Dedicated, Driven, Inspiring

"Saber is an exceptional researcher. Joining The University of Queensland in 2021 as an international PhD student, Saber faced a one-year delay in starting his candidature due to Australia's COVID-19-related border closures. Despite these challenges, Saber demonstrated an unwavering commitment to science, joining our lab meetings remotely at 4am his local time and even contributing to a review, all while not yet officially part of the lab. Throughout his 3.5-year PhD, Saber has achieved remarkable milestones. He is a co-first author on a paper in The EMBO Journal and the first author on papers currently under review with Nature Metabolism and Nature Communications. These are outstanding accomplishments, reflecting his hard work and dedication. His research has revealed novel insights into fundamental biological question of how the brain lipid metabolism supports brain function, and how these lipid functions are hijacked by viruses. Saber PhD thesis was nominated for The University of Queensland’s Dean’s Award for Outstanding Higher Degree by Research. Saber has approached his research with unparalleled commitment, relentless drive, and an eagerness to build his research skills and knowledge. He has demonstrated a maturity beyond his current academic stage, showcasing his ability to push boundaries and advance his field. Supervising him has been a privilege. His genuine enthusiasm extends not only to his specific research field but to science as a whole, making him a truly inspiring individual. He is driven to help others, to share his knowledge and skills, and he leads by example as a true embodiment of a "Lab Hero”, and would therefore be well-deserving recipient of this award."

Nominated by Merja Joensuu, Joensuu Group, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology / The University of Queensland, Australia