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2022 OWSD PhD Fellows Announced

September 28, 2022

Twenty-two women from the developing world have been awarded OWSD PhD Fellowships, supporting them to pursue their PhDs in STEM subjects at institutions across the Global South.

OWSD warmly welcomes the 22 women who have been newly awarded the 2022 PhD Fellowship. The new fellows, who come from 16 developing countries across Africa, the Arab region, and Asia, will be supported to pursue their PhDs in STEM subjects at institutions in another country in the Global South. They intend to focus their PhD research on subjects ranging from monitoring the effects of climate change on river flow in Tanzania, to using deep learning to better track developmental disabilities in developing countries, to researching associations between particular genotypes and severity of COVID-19 disease in Palestinian populations. Meet all of the 2022 fellows below.

PhD Fellows

Fatima Hussein Mohammed Taha Al-Futini

Full-time fellowship at Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Project title: Isolation and characterization of antidiabetic and antioxidant compounds from Dracaena cinnabari

Julieth Joseph Balilemwa

Full-time fellowship at Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Project title: Monitoring climate change impacts and variations on river flow and ecohydrological consequences in the Kilimanjaro region in Tanzania

Muna Mohammed Abdulqader Bazuhair

Full-time fellowship at Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia
Project title: On the numerical simulation of shallow water equations with source terms around micro-hydrokinetic turbine

Ornela Claire Feulefack

Full-time fellowship at University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin
Project title: Theoretical investigations of the interplay between superconductivity and disorder in two-dimensional granular superconductors and superconducting order parameter dynamics

Juliette Gasana

Sandwich fellowship at University of Cape Town, South Africa
Project title: Community-based intervention for the management of elevated blood pressure leveraging digital health among adults dwelling in the urban area of Kigali- Rwanda: Feasibility study of cluster randomised control trial

Kelly Joelle Gatore Sinigirira

Sandwich fellowship at University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Project title: Modelling the effects of climate change in malaria transmission dynamics: A Case of Burundi

Stellamaris Kembabazi

Sandwich fellowship at Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Project title: Production of type III resistant starch from cooking bananas by extrusion process: Prospects for application in bread production

Fatana Lameh

Full-time fellowship at Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Project title: Site-directed mutagenesis of carboxylesterase from Archaeoglobus fulgidus in enhancing microplastics degradation

Hnin Aye Lin

Full-time fellowship at Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand
Project title: Time series analysis of streamflow and monitoring of morphological changes in Chindwin River, Myanmar

Georgina Wande Koki Luti

Full-time fellowship at University of Cape Town, South Africa
Project title: Stratigraphy, Dating and Palaeoclimatic Reconstruction of the Gondolin and Kromdraai Hominin Sites, South Africa

Sidoine Malla Dari

Sandwich fellowship at Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Project title: Genetic improvement of Acacia senegal (L.) Willd for drought stress in Cameroon

Charlotte Sabine Milong Melong

Sandwich fellowship at University of Douala-University of Pennsylvania Partnership Core Laboratory, Botswana
Project title: Screening and characterization of PfK13 gene mutations in Plasmodium falciparum isolates from some endemics areas in Cameroon

Kelly Garina Mugisha

Full-time fellowship at International Livestock Research Institute, Kenya
Project title: The molecular epidemiology of Wesselsbron virus (WSLV) in Kenya

Sidratul Muntaha

Full-time fellowship at Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Project title: Identification of pathogenicity-related Dicer-like proteins of the RNAi machinery in Ganoderma boninense, the basal stem rot pathogen of oil palm

Shamsun Nahar

Full-time fellowship at Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Project title: Investigating the effect of biofertilizer on bioremediation of heavy metals and hydrocarbon in polluted agricultural soil and its contribution on rice growth and yield

Marwa Omer Mohammed Omer

Full-time fellowship at Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Project title: Developing a testbed for upper limb assistive systems

Bissilimou Rachidatou Orounla

Sandwich fellowship at University of Ghana, Ghana
Project title: Interplay between personal characteristics, socio-economic determinants, environmental changes and diseases outbreaks through causal modeling and structural equation modeling

Nokuphila Winifred Nompumelelo Simelane

Full-time fellowship at University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Project title: Investigation of photodiagnostic and targeted photodynamic therapy on colorectal tumour spheroids

Sadia Sultana

Full-time fellowship at Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Project title: Analaysis of the impact of different environmental factors (temperature and photoperiod) on the reproductive status (egg hatchability, growth, fertilization and survivability) of broadhead catfish (Clarias macrocephalus) larvae by using hormone induced spawning method

Helen Abeje Tegenu

Full-time fellowship at Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Project title: A deep learning model for the social model of developmental disability in developing countries

Sara Abrao Tembe

Full-time fellowship at Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
Project title: A socio-ecological approach of marine shallow-water shrimps in the central coast, Mozambique

Eman K.A. Zaqout

Full-time fellowship at Tanta University, Egypt
Project title: Evaluation of the association between the KIR-HLA genotypes and COVID-19 severity in the Palestinians of Gaza Strip
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Success stories

