A graduate of the Department of Physical Sciences at LAU’s School of Arts and Sciences (SoAS), Khadija AlAbed Allah (BS ’25) was always the picture of a model student: passionate, driven, and diligent. 

These exceptional qualities helped her earn the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Scholarship, funded by the U.S. Department of State, when she first joined LAU. Now, she has been awarded the prestigious France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship, which allows her to pursue a master’s degree in Lille.

This highly competitive scholarship typically receives up to 5,000 applicants per year, out of which only about 300 are selected. A fully funded program, it was established by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to attract top international students in priority fields.

AlAbed Allah stands proudly among those select few. For this first-generation university student from Syria and Lebanon, receiving one of France’s most esteemed international scholarships is “a powerful reminder that talent and ambition are not defined by geography or circumstances.”  She hopes this achievement will serve as an example of how perseverance and the support of mentors, family, friends, and educational programs can help young dreamers reach their full potential.

The scholarship, she said, represents the culmination of a long journey that started way back in middle school, when she first became “fascinated by the idea that everything around us is governed by interactions occurring on an incredibly small scale.”

That fascination soon grew into a passion for chemistry, and she eventually enrolled in LAU’s Chemistry Program with the support of MEPI. Thriving in an academic environment that encouraged curiosity and critical thinking, she took an active role in research, particularly in materials chemistry and molecular design.

Throughout her undergraduate studies, she sought opportunities to “engage with chemistry beyond the classroom,” she said, becoming involved in Chemistry Club events at LAU, attending the AUB ChemCarnival, participating in American Chemical Society (ACS) activities aimed at high-school students, completing online certification courses, and presenting projects during LAU Research Day.

It is that same spirit that pushed her to explore further horizons in her field after graduating from LAU in 2005. Ever eager for a chance to develop her skills, she reached out to Assistant Professor of Chemistry Ali Yassin, who offered her an internship at the university’s Materials Science Lab.

There, she contributed to research focused on the synthesis and characterization of molecules with potential anticorrosion applications under the supervision of her former professor.

“Dr. Yassin’s laboratory taught me that science is not simply about finding answers,” she said. “It is about asking better questions, designing experiments carefully, and learning from both successes and failures.”

The future looks bright for the young AlAbed Allah. She has high hopes for her master’s program in France, where she plans to develop expertise in materials chemistry, modelling, and advanced characterization techniques before pursuing a PhD. She aims, eventually, to “contribute to scientific innovation in sustainability, energy, and green chemistry on a global scale.”

Commenting on AlAbed Allah’s achievement, Dr. Yassin praised her “dedication and academic excellence,” adding that he takes great pride in seeing one of his students “successfully competing and representing the school’s chemistry program on the international stage.”