in remote forests to bioacoustic monitoring of bird calls. Her research not only supports conservation but also contributes to sustainable development by balancing biodiversity with renewable energy projects, while also advancing molecular ecology research.
Passionate about avian ecology, Zahirunisa hopes to inspire youth to appreciate the role and importance of birds in our ecosystems and to explore careers in biodiversity and environmental research. She believes that every observation – whether it is a bird in the forest, a call recorded at night, or even a common species in our backyard –tells a story about nature’s balance.