Bashayer Aldakkan - recently announced as a Global Awards Finalist from the Institution of Chemical Engineers

Congratualtions to Bashayer on recently being announced as a Global Awards Finalist from the Institution of Chemical Engineers!  Bashayer tells us more about that, her work, and her time at Cornell below.

I earned my BSc degree in chemical engineering and economics from Penn State University and my MSc in Materials Science and Engineering from Cornell University. Prior to my graduate studies, I worked as a research engineer at Saudi Aramco Upstream Research Center (EXPEC Advanced Research Center).The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) Global Awards 2021 - Young Industrialist category recognizes candidates globally that demonstrate significant achievements and implement engineering skills to address technical, economical, environmental and social challenges. During my industrial experience, I co-invented a stimulation technology, (Low-Viscosity Acid System, LVAS), which was deployed successfully in several carbonate reservoirs with enhanced pumping efficiency compared to alternative emulsified systems and the technology received local and international recognition, recently shortlisted Best Oilfield Fluid & Chemical Global Award 2020 by WorldOil. My MSc thesis in professor Giannelis group resulted in the development of a stimuli-responsive, multifunctional nanoparticle design that is capable of releasing surfactants, acid and foam in-situ with potential utilization in oil spill remediation and oil recovery and was recently published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces journal. In addition to the research activities, I was involved in multiple student and professional organizations for industrial outreach. I led the event planning & coordination team of technical programs at the Society of Petroleum Engineers-Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's section (SPE-KSA) section for 3 years, where we facilitated technical discussions between governmental, industrial, and academic entities to address the technical and diversity issues in the petroleum industry. At Cornell, I was the corporate co-chair at Cornell Graduate Society of Women Engineers (GradSWE), coordinating with industry representatives to secure funding and facilitate networking opportunities for women in STEM. I was also selected for the GE "Dare to Lead" career leadership program and worked on a GE-sponsored project that was recently highlighted in the Cornell College of Engineering - DPE Corporate Awards 2021.  In addition, I was shortlisted as a finalist for three additional awards;  ADIPEC 2021 awards as "Young Technical Professional of the Year'', IChemE 2020 Global Awards as "Young Industrialist" and EGYPS Global Equality in Energy 2021 Awards as a "STEM Star of the Year" Finalist.

What inspired you to choose your field of study?

Through my industrial experience in R&D and field exposure, I knew I wanted to pursue graduate studies in MSE to strengthen my technical knowledge in soft matter while understanding fundamentals of materials structure to achieve the desired macroscopic properties for technology development.

Why did you choose Cornell?

Cornell's MSE program is one of the highly ranked programs globally with access to world renowned faculty and I also found a research group that aligns with my research interests with focus on polymer design and nanotechnology for industrial applications. 

What hobbies do you have in your spare time?

I enjoy being outdoors running/hiking, the Taughannock falls and Watkins Glen gorge hiking trails are my favorite. I also enjoy crocheting, which I recently discovered during the pandemic. 

Do you have any advice for incoming Engineering students?

Be open to new opportunities/adventures. You'll discover something new about yourself that will help you grow personally and professionally. 

What is next for you?

I am currently continuing into the PhD program in Professor Giannelis research group.