Past Awardees
OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Awardees for Early Career Women Scientists in the Developing World
2020
Fathiah Zakham
Awarded in: Engineering sciences
From: Yemen, Arab Countries
Specialization field: Bioengineering and microbiology
Assistant researcher, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hodeidah University
For her work to improve the diagnosis and management of tuberculosis and other emerging infectious diseases, using techniques of biotechnology and bioengineering. She is working to develop rapid, accurate and cheap tools for the detection of the causal agent of TB and the control of drug-resistance TB strains, which are dramatically increasing, especially in low and middle income countries. In addition, she is using metagenomics technology to identify new zoonotic viral pathogens emerging on the Arabian peninsula, including hemorrhagic fevers.
2020
Susana Arrechea
Awarded in: Engineering sciences
From: Guatemala, Latin America & Caribbean
Specialization field: Chemical engineering and nanotechnology
Affiliated Professor, School of Chemical Engineering, University San Carlos of Guatemala
For her research on the potential industrial and environmental applications of materials such as nanoparticles, nanotubes, and graphene, which can be employed in creating more sustainable building materials, in water treatment, and in solar devices and other renewable energy solutions. In addition to contributing to the development of nanotechnology in Guatemala, she is also involved in improving solar electrification, connectivity, and digital and STEM literacy in schools in rural Guatemala.
2020
Champika Ellawala Kankanamge
Awarded in: Engineering sciences
From: Sri Lanka, Asia & Pacific
Specialization field: Environmental engineering
Senior Lecturer, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering University of Ruhuna
For her work on ecosystem conservation and pollution control. Her research will help develop methods to control invasive aquatic plants in river ecosystems, by restoring shade and encouraging the natural resistance of native plants to invasive species. By understanding the behavior of aquatic plants in response to changes in environmental conditions, her research will help to control ecosystem degradation.
2019
Tabassum Mumtaz
Awarded in: Biological sciences
From: Bangladesh, Asia & Pacific
Specialization field: Environmental microbiology
Principal Scientific Officer, Institute of Food and Radiation Biology, Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission
For her work on bioconversion of waste byproducts and biomass into more environmentally-friendly compounds.
2019
Tista Prasai Joshi
Awarded in: Biological sciences
From: Nepal, Asia & Pacific
Specialization field: Environmental microbiology
Scientific Officer, Environment and Climate Study Laboratory, Nepal Academy of Science and Technology
For her research in developing novel metal oxide adsorbents to remove harmful organic and inorganic arsenic compounds efficiently from water.
2019
Amira Shaheen
Awarded in: Biological sciences
From: Palestine, Arab Countries
Specialization field: Epidemiology
Assistant Professor in Epidemiology and Public Health, An-Najah University
For her work investigating health care system responses to gender-based violence in primary and reproductive health services in Palestine.
2019
Narel Paniagua-Zambrana
Awarded in: Biological sciences
From: Bolivia, Latin America & Caribbean
Specialization field: Ethnobotany
Associate Researcher, National Herbarium of Bolivia, Institute of Ecology Universidad Mayor de San Andres
For her work documenting and protecting traditional knowledge of plant use by indigenous populations and local communities, especially in Bolivia. Her work provides local populations with tools to conserve their natural resources and associated traditional knowledge.
2019
Uduak Okomo
Awarded in: Biological sciences
Specialization field: Paediatrics and epidemiology
Clinical Research Fellow, Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
For her work in defining routes of transmission of infections to neonates. Dr. Okomo’s research has pointed to hospital-acquired transmission rather than maternal or community acquisition, which contributes to improved control of infections and better planning of health systems and resource distribution, thereby reducing maternal, newborn and child mortality.
2018
Hasibun Naher
Awarded in: Physical sciences
From: Bangladesh, Asia & Pacific
Specialization field: Applied mathematics
Associate Professor, BRAC University
For her work in nonlinear partial differential equations. Dr. Naher's significant academic contributions to this field have included her most recent work on tsunami simulation and her research on travelling waves.
2018
Dawn Iona Fox
Awarded in: Physical sciences
From: Guyana, Latin America & Caribbean
Specialization field: Environmental and material chemistry
Lecturer, University of Guyana Turkeyen
For her research on converting local waste products into value-added materials to solve environmental problems, focused on improving drinking water quality for vulnerable communities and on 'water-stress' events such as floods, storms and hurricanes.
