I am from Alexandria, a coastal city in northern Egypt. I got my Bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences there. I eventually moved to Blacksburg, Virginia and stayed there for two years. I then moved to Oxford, Mississippi, when my husband got a job at Ole Miss. Throughout this time, I had never forgotten my passion for pharmacy. Once we settled in, I got the chance to explore this great University by pursuing my PhD in Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery. I moved to Rockville, Maryland to work in the US FDA, but Oxford was still in my heart, and once I got the chance, I joined Ole Miss again without hesitation.
What is your profession? I am a research assistant professor at the Department of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi.
What motivates you? The continuous support of my husband and my kids is a massive motivation for me. They are what make me get up in the morning and strive to be great. Also, my mentors, Drs. Elsohly, Chambliss and Repka are always trusting me by giving me a huge responsibility in the workplace. They always believe in me and have incredible faith that the work I produce will be exceptional. In addition, the big motivation is when I see my students succeed and excel, this gives me an extra push to do my best to serve the students and the department.
How do you challenge negativity? I am trying to keep my smile. Sometimes people negative impression of the world around them is normal, which can be attributed to anything, from childhood experiences to experiences at home or work. The simple act of smiling and maintaining positive behavior may be enough to challenge these concepts.
What advice would you give other women who may face similar challenges? Always look on the bright side of the challenge. Think positively and do not look back. If you think negatively, everything will go wrong, but if you are optimistic, you will persevere. And, if someone can do it, you can do it.
What resources have you found helpful for your career, your profession and/or to balance your life? There were a lot of resources that helped me here at the University of Mississippi. During my graduate studies, I was the department senate in the graduate student council that allowed me to develop a variety of career skills including, communication, organization, and critical thinking. I was one of the leaders of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists student chapter which helped me to build a bridge between academia and the pharmaceutical industry. In 2020, I got selected to be a part of the Interdisciplinary Research development (INSPiRED) cohort. This opportunity takes me to the next step to start more collaboration with different specialties. Therefore, expand the research funding opportunities and increase my research reproducibility.
