Alya Masoud Abdelhafid (PhD Student in the MotorNeuroPathobiology Laboratory, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology) is an associate nutritionist and is currently reading her PhD in Neuroscience, focussing on recovering axonal transport in Motor Neuron Disease.
Alongside her research, she is Director at iGEM Startups, a community for bio-entrepeneurs in synthetic biology. Similarly, she works with Nucleate UK as Director of their Activator Programme, supporting academic trainees towards company formation.
‘It’s an honour to be nominated, alongside inspiring nominees, for the Women in Neuroscience UK Rising Star of the Year award sponsored by the British Neuroscience Association (BNA) ! I am grateful for all the support of my lab, friends and family - without them this wouldn’t have been possible. I would also like to thank the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association for supporting my PhD research.’
The WiNUK (Women in Neuroscience UK) Awards celebrate achievements in neuroscience with a focus on promoting gender equity and diversity. These awards honor female-identifying leaders, rising stars, and contributors of any gender who advance inclusivity in neuroscience through mentorship, advocacy, and impactful research. The Rising Star (Postgraduate) Award specifically recognises postgraduate researchers who demonstrate exceptional promise in neuroscience. This award highlights innovative contributions and fosters visibility for individuals making a significant impact early in their careers.