Visiting Scholar at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

MIT: Materials science and engineering; sustainable materials and structural engineering; environmental engineering

PhD in Civil Engineering

Assistant Professor in College of Engineering

Upon arrival at MIT, she writes, “I feel so lucky for this fellowship, … and that I will be able to continue serving my beloved country after the end of the fellowship in a much better way. On the first day at MIT, I felt some kind of great energy and passion to learn, and to make use of every second of my time to benefit from the program.”

At MIT, she worked with a research team on the use of cellulose fibers in composites for structural engineering applications. She is committed to the goal of her country being able to use renewable products, such as marsh reeds, with excellent mechanical properties for structural development. Through MIT and IWFF, she made contact with other research teams and a US company undertaking similar research. She and her research team had a paper published by MIT while she was there.

On return to Iraq, she resumed her teaching responsibilities, and writes “The chance of being a postdoc fellow at MIT was a life changing chance for which I am grateful… “I am using new teaching methods and conducting a new line for scientific research and the whole experience has made me closer to my students, since most Iraqi students are very eager to learn and follow developments in the world.” She intends to expand the knowledge of her students, and would like for her research to help with reconstruction and development efforts in Iraq.

Visiting Scholar at Stanford University

Stanford: Quantum information science; quantum cryptography; optical fiber communications

MPhD in Laser/Electronics and Communications Engineering

Upon arrival at Stanford, she writes, “I am now at Stanford and recognize what a big opportunity I got from IWFF. I hope I can get as much benefit as I can in order to build a link between my Institute and American universities. Also, I will be honored to participate with IWFF activities for improving women’s abilities in science and engineering in the Middle East.”

At Stanford, she worked with the Quantum Information Science Group, and learned advanced research techniques in quantum cryptography. She audited related courses, attended workshops and meetings, and gave a talk on her research in Iraq to her Stanford research group. She was invited by one of the leading professors in her field to attend an external specialized conference. She was interested in continuing contacts and exchanges with Stanford, to enable Iraqi graduate students to enable Iraqi graduate students to do part of their research work at Stanford, and with other US universities.

Both she and the fellow at MIT participated in a panel discussion at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars in Washington, DC, before returning to Iraq. They talked about what they planned to do on return to Iraq, as well as some of the difficulties of research in Iraq, which include a lack of continuous electricity and access to needed equipment. In regard to the future of Iraqi women in the sciences, they noted the increase in percentages of female electrical and mechanical engineers had risen from low levels to about 40-50 percent of Iraqi engineers today. They felt that, notwithstanding high unemployment figures in the country, a female engineer with a PhD has about a 90 percent chance of getting hired.

When leaving Stanford, she wrote, “Being here for one year and learning all this experience and the differences, of course I was sure that I would see all this difference, but living it is something else. I never thought or planned in my life to live in the US, because I was raised to love my country, …but I really will miss the US and Stanford, and the good people I knew here,… including some very kind and generous professors. …I have a lot of plans in my mind,” including her current work on the establishment of an optical fiber communications laboratory to work in quantum cryptography in optical fiber networks.

Visiting Scholar at Stanford (2013)

Stanford School of Medicine: Faculty Development Center for Medical Teachers; educational programs

Bachelor of Medicine and General Surgery (MB ChB); Iraqi Board of Medical Specialization fellowship; community medicine

Vice Dean and Assistant Professor of Community Medicine

She encountered an unexpected and wonderful opportunity upon her arrival at Stanford, to attend a course specially designed to teach faculty from other institutions to train their own faculty. The course was scheduled to begin for mostly Saudi faculty, but she he joined, with the support of the co-director of the Stanford Faculty Development Center and vice chair for educational programs of the Department of Medicine at Stanford.

Upon arrival at Stanford, she wrote, “ I highly appreciate the opportunity offered to me by your foundation. It is a real honor for me to keep contact with you and all people involved in the fellowship activities. … I feel that forming a group of professional women in Iraq is a great idea, we may need consultation and support.“

She was given high marks by her Stanford host for her performance and keen interest in building capacity in the health education sector in Iraq. Her training gave her exposure to international standards of health education, and to current best practices and medical teaching standards. Her class was asked to teach incoming graduates at Stanford, in preparation for returning to their countries, where they were required to teach two classes – to faculty and administrative personnel – and to maintain consultations with Stanford. She also intends to translate texts and booklets gathered in the US into Arabic so that her students may benefit from them.

On her departure, she wrote, ”At the end of this great opportunity, I would like to thank you all. I feel that words may not express my gratitude. Thank you for the clever and generous program, I wish you persistence and success. Thank you all for making my stay far from my home and family successful, …and for the priceless chance of working with the vice chair for educational programs. He is a scientist, medical doctor, teacher, philosopher, and great human being, … and for those at Stanford who helped me, especially at the beginning of the scholarship. Thank you all.”