Muhamad Faris bin Osman was born in Pahang in 1991. Since his primary education days, he is fascinated by the beauty and diversity of plants that thrive in the environment he lives in. He was granted the best scorer award in the subjects Chemistry and Islamic Sharia Education by Sekolah Berasrama Penuh Integrasi Temerloh in 2009 for his interest in chemistry and Islamic philosophical thinking. During his undergraduate studies, he completed a mini research project on phytochemical screening of the pad of flat cactus (Opuntia cochenillifera (L.) Mill.). After obtaining Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy (Hons.) from Kulliyyah of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) in 2015, he participated in volunteer work of cultivating medicinal plant such as the white batflower (Tacca cristata Jack) and of planting medicinal tree such as the big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King) and underutilised fruit tree such as Indian plum (Flacourtia jangomas (Lour.) Raeusch.) at Kulliyyah of Pharmacy, IIUM. 

Muhamad Faris’ fascination with plants’ specialised metabolites has led him to pursue master’s degree at Kulliyyah of Pharmacy, IIUM in 2015. He was awarded the Skim Latihan Akademik Bumiputera (SLAB) scholarship and IIUM Postgraduate Fellowship Scheme and completed one-year training for Provisionally Registered Pharmacist (PRP) in 2016. He obtained Master of Science in Pharmacy (Pharmaceutical Chemistry) from IIUM in 2017. After completion of a research on in-vitro antioxidant activities and GC-MS analysis of the underutilised keranji (Dialium indum L.) fruit for his master’s degree, he realised how little he knew about the diversity of specialised metabolites synthesised by plants. He also observed how paradigm shifts, technological advancements, and informatics tools have helped researchers to retrieve more information in answering questions related to the diversity of plants’ specialised metabolites. 

Funded by the SLAB scholarship and IIUM Postgraduate Fellowship Scheme, he began pursuing Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in plant metabolomics at Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), from 2018 until 2024. As of June 2024, Muhamad Faris is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Kulliyyah of Pharmacy, IIUM. He is also a member of Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS), Malaysian Natural Products Society (MNPS), Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), and Malaysian Analytical Sciences Society (ANALIS).