Dr. Walaa Khushaim
Biography:
Dr. Walaa Khushaim completed her undergraduate studies at Queens University of Charlotte, USA, and earned a master’s degree from the University of Oxford, UK. Her research focused on gene editing and the influence of epigenetics on gene and protein expression. In 2023, she received her PhD in Bioengineering from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), with seven publications in top scientific journals. Dr. Khushaim developed advanced biosensors for the rapid diagnosis of heart attacks. She is currently conducting postdoctoral research at MIT under the supervision of Professor Hadley Sikes.
MIT Fellowship Research Abstract:
Dr. Khushaim's research at MIT will focus on developing tests that measure cardiac biomarkers from finger-stick blood samples. She will use bio-molecular engineering techniques to discover new reagent sets, validate the reagents using clinical samples, and build user-friendly rapid tests.
Honors/Awards:
- Innovators Under 35 MIT Review Arabia, 2023
- KAUST Student Commencement Speaker, 2023
- The MIT Ibn Khaldun Fellowship Award, 2023
- 72nd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in Physiology and Medicine Nomination, 2023
- 72nd Nobel Laureate Meeting, selected as a young scientist, 2023
- MIT Ibn Khaldun Fellowship for Saudi Women (Postdoctoral), 2023
- KAUST BESE Dean's Award, 2022
- NEOM OXAGON Hackathon, 2022
- KAUST Falling Walls, 2021
- KAUST Graduate Fellowship (PhD), 2019
- King Abdullah Scholarship Program (MS), 2016
- Dean’s List Award, Queens University of Charlotte, 2016
- King Abdullah Scholarship Program (BS), 2011