2018
Witri Wahyu Lestari
Awarded in: Physical sciences
From: Indonesia, Asia & Pacific
Specialization field: Organometallic and co-ordination chemistry
Junior Lecturer, Universitas Sebelas Maret
For her research on the synthesis of Metal-Organic Frameworks whose structures have widespread potential applications in areas such as molecular magnets, gas separation and storage, selective drug synthesis and delivery and environmental protection.
2018
Germaine Djuidje Kenmoe
Awarded in: Physical sciences
Specialization field: Physics
Lecturer, University of Yaounde 1
For her work on mechanics and the study of friction-and-wear processes on the molecular level, which has the potential for important implications in the area of energy efficiency.
2018
Silvia González Pérez
Awarded in: Physical sciences
From: Ecuador, Latin America & Caribbean
Specialization field: Theoretical and computational chemistry
Research Professor, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja
For her research on hetereogenous catalysis in metal, bimetal, nanotubes and oxides. Dr. González Pérez performs molecular modelling of potential new materials that can be synthesized or purified from natural products.
2017
Felycia Edi Soetaredjo
Awarded in: Engineering sciences
From: Indonesia, Asia & Pacific
Specialization field: Chemical engineering
Lecturer, Widya Mandala Catholic University Surabaya
For her research on utilizing biomass for environmental remediation and renewable energy. Dr. Soetaredjo uses biomass and clay material to produce biosorbents, adsorbents and composites, which effectively remove hazardous compounds such as antibiotics, heavy metals and dyes from wastewater.
2017
Rania Abdelhameed Mokhtar
Awarded in: Engineering sciences
From: Sudan, Arab Countries
Specialization field: Computer engineering
Director of External Relations, Sudan University of Science and Technology
For her work on solutions in the field of wireless communications engineering, agriculture automation sensor networks and advanced security systems, including significant advances in the knowledge, methods, theory and application of security systems for mobile devices.
2017
Tanzima Hashem
Awarded in: Engineering sciences
From: Bangladesh, Asia & Pacific
Specialization field: Computer science and engineering
Associate Professor, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
For her contributions to the field of spatial databases and ubiquitous computing, including computation approaches to location-based services that allow citizens to have control over their personal and sensitive data relating to their health, habits and whereabouts.
2017
Grace Ofori-Sarpong
Awarded in: Engineering sciences
Specialization field: Energy and minerals engineering
Associate Professor, University of Mines and Technology
For her research on microbial-mineral interaction, recovery of precious metals, water quality monitoring and acid mine drainage. Dr. Ofori-Sarpong uses fungi to break down recalcitrant gold-bearing minerals and free gold particles to enable and improve the efficiency of their extraction.
2017
María Fernanda Rivera Velásquez
Awarded in: Engineering sciences
From: Ecuador, Latin America & Caribbean
Specialization field: Environmental engineering
Professor, Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo
For her work using the fibre of a native Ecuadorian plant (Cabuya) and reactive minerals (zeolites) taken from the region to reduce contamination in inudstrial areas. Dr. Rivera Velásquez's work has had a profound impact on the improvement of working conditions in small-scale and artisan mineral mining.
2016
Sushila Maharjan
Awarded in: Biological sciences
From: Nepal, Asia & Pacific
Specialization field: Biochemistry and biotechnology
For her work using soil microbes to develop medically useful chemicals. Microbes create a great number of the materials used in medicine, including antibiotics. Dr. Maharjan studies bacterial strains from the high-altitude regions of Nepal to identify substances useful for the development of new antibiotics, as well as other medically useful compounds.
2016
Sri Fatmawati
Awarded in: Biological sciences
From: Indonesia, Asia & Pacific
Specialization field: Bioenvironmental sciences
Assistant Professor, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember
For her work analyzing the medical and pharmaceutical potential of plant and fungi extracts normally used in herbal medicine. Dr. Fatmawati has also received the prestigious Pemenang Fellowship from the International L'Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards, for her research analyzing substances from sponges that may lead to treatments for malaria, cancer and Alzheimer's disease.
2016
Magaly Blas
Awarded in: Biological sciences
From: Peru, Latin America & Caribbean
Specialization field: Epidemiology
Associate Professor, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia
For her work using information and communication technology to solve health problems, particularly sexually transmitted diseases in urban and rural Peru. Dr. Blas also leads the Mama River Programme, training community members to use smartphones to collect basic information from pregnant women and forward this information to a medical ship to schedule visits.
