Combine my professional post-doctoral level knowledge in the biological sciences with my federal-level experience and passion for human rights issues, including work as a Fulbright Scholar for the U.S. Department of State, to improve public health and support evidence-based policy making. Policy experience includes addressing issues related to U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East where I worked in the Youth Exchange & Study Program to build peace between the rural U.S. and Lebanon post 9/11. Additional international experience includes working on human rights matters related to literacy and education, where I established the first children’s library in rural Lebanon and renovated schools in poor neighborhoods of El-Gamaleya, Egypt. Communication experience includes being an associate editor at Communications Biology, designing structured science curricula for laypeople, translating science documentaries to Arabic, and managing science outreach events in rural communities. Locally, I am involved with Sci4NY to promote the collaboration between scientists and policy makers. Management experience includes working in NGOs like Genetics Society of America to develop resources for career development. Scientific expertise includes toxicology, neuroscience, and genomics with a detailed understanding of nicotine addiction, as well as the environmental conditions during early life that affect genes expression and neurobehavior across generations. Additional experience includes proficiency in R-programming and Unix for data management, analysis, and visualization, which allowed me to be among the 1-3% to get accepted in the Data Incubator program in NYC.  

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Education

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East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA

Ph.D. in Biological Sciences (2013-2016)

M.S. in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (2011-2013)

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Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon

M.A. in Biology (2010-2011)

B.S. in Biology (2007-2010) 

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