Abu dhabi: Khalifa University of Science and Technology today announced a faculty, four PhD students, and a Postdoctoral Fellow have been named among the prestigious Forbes Middle East's 30 Under 30 Class of 2025 in the Science and Technology category, reinforcing the University's status as a leading institution fostering talent that drives innovation and addresses global challenges.
According to Emirates News Agency, the list features Dr. Mira Mousa, Assistant Professor in Public Health and Epidemiology at Khalifa University's College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS), alongside Fatima Alshamsi, CMHS PhD Student; Zeinab Saeed, PhD student and Cofounder of Solid Form Innovations (operating as PolyNovate); Mariam Ouda, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Research and Innovation Center for Graphene and 2D Materials (RIC2D); PhD candidate Aya Ghazal; and Nada El Merhi, PhD student.
Professor Ebrahim Al Hajri, President of Khalifa University, stated, "The names of a faculty, four PhD students, and a Postdoctoral Fellow in the prestigious Forbes Middle East's 30 Under 30 illustrate Khalifa University's commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders and innovators. Our graduates continue to demonstrate excellence and impact on a global scale, and these outstanding achievements showcase the depth of talent that is nurtured here at Khalifa University. Their work not only advances fundamental science but also directly addresses pressing global challenges. We are immensely proud of their accomplishments and eager to support the next chapters of their innovation journeys."
Dr. Mousa and Alshamsi are involved in the Biomedical Science and Discovery (BISDI) Program, a strategic collaboration between Khalifa University and VIB-KU Leuven of Belgium, aiming to develop novel immunotherapies for diabetes. They employ in-house AI tools to identify mystery genes linked to endothelial cell dysfunction, a key factor in vascular complications such as heart attacks, strokes, and vision loss. Their research has been published in top scientific journals, including Nature and ScienceDirect.
RIC2D postdoctoral fellow Mariam Ouda has innovated an electro-membrane filtration system using 2D materials to remove nano-plastics, filing a U.S. patent during her PhD. She contributes to the Journal of Water Process Engineering's Early Career Editorial Board and co-chairs the Young Leaders Program at the International Desalination Association. Her collaboration with the University of Manchester aims to scale up 2D-enabled membranes for testing.
Zeinab Saeed, a recent PhD graduate in Chemistry and co-founder of Solid Form Innovations, is acknowledged for her sustainable photomechanical methods for upcycling plastic waste into commercially viable products.
PhD candidate Ghazal is recognized for co-developing solar-powered titanium nitride membranes for treating and reusing domestic wastewater.
Current Chemistry PhD student Nada El Merhi is noted for her innovative work on covalent organic frameworks (COFs) for advanced water purification, green catalytic pollutant degradation, and ultra-sensitive electrochemical sensors for medical diagnostics.