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.

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.

By creating links between food research and industry, she hopes to enhance food security both in Ghana and in Africa as a whole.

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

In the challenging socio-economic context of developing countries, knowledge should serve to solve the varied problems faced by our societies.

When I am seeing an impact, that’s what makes me as a scientist feel an achievement

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.

“Ten to fifteen years from now, people, not only in Kenya but in the African continent, will switch to magnetic refrigeration”

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.

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.

OWSD's guidance and support allowed me to uncover hidden courage and realize aspects of myself that I never thought I possessed.

Just give me the seed and I will continue.

Winning this award opened many doors for me. It has led to success in acquiring local funding.

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

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.

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

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.

I found my niche, and I have not looked back.

" 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.”