OWSD stories
Inspiring OWSD Members
Here, we bring you the stories of some outstanding OWSD members who have overcome obstacles, faced challenges and, against the odds, achieved their goals. Now, these women scientists influence and inspire others; read about them below.
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January 19, 2023
Olubukola Oluranti Babalola
Africa Nigeria
"I went for gold" a Conversation with Olubukola Oluranti Babalola: from OWSD Fellow to Vice President of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS)
My dear girls in science: be strong, inquisitive, curious, assertive, resilient, and focused. Go for gold!
September 28, 2022
Pamella Kageliza Kilavi-Ndege
Africa Kenya
A physicist from Kenya protecting vulnerable populations from radiation and other contamination risks
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.
September 28, 2022
Raquel Matavele Chissumba
Africa MOZAMBIQUE
An immunologist from Mozambique working to find a locally available treatment for COVID-19 in African populations
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.
June 27, 2022
Alkhansa Mahmoud
Arab Countries Sudan
A PhD fellow from Sudan making breast cancer cells more sensitive to radiation therapy
The main problem in radiotherapy is that most cancer cells are resistant to radiation.
June 27, 2022
Ossénatou Mamadou
Africa Benin
West Africa's only micrometerologist is working to better understand variability in her region's climate
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.
June 23, 2022
Afrah Khairallah
Arab Countries Sudan
An OWSD fellow from Sudan targeting malarial enzymes to develop new drugs
What has surprised me is the way technology is emerging and affecting the current state of research.
March 29, 2022
Maram Ali Ahmed Musa
Arab Countries Sudan
An experimental-turned-theoretical physicist from Sudan is perfecting nanomaterials for clean water
When I am seeing an impact, that’s what makes me as a scientist feel an achievement
March 29, 2022
Somphouthone Phimmachak
Asia & Pacific Lao PDR
With the help of the Early Career fellowship, Lao's first herpetologist is protecting the country's rich biodiversity
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.
December 10, 2021
Onyinye Akunne
Africa Nigeria
An OWSD fellow from Nigeria is helping ensure that clinically ill children can receive safe antibiotic treatment.
I desire to see my country, Nigeria, become a leading destination for impactful clinical studies.
December 03, 2021
Munawar Sultana
Asia & Pacific Bangladesh
A microbiologist from Bangladesh working on a vaccine for Foot and Mouth Disease
What fascinated me is that only 5% of microorganisms are harmful, and the rest are beneficiary.
September 30, 2021
Bintu Nabintu Ndusha
Africa Congo, Dem. Rep
An OWSD fellow is using nitrogen-fixing bacteria to combat malnutrition in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The fellowship has really impacted my career.
September 16, 2021
Sayma Serine Chompa
Asia & Pacific Bangladesh
A PhD fellow from Bangladesh hopes bacteria might be the answer to mitigate salt stress in rice crops
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.
September 16, 2021
Claire D'Andre Hirwa
Africa Rwanda
An agricultural scientist on a mission to save Rwanda's indigenous chickens
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.
June 22, 2021
Mavis Owureku- Asare
Africa Ghana
A Ghanaian food scientist revolutionizing the use of tomatoes in her country
By creating links between food research and industry, she hopes to enhance food security both in Ghana and in Africa as a whole.
June 18, 2021
Faten Bashar Kamal Eddin
Arab Countries Syria
A PhD fellow from Syria is developing ultrasensitive sensors to diagnose dopamine deficiencies.
After my postdoc, I will return to Syria and work to achieve my big dream, which is to establish a research center.
June 17, 2021
Maryse Dadina Nkoua Ngavouka
Africa Congo, Republic
An Early Career fellow from Congo developing hybrid grid systems for sustainable energy
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.
March 22, 2021
Sumaia Al-Ghuribi
Arab Countries Yemen
An OWSD fellow from Yemen was able to continue her education in Malaysia
Due to the war in Yemen, I had stopped studying for two years. This opportunity gave me the chance to complete my postgraduate studies.
March 01, 2021
Mashura Shammi
Asia & Pacific Bangladesh
An environmental chemist exploring the interplay between organic compounds and greenhouse gas emissions in one of the world's largest river systems.
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March 01, 2021
Sylla Salma
Africa Senegal
The PhD fellow on track to becoming Senegal's first astrophysicist has big plans for her country's astronomy community.
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.
February 19, 2021
Dora Murielle Rajonhson
Africa Madagascar
A PhD Fellow from Madagascar studying "bat bugs" in Thailand
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.
November 10, 2017
Christelle Noelle Dzesse Tekouo
Africa Cameroon
Mastering Materials and Opening Minds
All this has broadened my knowledge for this domain of science, gave me an open mind and also allowed me to learn many things.
November 10, 2017
Salina Parvin Banu
Asia & Pacific Bangladesh
Leading Bangladesh to Food Security
The OWSD award helped me not only to become the researcher I am today, but also to become a leader in research.
November 11, 2016
Mahfuza Begum Mahfuza
Asia & Pacific Bangladesh
Recognition and Confidence in my Professional Arena
" 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.”
November 11, 2016
Linda Dyorisse Nyamen Mbong
Africa Cameroon
Overcoming Obstacles on the Academic Track with OWSD
“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."
October 21, 2016
Muna Mohamed Elhag
Arab Countries Sudan
Fighting Climate Change for Agro-Pastoral Communities in Sudan
OWSD's guidance and support allowed me to uncover hidden courage and realize aspects of myself that I never thought I possessed.
October 20, 2016
Marycelin Baba
Africa Nigeria
To the White House and Beyond
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.
July 01, 2015
Nashwa Eassa
Arab Countries Sudan
We need Women in Decision-Making Positions
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.
June 30, 2015
Dalia Saad
Arab Countries Sudan
