What fascinated me is that only 5% of microorganisms are harmful, and the rest are beneficiary.

When you are following your passion, people will always see what you are doing. People will see that you are doing something different, and they will help you.

I intend to disperse my achieved knowledge as one of the leading researchers in my country in the domain of microbial biotechnology, to support sustainable and prosperous agriculture.

When I got my OWSD fellowship, it was an amazing feeling. Before getting the letter, my academic career was a dream, the letter made it possible.

I owe ‘what’, ‘who’ and ‘where’ I am in my career and professional practice today to OWSD because without the PHD Fellowship, all my achievements today would have been nothing but bleak.

" I can boldly declare that OWSD rewarded my brilliance thus giving me recognition and confidence in my professional arena and placed me in national and international scientific communities.”

After my postdoc, I will return to Syria and work to achieve my big dream, which is to establish a research center.

The long-awaited dream

The OWSD award helped me not only to become the researcher I am today, but also to become a leader in research.

OWSD has provided tremendous support in shaping my career as a researcher, science ambassador, role model for women scientists and a "think high" human being.

I wanted to show women that it was possible that when you do agricultural sciences, you can go on and do more for your career development.

All this has broadened my knowledge for this domain of science, gave me an open mind and also allowed me to learn many things.

The fellowship has really impacted my career. I was working in a university as an Assistant Lecturer, but with the OWSD fellowship I am undertaking a PhD that will allow me to reach the grade of Senior Lecturer.

I really want to do something for my country. Being part of the Sudan national chapter has given me that chance.