Emeritus Professor Pornchai Matangkasombut, Ph.D., M.D.

Emeritus Professor Pornchai Matangkasombut holds Bachelor of Arts, Doctor of Medicine, and PhD in Microbiology (M.D.-Ph.D.) degrees from the University of Wisconsin, and had served as an instructor at the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University since 1968. He was the first Thai national to serve as the Head of the Department of Microbiology in 1973, and had held the position for 14 years. Subsequently, he served as the Dean of the Faculty of Science for 2 consecutive terms (1991–1999), and became the only dean of the Faculty of Science who was appointed as the President of Mahidol University (1999–2007). He has also held numerous advisory and governing positions in several universities and academic organizations involved in research and higher education.

Emeritus Professor Pornchai Matangkasombut was one of the pioneers who laid a solid foundation for graduate study and research in microbiology in the Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, and has influenced research and education through his numerous students, who has now become professors and researchers all over the country. He chaired an international meeting in microbiology in Thailand in 1977, served as an advisor in immunology, biology, infectious diseases, and vaccine development for the World Health Organization, and as Secretary of Microbiology of the UNESCO Southeast Asia region, as well as a number of other important academic positions. He played an important role in founding Thailand Center of Excellence for Life Science (TCELS), to which he still provides advice to the present.