Saint Xavier University (SXU) is thrilled to welcome Fulbright Visiting Scholar, Dr. Ramia Al Bakain through the Fulbright Outreach Lecturing Fund (OLF). Dr. Al Bakain will be offering a series of lectures to faculty and students from both the School of Nursing and Department of Chemistry on Monday, October 23 at 1 p.m. in the Warde Academic Building.
Currently, Dr. Al Bakain works as an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Jordan in Amman and is conducting a research project at The University of Mississippi.
According to SXNews, “The Fulbright OLF allows Fulbright Visiting Scholars who are currently in the United States to travel to other higher education institutions across the country.
Each year, some 800 faculty and professionals from around the world receive Fulbright Scholar grants for advanced research and university lecturing.
The purpose of the OLF is to allow these scholars to share their specific research interests, speak on the history and culture of their home country, exchange ideas with U.S. students, faculty, and community organizations, become better acquainted with U.S. higher education, and create linkages between their home and host institutions.”
This will not be Al Bakain’s first visit lecture at an American university.
During the 2016-2017 year, she was given a research grant for a project titled, “Novel Techniques for Measuring and Evaluating the Cycle of Hg in Areas Impacted by Oil Spills.”
The University of Mississippi was the host institution. It began on June 2017 and is scheduled to end in January 2018. She is working on developing new methods for wastewater treatment.
In 2001, Al Bakain received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in General Chemistry from the University of Mu’tah, Karak, Jordan. In 2007, she went on to receive a Master’s of Sciences degree in Analytical Chemistry from Mu’tah University.
Al Bakain then received her Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from the Université Pierre et Marie-Curie (UPMC) in Paris, France in 2011.
In 2012, she was appointed as a Lecturer of Analytical Chemistry at UJ’s Department of Chemistry. She was promoted to Assistant Professor in 2014, and to Associate Professor in 2016.
Among her many accomplishments, Al Bakain was the recipient of L’Oréal-UNESCO “For Women in Science” Levant and Egypt Fellowships in 2015.
She also won an oral presentation award where she was first place in the senior division at the 22nd International Scientific Conference of LAAS Beirut- Lebanon in 2016.
Al Bakain is a member of the French Association of Separation Sciences, Jordanian Chemical Society, Association of Graduates of French Universities and Institutes, and Jordan Society for Scientific Research.
Women and girls are underrepresented in the science world, and according to the University of Jordan, “Dr. Ramia aspires to convey a positive message to young women that Chemistry is a field of creativity. She lives by the principle: Like what you do, work hard, be patient and optimistic, and never give up!”
For information regarding the visit, please contact Dr. Zepure Samawi, PhD, RN, Fulbright Scholar and Professor and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Nursing, at (773) 298-3705.
Shadia Judeh
News Reporter