King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) celebrates the achievements of its internationally recognized alumnae, including Dr. Fatimah Abdulhakim, who holds a Ph.D. in environmental science and engineering and is among this year’s L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Middle East Regional Young Talents Program honorees. 

The L’Oréal-UNESCO program recognizes emerging female researchers whose work addresses global challenges across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Abdulhakim, a Saudi plant scientist, was selected for her research on how plants defend themselves against disease and environmental stress. Her findings shed new light on an essential RNA-binding protein that serves as a molecular switch for immune signaling and stress responses. 

She also identified how this protein supports the formation of cellular compartments that help plants reorganize their machinery under heat stress. Her discoveries provide a foundation for developing crops with stronger immunity and resilience, reducing reliance on pesticides, improving yields, and strengthening food security. 

An advocate for women in science, Abdulhakim’s own STEM journey began at age 15, when she represented Saudi Arabia at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). Currently a laboratory manager at the National Agricultural Development Company (NADEC), she intends to develop high-quality, virus-free seeds adapted to the Saudi climate, reducing imports, enhancing food security, and strengthening the national agricultural sector. 

L’Oréal-UNESCO also recognized two additional KAUST alumnae this year. Dr. Nadine Hosny El Said, a Ph.D. graduate of the KAUST Environmental Epigenetics Research Program and now a researcher at New York University Abu Dhabi, was honored for work to harness epigenetic science and RNA-based therapies to advance patient care. She graduated from KAUST in 2019, where her interest in the genome’s hidden regulatory layers deepened.

Meanwhile, Dr. Rana Hussein Ali, who earned her KAUST master’s degree in bioscience and is now a group leader at Goethe University Frankfurt, was named a 2025 German Laureate in the global L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards. They join a growing list of KAUST recipients, including two of last year’s Middle East honorees — Professor Leena Ibrahim, bioscience, and Ph.D. candidate Taiba Alamoudi, marine science. 

Together, the achievements of these women showcase the strength of KAUST’s scientific community and the broader contributions advancing research and innovation in the Kingdom and worldwide.