Dr. Fathiah Zakham receives OWSD-Elsevier award

Programmes Higher education Scholar Rescue Fund Internationalisation

Dr. Fathiah Zakham, a microbiologist from Hodeidah University in Yemen and an Institute of International Education Scholar Rescue Fund (IIE-SRF) fellow and Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI) scholarship holder at the University of Helsinki, has been named a winner of the 2020 OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Award for Early-Career Women Scientists in the Developing World for her work using biotechnology and bioengineering to develop rapid, accurate and cheap tools for the diagnosis and management of tuberculosis and other emerging infectious diseases.

Photo: Elsevier

Dr. Fathiah Zakham (on the right) receives OSWE-Elsevier award

Dr. Fathiah Zakham, a microbiologist from Hodeidah University in Yemen and an Institute of International Education Scholar Rescue Fund (IIE-SRF) fellow and Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI) scholarship holder at the University of Helsinki, has been named a winner of the 2020 OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Award for Early-Career Women Scientists in the Developing World for her work using biotechnology and bioengineering to develop rapid, accurate and cheap tools for the diagnosis and management of tuberculosis and other emerging infectious diseases. Her research is contributing to earlier diagnosis and better surveillance of these diseases in areas with poor infrastructure.

“As a Yemeni female scientist, receiving this award will motivate me to continue my research,” said Dr. Zakham at the award ceremony. “This award is an excellent and important initiative to promote the role of women scientists in their local communities, despite the hardship that they face.”

IIE-SRF and EDUFI would like to cordially congratulate Dr. Zakham on this award and on her impressive achievements.

Further, IIE-SRF and EDUFI would like to acknowledge the support provided by the University of Helsinki and the viral zoonosis research unit led by Prof. Olli Vapalahti as the host institution of Dr. Zakham.

IIE-SRF and EDUFI have had a partnership since 2016, which enables threatened and displaced scholars to continue their careers in a safe environment at Finnish higher education institutions.