Tell us about your background prior to starting the CARA Fellowship…
I graduated from the University of Aleppo in 2014 as a pharmacist and carried on getting a master’s degree in pharmaceutics and pharmaceutical technology in 2019. I then worked as a lab lecturer/supervisor for five years at Damascus University and the International University for Science and Technology – all of which are in Syria.
Throughout my postgraduate journey, I published two scientific papers related to my project, one locally and the other internationally, and had the opportunity to present my work at several conferences.
Since I was deeply interested in nanoparticles and cancer research, I attended a few courses tailored to train participants to prepare and detect nanomaterials, which covered the fundamental aspects of cancer cells culture and drug preparation for cell treatment. This fuelled my ambition to pursue a PhD in this area of research, at which point I contacted CARA for their support.
Can you tell us about the CARA Fellowship? Did you apply for it? Was it recommended to you?
While I was undertaking my MSc, I heard about CARA through colleagues and decided to visit their website. I was instantly impressed by their message, achievements, and their significant contribution to the scientific careers of several academics. Reaching out to CARA was one of the best decisions I have ever made.
CARA not only offered me financial and practical support but also provided me with one of the greatest gifts – hope. From the initial stages up until now, CARA is helping me to reshape my future, and assisting me to develop skills and acquire knowledge in science which may hopefully, one day, contribute to making the world a better place for all.
What is your research focused upon?
Although I am still unsure of the exact route I will take for my research, as I am still in the initial stages of my PhD journey, I know that I will be working in the field of brain cancer and immunotherapy. I am currently going through previous literature and published work to build a theoretical background of my PhD project, which will ultimately help me in developing my research proposal and a detailed plan for my next few years at King’s.
What would you say to others considering CARA? Any advice?
Work hard and believe in yourself, and even when things start looking dark or impossible, rest assured there is always a way if you keep trying and keep knocking on doors. Totally cliché – but true!
It is important to note that none of my dreams would have become a reality without the help and generosity of King’s and the Centre for Doctoral Studies. Both have offered me the chance to be a part of a collaborative and welcoming environment here at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, and are supporting me to develop personally, professionally, and academically.
On a practical level, understanding CARA’s mission and also the university requirements, and preparing all the necessary documentation is crucial!
What are your future plans and goals? What are you hoping to achieve next?
After obtaining my PhD in Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, I hope to stay in the field of academia and work as a post-doc in the same field. King’s has a global reputation for cutting-edge research and scientific breakthroughs, so I think I am in the best possible place to achieve this goal.
Teaching has also always been a great source of inspiration for me. I can also picture myself working in the industrial domain after my PhD, more specifically in the research and development department of pharmaceutical companies as a formulation scientist, as I fully appreciate a career where theory meets practice.
Let’s see what the future holds!