KAUST alumna Yasmeen Najm, a graduate of the KAUST Gifted Student Program (KGSP), is now a Strategic Partnerships and Engagement innovator at NEOM. She credits her interdisciplinary background and the opportunities provided by KGSP for her success. Najm was also a keynote speaker at the KGSP Pre-Departure Orientation, where she shared her experiences with 107 high-achieving Saudi STEM graduates. Why it matters: This highlights the impact of KAUST's KGSP in developing Saudi talent and contributing to the Kingdom's innovation goals, particularly in megaprojects like NEOM.
KAUST Ph.D. student Asma Al-Amoodi received the 2019 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Middle East Fellowship for her work on stem cell treatments for hematological diseases. Her research focuses on improving the migration of hematopoietic stem cells to the bone marrow after transplantation. Al-Amoodi was granted €8,000 to support her doctoral research at KAUST under the supervision of Associate Professor Jasmeen Merzaban. Why it matters: The fellowship highlights the increasing role of women in STEM in Saudi Arabia and supports research with potential therapeutic impact.
KAUST Ph.D. students Amal Hajjaj and Sherif Tella won best paper awards at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers 2017 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences & Computers and Information in Engineering Conference. Tella's paper was on electrothermally actuated microbeams, while Hajjaj's paper focused on the behavior of MEMS resonators. The students are supervised by KAUST Associate Professor Mohammad Younis. Why it matters: The awards recognize significant research contributions in micro- and nanosystems and highlight KAUST's strength in fostering impactful engineering research.
Jasmeen Merzaban, Assistant Professor of Bioscience, and Ph.D. student Nouf Alshareef, both from KAUST, have received L'Oréal-UNESCO "For Women in Science" fellowships. Merzaban was recognized for her immunology research, and Alshareef for her work on salinity tolerance in plants. The fellowships were awarded at a ceremony in Dubai, highlighting the contributions of Arab women scientists. Why it matters: The awards spotlight the growing role of women in STEM fields within the GCC and KAUST's commitment to fostering high-quality research in the region.
A panel discussion on women in biology was held as part of the 2016 Fall Enrichment Program at KAUST. Jasmeen Merzaban, Ashwag Abdullah Albukhari, Bettina Berger and Peiying Hong were the speakers. The event featured successful female scientists sharing their experiences. Why it matters: Showcases KAUST's commitment to promoting women in STEM fields and providing a platform for their voices.
KAUST will host its Fall Discovery Enrichment program from October 14-22, focusing on the theme "Food for All." The program includes discussions on women in biology led by Bettina Berger, Jasmeen Merzaban, Peiying Hong, and Ashwag Albukhari. Other activities feature a workshop on diet improvement by Amna Malik and cooking demonstrations by German chef Bernd Arold, alongside screenings of food-related movies. Why it matters: The event promotes community engagement and education around food-related topics, highlighting the intersection of science, health, and culture within the KAUST community.
Jasmeen Merzaban, a KAUST assistant professor of bioscience, received a L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Rising Talents award at a ceremony in Paris on March 24. Merzaban's research focuses on immunology and stem cell research. The award recognizes her contributions to science and potential for future impact. Why it matters: This award highlights the growing scientific expertise and recognition of researchers at KAUST and in Saudi Arabia.
A 2016 KAUST Winter Enrichment Program seminar, "Women in Science and Engineering," convened female scientists from KAUST and abroad. Panelists like Jasmeen Merzaban and Charlotte Hauser shared their career experiences and addressed challenges faced by women in STEM. They noted that women constitute 60% of higher education graduates in Saudi Arabia and will be vital to the Kingdom's knowledge economy. Why it matters: The event highlights the increasing role of women in Saudi Arabia's STEM fields and KAUST's commitment to supporting female scientists.