Youth STEM Matters International Advisory Group

Prof. Rana Dajani

Professor of Molecular Cell Biology, Hashemite University, President of Society for Advancement of Science and Technology in the Arab World, USA | Jordan

Rana is a Professor of molecular cell biology at The Hashemite University and a visiting professor at the universities of Harvard, Yale and Cambridge. She studies the genetics of ethnic populations in Jordan and the epigenetics of trauma across generations. Rana established stem cell research law in Jordan and a global women mentoring network. She was recognised amongst the most influential women scientists in Islamic World and is the President of the Society for the Advancement of Science, Technology and Innovation in the Arab World. Rana is the Founder “We Love Reading”, and through this work is changing mindsets by using reading to create changemakers. She has received several accolades including: UNESCO International Literacy Prize, Jacobs social entrepreneurship award, Science, Technology and Innovation Award UN, Ashoka Fellow and the UNHCR Nansen Refugee award.

Dr Robert A. Spooner

Lecturer, School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick | UK

Dr Robert Spooner’s major scientific interest is in mammalian Cell Biology. He obtained his PhD in 1984 from the University of Bristol in mitochondrial genetics. Following post-doctoral work at Birmingham and University of Umeå working on the genetic regulation of TOL plasmids, he became a post-doctoral scientist at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, where he designed and built recombinant antibody-ricin immunotoxins. This was followed by a further 5 years at the ICRF and 6 years at the Cancer Research Campaign Laboratories, designing two-step cancer targeting strategies and enzyme-prodrug therapies. He returned to Warwick University in 2001, where he has researched the use of protein toxins from bacteria and plants. He became interested in what happens to the A chains of these proteins when they enter the cytosol of a mammalian cell. This led to molecular dissections of the ER dislocon and an examination of chaperone and proteasome interactions within the cytosol.

Sicelo Dube - The STEMLady

Director of Elevate Trust and LEC Biotec | Zimbabwe

Sicelo Dube is a passionate young leader championing the science, technology engineering and maths (STEM) fields. Known as “the STEM Lady”, she has contributed towards the advancement of education, innovation and entrepreneurship as well as Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education, with a bias toward inspiring the girl child to take up STEM careers. She is the Zimbabwe Science Ambassador under the Next Einstein Forum and an active advocate for youth in STEM, innovation and entrepreneurship. Sicelo is the founder of several start-ups which include: LEC Biotec, Cleanbox, APlus and Elevate Trust, all of which seek to bridge the gap between science and local entrepreneurial opportunities for the youth as well as a youth empowerment foundation for STEM students, “taking science to the community”. She also doubles up as a STEM entrepreneurial coach and girl leadership in STEM motivational speaker for girls. Sicelo holds an MBA, MSc in Applied Microbiology & Biotechnology, a BSc in Biological Science and Biochemistry and has certificates in entrepreneurship and community development.

Dr Suze Kundu

Head of Public Engagement at Digital Science | UK

Suze is a nanochemist who is fascinated about breaking down the building blocks of life into its fundamental components, and building them back up again, better than before – luckily science has enabled her to turn this destructive curiosity into a career. She has a BSc in Chemistry, a MSc in Analytical Chemistry and a PhD in Materials Chemistry from University College London. A passionate educator, she has also studied for a PGCE in Senior School Science, and an MEd in University Learning and Teaching while teaching at Imperial College London. After six years lecturing in the Department of Materials at Imperial College London and at the University of Surrey’s Chemical and Process Engineering Department, she is now the Head of Public Engagement at the technology company Digital Science, where she continues to research interesting topics within chemistry and materials science, but also the wider research landscape.

Suze is a cheerleader for greater diversity in science, and is also an experienced science communicator, delivering live shows and demo lectures, as a science presenter on the Discovery Channel, and as a science writer for Forbes.

Prof. Salome Maswime

Head of Global Surgery, University of Cape Town | South Africa

Salome Maswime is an associate Professor and the Head of the Global Surgery Division at the University of Cape Town; an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist; a World Economic Forum Young Scientist; Next Einstein Fellow; and President of the South African Clinician Scientists Society. She is a former research fellow at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and former lecturer at the Wits University. She is a trustee of the South African Health Systems Trust, and associate editor of the South African Journal of Obstetics and Gynaecology; and a member of UNITARs’ Global Surgery Foundation leadership team.

Adam Khan-Qureshi

Youth STEM Matters Co-Founder & Inaugural Editor-in-Chief | UK

Adam has been involved in the development of Youth STEM Matters since its earliest stages, and was (until December 2021) its inaugural Editor-in-Chief. He is a Biochemistry student at the University of Warwick (currently on placement at AstraZeneca), and is passionate about utilising his editorial experience to provide young people a voice within the scientific community. Adam is particularly interested in structural biochemistry, immunology, and protein trafficking. Outside the lab, he enjoys a games night with friends and watching Marvel films.