Alumni Focus: Mona Alsomali, Ph.D. 2016 - Bioscience
Mona Alsomali graduated from KAUST in 2016 with a Ph.D. in bioscience-microbial genomics and is currently working as a senior microbiologist at the Dow Middle East Innovation Center (MEIC)/KAUST.
Mona Alsomali describes herself as an ambitious, energetic and optimistic person and as someone who loves a challenge.
“The thing that keeps my energy level up most of the time is making an impact—even if it’s a minor one. This can be through guiding others: mentoring, volunteering and making others see the good side in every situation in their lives,” she said.
Alsomali graduated in 2016 with a Ph.D. in bioscience-microbial genomics from the University’s Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE). She is currently working as a senior microbiologist at the Dow Middle East Innovation Center (MEIC)/KAUST. She is also a member of the American Society for Microbiology, the Islamic Psychology Society and a board member of communications for the KAUST Saudi Arabian alumni chapter. She is also a consulting member of the What Doctors Don’t Tell You (WDDTY) journal (the Arabic version).
“I enjoyed every single moment at KAUST. I am grateful for the good times I had there, and I definitely learned something from the bad ones—or maybe I should call them the stressful ones. KAUST helped shape my personality—I can say proudly that I am wiser and more patient, and I have developed emotional intelligence and have strengthened my self-control,” she noted.
On what prompted her to continue her academic career at KAUST, she said, “What made me come to KAUST is the fact that I read about it and about King Abdullah’s vision and also because I wanted to be closer to my family in Jeddah.”
Alsomali’s advice to current students is that they strive to do their best in their chosen careers and to never rush anything.
“Enjoy every moment of your life and don’t let your studies and research compromise your health. Get enough sleep and do not sweat the small stuff,” she said.
- By David Murphy, KAUST News
“Enjoy every moment of your life and don’t let your studies and research compromise your health. Get enough sleep and do not sweat the small stuff,” she said.
- By David Murphy, KAUST News
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