MSc Microbiology, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg
BSc Biology: Earth and Life Sciences, Lebanese University

I always felt drawn to the sea, but I never thought that I would be privileged enough to study it.

I am a doctoral candidate who is focused on figuring out one of the many things that we still do not fully understand: the relationships between marine microbes and B vitamins. I started working on this during my master’s thesis, where I cultivated natural model communities and quantified B vitamins, but that was just the tip of the iceberg. In my PhD, I am planning to delve deeper and broaden my approach by studying the environment through all angles possible, be it using wet-lab or bioinformatic methods.

Alongside my drive for science, I have a drive for teaching. It brings me joy knowing that I helped someone understand something that they didn’t before. I would love to explain science the way I wish it had been explained to me.

Finally, I am also drawn to administrative and representative positions. As an international student, I felt the need for us to have a seat and a voice when decisions are being made.

It might sound like I have everything figured out, but no journey is linear. I would not be doing what I am doing right now without the help of many people. It takes good collaborations and communication to produce good science; it takes a village.

• Mail

W15-0-003