Prof. Dr. Haslinda Abdullah is the Director of the Institute for Social Science Studies (IPSAS) and Professor of Applied Psychology at the Faculty of Human Ecology, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). She holds a PhD in Applied Psychology from the University of Nottingham (UK), a Master’s degree from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), a Bachelor’s degree from International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), and a Diploma in Science from ITM (now UiTM).

Her academic and research interests include community psychology, youth well-being, mental health, digital behaviour, and socio-economic development, with a particular focus on vulnerable and at-risk communities. Over her career, she has led or co-led more than 50 research projects with total funding exceeding RM10 million. Her work has directly contributed to the development of national youth policies and social intervention frameworks in Malaysia. From 2018 to 2020, she was a member of the think tank for the Institute for Youth Research Malaysia (IYRES) and has collaborated extensively with government agencies on youth empowerment and mental health strategies.

As Director of IPSAS, she oversees the institute’s strategic research agenda, focusing on building resilient communities, enhancing youth agency, and promoting evidence-based social policies. Her leadership has strengthened IPSAS’s position as a national and regional hub for interdisciplinary research in the social sciences.

She is also active in international collaborations, contributing to joint programmes and regional conferences with institutions such as UIN Jakarta, and currently leads preparations for major events including the Commonwealth Youth Conference and the Regional Seminar on Community Issues.

Committed to mentoring early-career researchers, she promotes inclusive, ethical, and impactful research practices. Her work continues to bridge the gap between academic research and policy application in fields such as youth mental health, digital culture, and social resilience.