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Assistant
Professor Sonia Nasr of the Biology Department was among ten women to
receive a major fellowship award in Paris on January 10.
Jointly sponsored by UNESCO and the cosmetic company L'Oreal, the
competition was open to women scientists worldwide. After a long selection
process that resulted in two candidates from each country, the winners
were chosen by an international committee of academics chaired by Professor
Christian René DeDuve, 1974 Nobel Prize winner in medicine.
Dr.
Nasr's fellowship award includes $10,000 to conver personal expenses during
her year of research at a host institute of her choice. Opting for Purdue
University, her alma mater, she plans to continue her research in Molecular
Biology starting next semester.
In
her work on the regulation of gene expression during development, Nasr's
aim is to conduct basic research into the structure of DNA and to determine
how structure affects the gene's activity. By studying newly discovered
ovarian genes, she hopes to add to the understanding of female infertility.
Sonia
Nasr graduated from Lebanese University with a BS degree and a Master's
equivalent. Pursuing graduate work at Purdue University in Indiana, she
obtained her Master's degree in Microbiology, and in 1995, her PhD in
Molecular Biology.
In
1996 she joined AUB, where she taught graduate and undergraduate courses
in Molecular Biology, Development Biology, Biology of AIDS, Reproduction,
Biotechnology and Molecular Genetics, among others. She has also been
active in departmental research projects, most related to medicine, where
it is easier to attract financing.
One
such project, led by Dr. Michel Nasser of the Department of Physiology,
is investigating cardiac hypertrophy (enlargement of the heart). Dr. Nasr
is also the principal investigator in an interinstitutional project on
the molecular basis of polycystic ovary syndrome, the most common cause
of infertility among women of reproductive age.
Discussing
conditions for research at AUB, Professor Nasr has some complaints tempered
by recognition that positive changes are undereway.
"Laboratories
have improved substantially during the four years I've been here,"
Nasr says. On the other hand, obtaining chemicals, which are purchased
at high international prices, plus up to 60% added shipping, customs and
other charges, makes research difficult. Not only are chemicals expensive,
they can take up to a year to arrive. "But this too is slowly improving,"
adds Nasr.
She
observes that most hindrances to research at AUB are due to lack o funds.
A research assistant receives only about $300a month with no health benefits.
As a result, as soon as an assistant is trained on the job he or she leaves
for a better paid position. "This means lack of continuity over the
life of the project, as well as extra time spent training a series of
new assistants," she explained.
Granted
a year's leave of absence from AUB to take advantage of her fellowship,
Sonia Nasr says she feels privileged to have been chosen for the award.
She hopes that research conditions in Lebanon improve so that the country's
scientific work will continue to be recognized internationally.
College
Hall Fundraisers Begin
Scholarship Campaign
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| Left
to right: Lebanese Press Syndicate Chairman Mohammad Baalbaki, President
John Waterbury, Ambassador Nadim Dimechkieh. |
On
February 4, President John Waterbury announced that the College Hall Fundraising
Committee would now turn its attention to fundraising for scholarships
and financial aid. "Over many years, the members of this committee
devoted themselves to fundraising for the reconstruction of College Hall,"
Dr. Waterbury said. "Now these good people have turned from bricks
and mortar to the very essence of the University - its students."
Headed
by Nadim Dimechkieh, alumnus and former Lebanese Ambassador to Washington,
the 23-member Scholarship and Financial Aid Fundraising Comittee will
now work to help young people continue their higher education.
Explaining
the urgent need for more funds, Dr. Waterbury said that over a quarter
of AUB's students receive substantial financial aid, but that this is
not enough. "The 4.6 million the University now spends must double
within a few years and then continue to grow," he said.
AUB's
scholarships and financial aid go to needy and deserving students, who
are required to maintain a good academic average. Aid varies from 30 to
80% and is calculated according to each student's circumstances.
"The
campaign that my friends on the Scholarship and Financial Aid Fundraising
Committee are launching... will help us move forward to the day
Research
Grants for FHS
The
population council recently awarded Dead Huda Zurayk an additional $18,700
in support of the FHS project on reproductive Health. The Council also
approved extension of the the current grant until December 31, 2000. The
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation approved a $75,000 appropriation in supportr
of FHS's Population and Reproductive Health Program effective January
2000. The amount supplements the $225,000 Mellon award, which was granted
to start the program in January 1998.
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