In today’s scientific environment, in which most PhD scientists concentrate on a single specific discipline, I might shift toward a more systemic view to approach the challenge in infectious diseases.
Dora Murielle Rajonhson
Biological Systems and Organisms
More
I have to think of something that can help us, that we can use based on resources that we have. The lack of things is the biggest inspiration in my life. I want to help my country.
Raquel Matavele Chissumba
Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences
More
Biomedicine represents the future of healthcare, aiming to intercept diseases before they arise and tailoring solutions to each individual's unique needs. It's not just about treating illnesses; it's about preventing them before they take root.
Mary Adjepong
Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences
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By creating links between food research and industry, she hopes to enhance food security both in Ghana and in Africa as a whole.
Mavis Owureku- Asare
Agricultural Sciences
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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.
Claire D'Andre Hirwa
Agricultural Sciences
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OWSD's guidance and support allowed me to uncover hidden courage and realize aspects of myself that I never thought I possessed.
Muna Mohamed Elhag
Agricultural Sciences
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“Am very proud to say that I am encouraging other Cameroonian female scientists to apply for the OWSD fellowship programme and some of them have obtained the grant."
Linda Dyorisse Nyamen Mbong
Chemical Sciences
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In the challenging socio-economic context of developing countries, knowledge should serve to solve the varied problems faced by our societies.
Kleinsy Bonilla
Social and Economic Sciences
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My dear girls in science: be strong, inquisitive, curious, assertive, resilient, and focused. Go for gold!
Olubukola Oluranti Babalola
Other
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I’ve been working on reptile and amphibian biodiversity for 10 years, and I know that there are still new species that need to be described.
Somphouthone Phimmachak
Biological Systems and Organisms
More
You must first be safe to be able to think about the environment.
Zubeda Ukundimana
Engineering sciences
More
If we do research, in addition to establishing connections with other researchers, we must also communicate and do a lot of outreach in order to share our science with the community.
Sylla Salma
Astronomy, Space and Earth Sciences
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Due to the war in Yemen, I had stopped studying for two years. This opportunity gave me the chance to complete my postgraduate studies.
Sumaia Al-Ghuribi
Engineering sciences
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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.
Maryse Dadina Nkoua Ngavouka
Physics
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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.
Sayma Serine Chompa
Agricultural Sciences
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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.
Nashwa Eassa
Physics
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The OWSD award helped me not only to become the researcher I am today, but also to become a leader in research.
Salina Parvin Banu
Agricultural Sciences
More
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.
Marycelin Baba
Biological Systems and Organisms
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“Ten to fifteen years from now, people, not only in Kenya but in the African continent, will switch to magnetic refrigeration”
Winfred Mueni Mulwa
Physics
More
I really want to do something for my country. Being part of the Sudan national chapter has given me that chance.
Dalia Saad
Chemical Sciences
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I wanted to do applied physics, not theoretical physics… I really wanted to use all of the knowledge that I acquired at university to explain our environment.
Ossénatou Mamadou
Physics
More
I found my niche, and I have not looked back.
Marilyn Ronoh
Mathematical sciences
More
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.
Bintu Nabintu Ndusha
Agricultural Sciences
More
What has surprised me is the way technology is emerging and affecting the current state of research. We are encountering a fourth industrial revolution that entails advances in computing power, quantum computing and artificial intelligence, which has already been shown to alter the way we conduct research.
Afrah Khairallah
Structural, Cell and Molecular Biology
More
The main problem in radiotherapy is that most cancer cells are resistant to radiation.
Alkhansa Mahmoud
Structural, Cell and Molecular Biology
More
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.
Tabassum Mumtaz
Biological Systems and Organisms
More
OWSD fellowship represents a real empowering difference in my life and career
Huda Basaleem
Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences
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My position is that we should acknowledge what we are lacking of, so that we can keep working.
Violeta Alejandra Chichique Martínez
Engineering sciences
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All this has broadened my knowledge for this domain of science, gave me an open mind and also allowed me to learn many things.
Christelle Noelle Dzesse Tekouo
Chemical Sciences
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After my postdoc, I will return to Syria and work to achieve my big dream, which is to establish a research center.
Faten Bashar Kamal Eddin
Physics
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I desire to see my country, Nigeria, become a leading destination for impactful clinical studies.
Onyinye Akunne
Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences
More
Dr. Shammi's research will help to fill a crucial gap in the the global understanding of carbon dynamics and greenhouse gas emissions by providing data on one of the world’s largest river systems.
Mashura Shammi
Chemical Sciences
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" 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.”
Mahfuza Begum Mahfuza
Agricultural Sciences
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I want to be in the boardroom. I want to be part of the policy mechanism. I want my influence to go higher than the classroom.
Pamella Kageliza Kilavi-Ndege
Physics
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Just give me the seed and I will continue.
Mavis Agyeiwaa Acheampong
Agricultural Sciences
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Winning this award opened many doors for me. It has led to success in acquiring local funding.
Simone Badal
Chemical Sciences
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When I am seeing an impact, that’s what makes me as a scientist feel an achievement
Maram Ali Ahmed Musa
Physics
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What fascinated me is that only 5% of microorganisms are harmful, and the rest are beneficiary.
Munawar Sultana
Biological Systems and Organisms
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