SHAIMA EL-MOWAFI, Researcher, National Research Center, Giza, Egypt

2009-2011 International Fulbright Science and Technology Ph.D. Program, Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania, U.S.A

“This prestigious award has tremendously broadened my horizons. I learned a lot about the American culture, made a lot of friends, and was fortunate to be a member of the Egyptian and Muslim community at Penn State. I realized that there are more similarities than differences between American and Egyptian cultures.”

Dr. ElMowafi After passing her Ph.D. defense with her advisor Ken Keiler and her lab mates, June 9, 2014 at Penn State

“I am fortunate to have had a network of different outstanding people. I felt we were a big family of amazing students who were gathered together despite all their differences.”

Shaima El-Mowafi successfully passed her Ph.D. defense in June 2014 at Pennsylvania State University, while on an International Fulbright Science and Technology grant. Dr. El-Mowafi’s grant allowed her to pursue Ph.D. research in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology for five years at the Pennsylvania State University (Penn State). Her research focused on drug discovery where she was able to screen and validate assays to identify new drugs against Gram-negative pathogens.

Dr. Elmowafi receiving the Certificate of completion of the Fulbright Program, at Washington DC June 2012, with Vincent Pickett, Program Officer, ECA/A/E and Sarah Boeving from the Institute of International Education.

During the first three years of her Fulbright program, Dr. El-Mowafi attended several conferences and had the chance to meet many Fulbrighters from other countries. She participated in several events dedicated to promoting mutual understanding between different communities.