Meet Nahla, a molecular biologist, uncovering how bacteria respond to their environment. Her work is quietly reshaping how we think about resistance, resilience, and solutions in modern science:
Hi Nahla, it is wonderful to have you join us. Thank you for adding your voice to this cause
Thank you for your invitation. It is an obvious honour to to recommended by Dr. Rania Siam. I am very happy to contribute to Words That Count.
Let us begin with you briefly introducing yourself to our audience
My name is Nahla A. Hussein. I am Egyptian and currently reside in Cairo, Egypt. I am an Associate Professor in the Molecular Biology Department at the National Research Centre (NRC), Egypt. My main research goals centre around understanding how bacteria sense different kinds of environmental stressors and the cognate role in antimicrobial resistance. Overall, my role is to manage and contribute to research projects that use molecular biology approaches to understand bacterial signalling, discover new antimicrobials, and develop veterinary vaccines.
In addition, I am a member of the Per-Ankh Foundation for Science & Philosophy. This is an Egyptian non-profit organization aiming to revive scientific excellence in Egypt, the Middle East, and Africa. I train junior researchers and participate in various activities. The aim is to enhance the scientific landscape of biological sciences in the region.
Walk us through your journey to Molecular Biology. Is this a career path you envisioned as a child?
I was born in a family of a professor of medicine, a valued position in my country. My parents’ profession offered me access to high-quality education. It shaped my perception of knowledge as the primary means of being valuable and contributing to society’s welfare.
After high school, I joined the Faculty of Pharmacy at Cairo University. I was impressed by the diversity and breadth of the subjects I studied there. Experimental work, in particular, was my unequivocal source of pleasure. The practical sessions always left me with a feeling of amazement and joy. The turning point came when I studied biochemistry and molecular biology. It was fascinating to understand the chemical basis of various cellular processes and how they relate to diseases and drug activities.
Upon graduation, I ranked high in my class. This enabled me to join the National Research Centre, one of the largest research institutions in Egypt. There, I stepped gradually into the world of molecular biology research. I later completed an MSc in Biochemistry from Cairo University and an MSc in Biotechnology from the American University in Cairo (AUC). The latter included a short internship at De Duve Institute – Université catholique de Louvain (UCL), Belgium.
Enrolling at AUC and working for a short time in Belgium formed my second turning point. At AUC, I taught undergraduate students for the first time as part of my fellowship and integrated into new scientific communities. At UCL, I got trained to ask in-depth research questions and answer them using advanced research tools.
This experience motivated me to pursue a joint/dual PhD at UCL (Belgium) and AUC (Egypt). My PhD gave me alternating research stays between both countries and universities. Working on bacterial stress signalling pathways as the central topic shaped my scientific goals and my postdoctoral projects.
After graduation, I returned to the National Research Centre, securing two funded projects and working with colleagues in their research projects. My research interest focuses on bacterial stress signaling, its regulation, and the role it plays in bacterial resistance to antibiotics.
Tell us about some of the challenges you have faced as an African woman navigating this field of Molecular Biology
The challenges I encountered varied depending on my age, academic stage, and the surrounding societal and academic norms. One of the earliest challenges was choosing my own path. I enrolled in pharmacy school instead of medical school, which societal norms often favour for high-achieving students.
A second challenge, which greatly tested my ethical values, was resisting the privileges that could have arisen from my family’s position and compromising equal chance to my peers and, as much as I could, refusing any undeserved advantages associated with it.
A third challenge—common among women in STEM and academia—is impostor syndrome. I often felt undeserving of my achievements and feared that my advisors would eventually realize I did not merit their trust or the fellowship I received.
During my PhD studies in Belgium, I encountered new societal norms, different perceptions of North African women, and unfamiliar cultural expectations. This period required an even stronger effort to preserve my values while being open enough to accept unfamiliar concepts. All this was besides proving myself as a graduate student capable of becoming an independent researcher.
How have you been able to overcome the challenges and achieve the level you are at as a molecular biologist?
With every challenge, I felt the need to prove—to myself first, and then to others—that my passion for science and belief in the power of knowledge could help me overcome any obstacle. The biographies of scientists and scholars who dedicated their time and effort to science were a major driving force for me. To mention a few, the life stories of Al-Shafi’i (Iraq- Egypt 767-82), Nabawiyya Moussa (Egypt, 1890-1951), Aly Mostafa Mousharafa (1989-1950), and Marie Skłodowska Curie (Poland-France, 1867-1934) were inspiring.
Beyond self-motivation, self-discipline was essential. Simply, I do not wake up every day full of motivation and enthusiasm. Sometimes, getting out of bed, going to the lab, and repeating experiments for the nth time is extremely hard. However, believing in a goal and abiding by professional and personal obligations allows me to keep moving forward.
I was fortunate to meet people who believed in my capabilities and supported my journey. Without the scientific, moral, and academic support of my former advisors in Egypt and Belgium, my path would have been very difficult.
What have been some of the most rewarding moments for you as a scientist in Molecular Biology?
I believe that my highest achievement is contributing—even incrementally—to new knowledge. One of my accomplishments was becoming a principal investigator and managing my own research projects two years after completing my PhD.
However, my most meaningful moments of recognition came from seeing my former undergraduate and graduate students grow into independent and knowledgeable scientists. Watching them defend their theses or succeed in their careers gives me a profound sense that a seed I planted is growing and bearing fruit.
Who is Nahla outside of the walls of molecular biology?
Outside academia, I deeply value spirituality and art. Spirituality nourishes the soul, while art connects me to the beauty of the universe I explore as a scientist. I enjoy listening to music, contemplating artistic masterpieces, and creating crafts, such as Islamic geometric designs. I enjoy reading literature, history, and psychology.
In addition, I find fulfillment in volunteer work, particularly initiatives that promote equal access to education or help the societal integration of refugees and asylum seekers.
What is your favorite quote?
My favourite quotes:
“A scientist in his laboratory is not a mere technician: he is also a child confronting natural phenomena that impress him as though they were fairy tales” ~ Marie Curie.
“The scholars are the inheritors of the prophets” ~ Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Indeed, the prophets did not leave behind dinars or dirhams, but rather knowledge. So, whoever takes from it has taken a large share.
How would you encourage a young African girl who is interested in becoming a molecular biologist?
To every young girl in STEM: follow your passion, dream high while remaining flexible in aligning your dreams with reality. Compromises are inevitable along your journey, so learn to reorder your priorities for each new phase of your life.
Work-life balance is important, and if you are a caregiver for your family, you can still achieve your scientific dreams.
Reflect on how your passion for science can serve your peers, community, and country.
Wow, Nahla! This has been such an interesting session. Thank you for teaching us about molecular biology and the impact your work makes in our lives. We wish you the very best in your career and look forward to learning more about you in the future.
2 Responses
So beautifully written and an inspiring story ma’am.
Amazing as always ❤️