2016
Ghanya Al-Naqeb
Awarded in: Biological sciences
From: Yemen, Arab Countries
Specialization field: Nutritional sciences
Assistant Professor, Sana'a University
For her research using chemicals isolated from Yemeni herbal plants for disease prevention. A major focus of Dr. Al-Naqeb's work has been black cumin seeds, which are commonly used as a spice in Yemen, other Middle Eastern countries and India. Her research on these seeds has focused on their effects in protecting the heart from cardiovascular disease.
2016
Etheldreda Nakimuli-Mpungu
Awarded in: Biological sciences
Specialization field: Psychiatric epidemiology
Senior Lecturer, Makerere University College of Health Sciences
For her work using psychotherapy as a treatment for depression and alcoholism in Ugandans living with HIV. Depression is a serious problem for HIV patients throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, making it more likely that those patients will stop taking their HIV-antiretroviral medications. Dr. Nakimuli-Mpungu works with service providers to integrate depression screening with HIV-treatment, as well as to include local communities in discussions of depression to help destigmatize the illness.
2015
Rabia Salihu Saiid
Awarded in: Physical sciences
Specialization field: Atmospheric physics
Deputy Dean of Student Affairs, Bayero University
For her research that seeks to solve Nigerian environmental challenges, such as decreasing deforestation by turning carpenters' waste into briquettes to replace firewood. She is currently working on a government project to gather atmospheric data, and is a mentor in local and national science projects that encourage youth participation in science.
2015
Dang Thi Oanh Do
Awarded in: Engineering sciences
From: Vietnam, Asia & Pacific
Specialization field: Computational mathematics
Head of Division of Science, Thái Nguyên University of Information and Communications Technology
For her work in developing algorithms that are used to solve problems normally too complicated for computers. Her work has helped to improve the accuracy of these methods, typically used for solving problems in fields such as artifical intelligence and computer graphics.
2015
Mojisola Oluwyemisi Adeniyi
Awarded in: Physical sciences
Specialization field: Lower atmospheric physics
Head of the Atmospheric Physics/Meteorological Research Group, University of Ibadan
For her research using modelling to understand weather and climate, as well as atmospheric radioactivity, lightning and food security. Her research has shed light on when to best plant staple crops in Nigeria. She has also presented on efforts to improve the accuracy of climate models.
2015
Nashwa Eassa
Awarded in: Physical sciences
From: Sudan,
Specialization field: Material physics and nanotechnology
Assistant Professor, Al Neelain University
For her research on a type of high-speed semiconductor, focusing on how to lessen the film that accumulates on its surface and interferes with the flow of electrical current. She is also involved in a project developing methods for using solar radiation to treat water and for splitting water molecules so that hydrogen can be collected.
2015
Mojisola Usikalu
Awarded in: Physical sciences
Specialization field: Medical-radiation physics
Senior Lecturer, Covenant University
For her research on how radiation affects health, for example her finding that exposure to microwave radiation could increase anxiety and reduce sperm counts in animals. Dr. Usikalu is also active in promoting physics in her home country, participating in programmes meant to guide young women into studying university-level physics.
2014
Simone Ann Marie Badal-McCreath
Awarded in: Biological sciences
From: Jamaica, W.I., Latin America & Caribbean
Specialization field: Biochemistry
Manger of the biochemistry lab, the Natural Products Institute at the University of the West Indies
For her work in designing a new cell culture lab to investigate the cancer-fighting properties of Jamaican natural compounds.
2014
Eqbal Mohamed Abdu Dauqan
Awarded in: Biological sciences
From: Yemen, Arab Countries
Specialization field: Biochemistry and food science
Associate Professor at the University of Agder, Norway
For her research on the antioxidant properties of vegetable oils and specialized research in sensory evaluation and organic chemistry.
2014
Nilufar Mamadalieva
Awarded in: Physical sciences
From: Uzbekistan, Asia & Pacific
Specialization field: Organic chemistry
Senior Scientific Researcher, Institute of the Chemistry of Plant Substances, Tashkent
For her work on the phytochemical and biological investigation of active compounds derived from medicinal plants growing in Central Asia, in particular the development of efficient nutraceuticals and the discovery of new lead compounds for the pharmaceutical industry.
