OUR TEAM

Latifat Abdulsalam

Latifat Abdulsalam

Hello! I’m Latifat, A masters student in Life sciences with an interest in microbiology and molecular biology. I’m a member of wetlab team. I am fascinated at how microbes, though invisible to the naked eye, have a profound impact on human health and other real world applications. Beyond iGEM, I have a natural curiosity and love for discovering new things, whether it’s learning about unfamiliar topics or travelling to new places.

Team Lead, Wet and Dry Lab, Human Practices
Amjad Alshammari

Amjad Alshammari

Hello everyone, I'm Amjad! I am currently pursuing a Master's degree in Life Sciences at KFUPM. With a background in Biology, particularly Microbiology, my research interests focus on biotechnology and its practical applications. I am a member of the dry lab, and wet lab teams. My passion lies in applying engineering principles to design and construct novel biological systems, with a particular focus on addressing global challenges such as antibiotic resistance.

Wet and Dry Lab & Human Practices
Jood Faqera

Jood Faqera

Hello! I’m Jood, a junior student in Software Engineering in KFUPM. I joined the IGEM team as a wiki developer. My interests are in web and application development, and I aspire to create my own app soon. I also love learning new things, whether in programming or outside of it, and I find the competition field very intriguing.

Wiki Developer Lead
Btoul Alkhalil

Btoul Alkhalil

Hello!, I am Btoul. I am currently studying Bioengineering at KFUPM and my main contribution to our iGEM team was in media force and wet lab. As you can tell, I am so into the media and pr field but also love exploring new aspects of my field, especially Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering! I am a tennis player, a coffee addict, a photographer, and a public speaker.

Public Relations, Marketing & Social Media Management
Abeer Alloush

Abeer Alloush

Hi! I’m Abeer, a sophomore bioengineering student at KFUPM. In the iGEM team, I’m actively involved in both the media force and wet lab. Outside of iGEM, I spend most of my time studying, and whenever I get the chance, I enjoy watching movies, cooking, and reading. I also love trying new activities and playing table tennis. Being part of the iGEM team has been an incredible opportunity to develop my skills and explore innovative ideas.

Graphic Designer, Marketing & Social Media Management
Rimas Alqahtani

Rimas Alqahtani

Hello! I’m Rimas, currently a sophomore bioengineering student at KFUPM. On our iGEM team, I’m contributing to both the media team and the wet lab, where I get to explore both the creative and scientific sides of our project. In my free time, I enjoy reading, crafting miniatures, and designing fashion. I’m deeply interested in biology, art, and computer science, and being part of this team has given me a unique platform to combine these passions.

Graphic Designer, Marketing & Social Media Management
Amal Khalil Abuhalabia

Amal Khalil Abuhalabia

Hello!, I’m Amal, a bioengineering student at KFUPM, and I’m thrilled to be part of our university’s iGEM team this year! On the team, I play a key role in the media force as well as the wet lab. Outside of the lab, I’m passionate about art and particularly enjoy sketching. I also like to volunteer and get involved in extracurriculars whenever I can. I’m eager to blend my creative and scientific background to the iGem team this year!

Graphic designer & Social Media Management

Dr. Amjad Bajes Khalil · PI

Dr. Amjad B. Khalil received his B.Sc. in Biology from College of Science and Technology, Al-Quds University in Palestine; his M.S and Ph.D. from Illinois Institute of Technology in 1994 where he worked on the Biodegradation (Microbial and Molecular Biology) of toxic materials. In 1994-1995, he did his postdoctoral research studying Molecular Biology and Microbiology on Thermophilic Bacteria, at Thermogen Inc. - Chicago, Illinois. He studied Microbiology and Molecular biology of Thermo-Stable proteins produced by Thermophilic Bacteria. Dr. Khalil joined KFUPM in 2006 where he is working on the Biotechnology and Bioengineering programs. Dr. Khalil conducting research in the area of Thermophilic bacteria isolated from hot springs in Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Dr. Khalil has over 60 publications, 4 patents, 2 books and 5 book chapters in the area of microbial Biotechnology. Dr. Khalil’s areas of research: Isolation and characterization of antimicrobial peptide from thermophiles, Optimization of Calcium Carbonate Precipitation During Enzyme Induced Calcite Precipitation (EICP)- Urease, Biodegradation of synthetic plastics towards a more sustainable plastics industry, Bio-applications of Metal organic framework.

Dr. Yaqub Mahnashi · PI

Dr. Mahnashi is working as an Assistant Professor in the Electrical Enginnering Department at KFUPM. He received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, in 2008 and 2012, respectively, and the Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA, in 2018. From 2008 to 2009, he was with Saudi Basic Industrial Corp. (SABIC), Jubail, Saudi Arabia, as an Instrumentation and Control Design Engineer. He received SABIC Scholarship in 2007 and Discovery Scholarship from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in 2009. Since 2009, he has been with KFUPM, where he is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering. His main fields of interest are switched-capacitor circuits, IC power converters, filter design and low power circuits for biomedical and energy harvesting applications.

Ms. Nawal AlShahrany · Advisor

Our faculty advisor, Ms. Nawal Alshahrany holds a BSc in Biomedical Science from Cardiff Metropolitan University, United Kingdom, and an MSc in Cancer Biology and Therapeutics from Cardiff University, United Kingdom. Before joining KFUPM, she worked as a clinical laboratory specialist as well as a research assistant in a genomic and molecular research laboratory. Ms. Alshahrany's primary scientific interest centers around the development of personalized, molecular therapeutic approaches for cancer. She is particularly fascinated by the potential of immunotherapies, such as oncolytic viruses (OVs) and cancer vaccines, to elicit robust immune responses against tumor immune evasion and enhance the effectiveness of cancer treatments.