Rehab is part of a growing generation of African scientists using microbial ecology and bioinformatics to explore how invisible organisms shape our environment. Her research uses advanced genomic tools to understand how microbial communities function, adapt, and sustain life.
Hello Rehab, we are excited to have you join us on this episode of Words That Count. Thank you for responding to our invitation
Thank you and Dr. Rania Siam for considering me for the feature. I am happy to contribute to this cause.
Please briefly introduce yourself to the audience
My name is Dr. Rehab Zohier Abdallah, an Egyptian currently living and working in Egypt. I am an Assistant Professor (Lecturer) in the Bioinformatics and Genomics Department, College of Biotechnology, Misr University for Science and Technology. By training, I am an environmental microbiologist and microbial ecologist. My research interests focus on how microorganisms adapt to environmental stressors such as salinity, drought, and other climate change–driven pressures. I combine wet-lab microbiology with computational biology and bioinformatics.
My other work focuses on education, research, and mentoring graduate and undergraduate students.
Walk us through your journey into microbial ecology. How did you end up in this field?
Since childhood, I was drawn to biology in a way I never felt toward chemistry, physics, or mathematics. Biology felt like a story—the story of life—full of characters, interactions, and hidden logic waiting to be understood. That sense of storytelling stayed with me and quietly shaped how I saw the natural world.
During my undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, this curiosity developed into a deep interest in microbiology. I still vividly remember a lecture on using microbes to treat oil spills. The idea that microscopic organisms could heal damaged ecosystems fundamentally changed how I viewed science and its responsibility toward the planet.
At the same time, I was fascinated by people and cultures beyond my own. I wanted to understand how humans live, think, and collaborate across different societies. This curiosity led me to apply for the Partnerships for Learning Undergraduate Studies (PLUS) fellowship offered by the U.S. Department of State. I was selected as one of ten students from Egypt to spend two years in the United States, where I completed a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology (Microbial Systems) at Montana State University. That experience reshaped me—scientifically, culturally, and personally.
After returning to Egypt, I joined the American University in Cairo (AUC) for a master’s degree in biotechnology on a full fellowship. There, I had the opportunity to work on one of the few metagenomics and environmental genomics projects in the region, focusing on microbial communities thriving in Red Sea brine pools. This was the moment when my passion for environmental microbiology and microbial ecology truly developed. I became deeply interested in how life adapts to extreme and changing environments.
To further deepen this focus, I applied for PhD programs abroad and was selected for the International Max Planck Research School at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology in Germany. My PhD training strengthened my scientific rigor and independence, and in late 2018, I completed my doctorate.
Despite opportunities abroad, I felt a strong responsibility to return home. I wanted my training to matter where it was most needed. I returned to Egypt to complete a postdoctoral fellowship at AUC with my Master’s supervisor and mentor, Dr. Rania Siam, where we worked on a unique hypersaline lake in Egypt, further advancing my research in microbial ecology.
After my postdoc, my goal became clear: to transfer the knowledge, skills, and perspective I had gained to the next generation. This led me to apply for academic positions in Egypt, and I was fortunate to secure an Assistant Professor position at Misr University for Science and Technology, College of Biotechnology.
Let us talk about some of the challenges you have faced along this journey in microbial ecology
One of the main challenges I faced was building an academic career while having a family. Academia often assumes constant availability and uninterrupted time for research, which rarely aligns with the realities of motherhood. Balancing research, teaching, and family responsibilities meant working through periods of exhaustion and accepting that progress is not always linear.
There were times when professional milestones coincided with major life events, such as having my second baby while starting my Assistant Professor position. This required me to slow down without losing direction. At the same time, having a family refined my priorities and made me a more intentional scientist and mentor.
How are you able to find your inspiration to move forward when faced with these challenges?
Two things, mainly. The first is teaching. There is something very special about seeing that “ah, I got it” moment in students—when a concept finally clicks. That moment alone makes all the effort worth it.
The second is discovery. I still get genuinely excited when I understand something new or see a pattern I did not notice before. Those small ‘eureka’ moments, even when they come after a lot of frustration, remind me why I chose science in the first place.
Tell us about some of the most prestigious moments in your microbial ecology journey
I have been fortunate to receive some awards;
ISME19 Travel Award, International Society for Microbial Ecology, August 2024
Center of Excellence for Water Research Grant (USAID), Co–Principal Investigator, January 2023 – January 2024
ISME18 Travel Award, International Society for Microbial Ecology, August 2022
International Max Planck Research School Fellowship, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology (PhD fellowship), 2014–2018
DAAD Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE) Scholarship, PhD Mentor, Summer 2017
BAGECO Travel Award, 14th Symposium on Bacterial Genetics and Ecology, July 2017
I have also received some achievements and recognition for the work I do in microbial ecology;
Egyptian Ambassador for the International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME), Since 2020
General Secretary and Director of the Environmental Microbiology and Bioinformatics Track, Per Ankh Foundation and BioKemt Society, Egypt (since 2014)
Invited speaker at national and international scientific conferences
Author and co-author of peer-reviewed publications in high-impact international journals
Who is Rehab outside of the microbial ecology walls?
Outside the lab, I am a mother, a lifelong learner, and a bit of a nomad at heart. I enjoy reading, deep conversations, and traveling—especially experiences that expose me to new places and cultures. Staying grounded outside work helps me remain creative, balanced, and resilient within it.
What is your favorite quote?“Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity, and is the torch which illuminates the world.” — Louis Pasteur
What are your words of encouragement for a young girl who is interested in joining the microbial ecology world?
You do not need to be fearless to succeed—just curious and persistent. There will be moments when you doubt yourself; that does not mean you don’t belong. It means you are scientifically and academically growing. Follow your heart—it already knows the way.
Thank you so much, Rehab, for teaching us about microbial ecology. We are honoured to share your STEM journey with the world. Looking forward to learning more about your work in the near future.