2014
Leni Ritmaleni
Awarded in: Physical sciences
From: Indonesia, Asia & Pacific
Specialization field: Organic chemistry
Lecturer at the Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Gadjah Mada University
For her work in the field of organic synthesis, focusing on the development of tropical medicines, in particular improved methods for the synthesis of sulfoxides and their application in the preparation of biologically active targets.
2014
Taiwo Olayemi Elufioye
Awarded in: Biological sciences
Specialization field: Pharmacology
For her research on the medicinal properites of native Nigerian plants, in particular the effectiveness of different species in treating malaria, wounds, memory loss, leprosy and cancer.
For her research on the medicinal properites of native Nigerian plants, in particular the effectiveness of different species in treating malaria, wounds, memory loss, leprosy and cancer.
2013
Namjil Erdenechimeg
Awarded in: Biological sciences
From: Mongolia, Asia & Pacific
Specialization field: Biochemistry
For her investigations of catalytically active antibodies with oxidoreductase activities from the sera of rats.
For her investigations of catalytically active antibodies with oxidoreductase activities from the sera of rats.
2013
Huda Omer Basaleem
Awarded in: Biological sciences
From: Yemen, Arab Countries
Specialization field: Community and public health
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Aden University
For her dedication in the fight against cancer and for the well-being of women and children in the Arab region.
2013
Nasima Akhter
Awarded in: Biological sciences
From: Bangladesh, Asia & Pacific
Specialization field: Medical sciences
For her research on fetal screening for congenital anomalies using ultrasonography and her introduction of the use of inactive iodide adjunct medication with radioiodine therapy in Graves' disease.
For her research on fetal screening for congenital anomalies using ultrasonography and her introduction of the use of inactive iodide adjunct medication with radioiodine therapy in Graves' disease.
2013
Dionicia Gamboa
Awarded in: Biological sciences
From: Peru, Latin America & Caribbean
Specialization field: Molecular biology/parasitology
Department of Cellular and Molecular Sciences, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia
For her multidisciplinary approach to fighting leishmaniasis and malaria, in particular for her studies into the molecular epidemiology of these diseases in endemic regions.
2013
Adediwura Fred-Jaiyesimi
Awarded in: Biological sciences
Specialization field: Pharmacognosy
Department of Pharmacognosy, Olabisi Onabanjo University
For her work on the medicinal uses of plants, particularly her research on antidiabetic properties of plants including the hypoglycaemic and a-amylase-inhibitory activities of the extracts of two local plant species.
2011
Mahfuza Begum
Awarded in: Biological sciences
From: Bangladesh, Asia & Pacific
Specialization field: Biological sciences
Bangladesh Agricultural University
2011
Denise Evans
Awarded in: Biological sciences
From: South Africa, Africa
Specialization field: Biological sciences
University of the Witwatersrand
2011
Lisset Hermida Cruz
Awarded in: Biological sciences
From: Cuba, Latin America & Caribbean
Specialization field: Biological sciences
Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
2011
Lubna Tahtamouni
Awarded in: Biological sciences
From: Jordan, Arab Countries
Specialization field: Biological sciences
The Hashemite University
2011
Nahla Ismail
Awarded in: Physical sciences
From: Egypt, Arab Countries
Specialization field: Chemical sciences
National Research Centre, Egypt
2011
Aderoju Amoke Osowole
Awarded in: Physical sciences
Specialization field: Chemical sciences
University of Ibadan
2011
Silvina Pellegrinet
Awarded in: Physical sciences
From: Argentina, Latin America & Caribbean
Specialization field: Chemical sciences
Universidad Nacional de Rosario
2011
Farzana Shaheen
Awarded in: Physical sciences
From: Pakistan, Asia & Pacific
Specialization field: Chemical sciences
University of Karachi
2011
Janet Ayobami Adermola
Awarded in: Physical sciences
Specialization field: Physics/mathematics
University of Ibadan
2011
Maria Magdalena Gonzalez Sanchez
Awarded in: Physical sciences
From: Mexico, Latin America & Caribbean
Specialization field: Physics/mathematics
Instituto de Astronomia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México
2011
Rukmani Mohanta
Awarded in: Physical sciences
From: India, Asia & Pacific
Specialization field: Physics/mathematics
University of Hyderabad
