As Jumana Baghabra was preparing to graduate from Effat University in Jeddah, she saw two paths: one being to join the workforce, and two going on to complete a graduate degree. Her interest in computer science and desire to continue to learn led her to apply to KAUST and pursue her masters.

“I joined KAUST and entered a new world of friends and research topics,” said Baghabra. “I had the opportunity to explore fields outside of my own and bring my computer science experience to the very interesting topic of neuroscience with Professor Pierre Magistretti’s EPFL Blue Brain Project Alliance. Our lab’s aim was to better understand the nature of the relationships between structures in the brain using visualization and data analysis techniques. We created reconstructions of microscopic images and used these to create 3D models of the brain tissue in question, and then we also projected this using KAUST’s VR CAVE.”

Specifically, Baghabra’s research topic was investigating subcellular astrocyte structures and glycogen granules to answer the question of how the brain gets its energy and how that mechanism correlates with synapses.

“I became very interested in neuroscience,” said Baghabra. “And reconstructing the brain through VR is a really nice experience and a way to get perspective on what these cells and chemical signals actually look like. Once you put on the glasses, you are able to step into the microscopic world of the brain.”

KAUST Career Fair – an introduction to multiple career paths

When she got close to finishing her masters at KAUST, Baghabra was faced with multiple options again, presented to her at the career fair KAUST hosts for soon-to-be graduates.

“The career fair introduced me to so many different paths I could take after graduation,” said Baghabra. “I knew that even if I didn’t get an offer from any of the companies at the fair, I was benefitting simply by imagining the many places I could work and make an impact. The dreaded question I could never answer, however, was ‘where do you see yourself in five years?’”

Baghabra started as a Business Development Officer in the Siemens Graduate Program, a two-year international leadership development program. From there, she moved up in the company and then recently transferred to a role in Digital Policy for the Saudi Arabian government.

“Joining the government sector was a big shift in many ways,” said Baghabra. “For example, something as simple as writing emails in Arabic, my native language, was a challenge as I had been operating in English for the last seven years.”

Solving Real World Problems

Baghabra is now tackling some of the larger questions that are important when introducing and creating new technologies to solve real-world problems.

“I love that in my current job, I sit at the intersection of technology, research and people,” said Baghabra. “I spend a lot of time thinking about the impact technology has on people. In our current culture, we have a fairly positive attitude towards technology, but it is also important to understand when technology may not be the core answer to a problem.”

 Baghabra’s current job is in Riyadh, however she stays well connected to KAUST.

“KAUST was a major contributor to my self-development,” said Baghabra. “I made good friends there and still stay in contact with them. In fact, I have had multiple encounters with KAUST alumni abroad and in Riyadh, I am always finding new people in the KAUST network.”

Advice to Graduating Students

Baghabra remembers how scary it can be when making the transition from student life to the job market and shares some insight she has realized since graduating. “It’s okay if it takes a few tries to get the job you want,” she said. “Keep an open mind though, pursue opportunities and don’t have too many expectations because something you never would have thought of might land in your lap and be a perfect fit for you. Because KAUST provides an exploratory environment and diverse network, you will always have support and people to reach out to when you need help".

Jumana Baghabra  (MS '14) by Melissa Pappas