Overview

Sawsan’s non-linear career path spans academia and entrepreneurship. She started her scientific journey at the lab bench working on plant physiology and biochemistry (PhD, University of London), then moved to computational analysis of protein evolution (Postdoc, University of Reading) and from there into functional genomics in the context of medical sciences (Staff, University of Miami, FL, USA).

Sawsan developed and delivered the first full-credit undergraduate and postgraduate taught modules in bioinformatics at universities in three countries:

• American University of Beirut, Lebanon (2002),
• University of Miami, FL, USA (2003-2016) where she also established their bioinformatics analysis core facility, and
• United Arab Emirates University, Abu Dhabi (2010-2011, UAE).

She became the Director of Engagement for the Frost Institute for Data Science and Computing at UM in 2012, where she worked across the whole university breaking down disciplinary barriers, reaching out to business, and launching initiatives to encourage girls and women into STEM. Sawsan established Team Science education and training provisions at UM, and won a Leadership Award in 2014. Her most favourite accomplishment is being featured in the Super Cool Scientists Coloring Book (Sara MacSorely, 2017).

At Exeter’s College of Medicine and Health, Sawsan is a part-time Education and Scholarship Lecturer in Medical Sciences, where she co-leads the Medical Genetics module, is the Academic Lead for the Medical Sciences Study Abroad programme, delivers Team Science curricular interventions for several modules, plays an active role in Academic Tutoring, and is a PRP mentor with the Academic Development team.

When not at the university, Sawsan runs two businesses where she creates synergies and empowers the young. She volunteers for Scouts and for refugee welfare in her local community. Sawsan in a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts, a Trustee at the Exeter Phoenix, and a member of the International Women’s Forum where she set up the Data and AI Ethics group and currently chairs the Entrepreneurs group. She won the Girls to Women Award at the Diversity Business Incubator's BAME Gala 2024, nominated by the Devon and Plymouth Chamber of Commerce.

For more, please find and follow her on LinkedIn.

Qualifications

• BSc (Hons) University of Reading
• PhD University of London
• Senior Fellow of Advance HE (SFHEA)
• Design Thinking certification, IDEO-U
• Psychological First Aid certification, Johns Hopkins via Coursera
• Science Communication Masterclass certification, UWE (Bristol)

Back to top

Research

Research interests

Sawsan’s current research interests are in interdisciplinary research processes and science communication. The main purpose is to find more effective and creative methods of training researchers in more effective cross-disciplinary collaborative practices, and also in how scientific concepts are communicated to the public.

She has a book contract with SAGE Academic Publishing to co-author a book on interdisciplnary research methods with Dr Tamsin Kilner, Senior Lecturer in Education Practice at the University of Exeter. 

Back to top

Publications

Back to top

Teaching

Guest lecturer on CSC1004 and CSC2009

Academic Tutor for Medical Science students

Academic Lead for Medical Sciences with Study Abroad programme

Modules

2023/24

• CSC2004 - Medical Genetics
• CSC3032 - Medical Sciences Study Abroad

Back to top

Office Hours:

Please email for an appointment.

Back to top