Dr. Wedam Mohammad Alghazzawi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. With a distinguished academic journey spanning nearly two decades at KAU, she has established herself as a dedicated researcher in nanobiotechnology, electrochemical sensors, and molecular genetics. Her career progression from Teaching Assistant (2007) to Lecturer (2010) and Assistant Professor (2021) reflects sustained academic excellence and commitment to advancing biochemical sciences in Saudi Arabia.

Online Profiles Overview

Dr. Alghazzawi maintains active scholarly presence across multiple international research platforms. Her ORCID ID (0000-0003-1443-5059), Web of Science Researcher ID (AAW-3165-2020), and Scopus Author ID (57217167636) facilitate global research collaboration and visibility. maintains her academic homepage at http://walghazzwi.kau.edu.sa/.

Educational Background Summary

Dr. Alghazzawi earned her Ph.D. in Nanobiotechnology from King Abdulaziz University in June 2020 with a perfect GPA of 5/5, following her M.Sc. in Genetics (2009) and B.Sc. in Biochemistry (2004) from the same institution. Her academic achievements are distinguished by a Postgraduate Certificate in Nanotechnology from Oxford University, UK (March 2019), where she received a Distinction Award. This exceptional educational foundation combines local expertise with international training in cutting-edge nanotechnology applications.

Primary Research Focus

Dr. Alghazzawi’s research interests center on three interconnected areas: synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials, development of electrochemical sensors for biomedical applications, and molecular genetics. Her work particularly emphasizes the application of nanotechnology in healthcare diagnostics, with notable contributions to glucose detection systems and antibacterial nanostructured materials. This multidisciplinary approach bridges chemistry, materials science, and clinical applications.

Professional Experience Highlights

Since January 2021, Dr. Alghazzawi has served as Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at King Abdulaziz University. Her teaching portfolio encompasses diverse undergraduate courses including computer applications in biochemistry, physical biochemistry, biochemistry of nutrition, and medical terminology, alongside supervision of numerous laboratory courses. She also teaches postgraduate courses in computer applications in biochemistry. Beyond teaching, she has held significant administrative roles including Head of Student Activities Unit (Faculty of Science, 2022-present) and Chairperson of Information Technology in the Department of Biochemistry (2020-present), demonstrating strong leadership in academic administration.

Research Timeline Activities

Dr. Alghazzawi’s research journey has been marked by continuous professional development and scholarly engagement. Between 2011 and 2020, she secured research grants from King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (Master’s project, 2011) and the Deanship of Scientific Research at KAU (PhD project, 2020). Her research activities include participation in international conferences, notably the Nanomedicine and Drug Delivery conference in London (2019) where she delivered an oral presentation, and the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting (2022). She has supervised multiple undergraduate research projects and established the Journal Club at the Biochemistry department in 2016, fostering research culture among students and faculty.

Awards Honors Achievements

Dr. Alghazzawi’s academic excellence has been recognized through multiple prestigious awards. She received the Distinction Award for her Postgraduate Certificate in Nanotechnology from Oxford University (2019). In 2018, the Biochemistry Club under her leadership won the Afaq competition for achieving the highest percentage among student clubs at KAU. Earlier in her career, she received the Creative Certificate in website design and secured fourth position nationally in the Saudi Arabia Computer Skills Competition (2007), along with the Scientific Excellence Award for her B.Sc. degree in Biochemistry (2002-2003). She also achieved first place in the 7th Health Walk Initiative at KAU (2017).

Top Noted Publication

Dr. Alghazzawi’s most impactful publication is her 2020 paper titled “Rapid microwave-assisted hydrothermal green synthesis of rGO/NiO nanocomposite for glucose detection in diabetes,” published in Synthetic Metals (Elsevier), volume 267, pages 1-10. This work received Scientific Publishing Awards from the Deanship of Scientific Research at KAU in 2020, recognizing its significant contribution to developing eco-friendly, efficient glucose detection systems for diabetes management using innovative nanomaterial synthesis techniques.

Research Publications Summary

Dr. Alghazzawi has authored three peer-reviewed journal articles and one book chapter. Her most recent publication (2025) on “Antibacterial activity of promising nanostructured cesium oxide” appeared in Discover Nano (Springer), volume 20, page 140. She contributed a chapter titled “Graphene-based Nanocomposites for Sensing” to the Royal Society of Chemistry’s 2023 book on graphene-based nanocomposite sensors. Her earlier work includes research on DNA repair gene polymorphisms and colon cancer risk in Saudi patients, published in the International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences (2011).

Research Impact Significance

Dr. Alghazzawi’s research demonstrates significant impact through its focus on addressing critical healthcare challenges, particularly diabetes detection and antimicrobial applications. Her pioneering work on green synthesis of nanomaterials represents an environmentally sustainable approach to developing diagnostic tools. The recognition of her glucose detection research with scientific publishing awards underscores its potential clinical relevance. Her contributions to understanding graphene-based sensors, published by the prestigious Royal Society of Chemistry, position her work at the forefront of nanomaterial applications in biosensing technology.

Innovation Intellectual Property

 Dr. Alghazzawi’s research embodies innovation through novel synthesis methodologies, particularly her microwave-assisted hydrothermal green synthesis approach for nanocomposites. Her work has participated in innovation-focused initiatives, including organizing the Faculty of Science Inventors and Innovators Competition (2024) and the entrepreneurial researcher program. She has attended multiple workshops on patents and intellectual property, including “Scientific research and patents” (2012), demonstrating awareness of the commercial potential of academic research.

Research Projects Funding

Dr. Alghazzawi has successfully secured competitive research funding from two major sources: King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology for her Master’s thesis project (2011) and the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Abdulaziz University for her Ph.D. thesis project (2020). These grants supported her work on molecular genetics and nanobiotechnology respectively. She has also supervised undergraduate research projects, including award-winning work on caffeine analysis in beverages and its relation to diabetes, which won Best Scientific Poster in the Biochemistry department (2023).

Conference Contributions Summary

Dr. Alghazzawi has actively participated in international scientific conferences, presenting her research across multiple continents. Her contributions include an oral presentation at the Nanomedicine and Drug Delivery conference in London, UK (2019), a conference paper at the IET Conference in China (2025) on reduced graphene oxide/cesium oxide nanocomposites, and a co-authored abstract at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting (2022) focusing on AI-enabled solutions for biodiversity monitoring. She has also attended specialized conferences including the First and Second International Genomic Medicine conferences in Saudi Arabia (2011, 2013).

Academic Excellence Profile

Dr. Alghazzawi’s academic excellence is evidenced by her perfect 5/5 GPA in her Ph.D., the Distinction Award from Oxford University, and her comprehensive professional development through over 80 training courses, workshops, and lectures spanning molecular biology, bioinformatics, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, and pedagogy. Her teaching versatility across 12 different laboratory courses and multiple theoretical courses, combined with her proficiency in website design, computer applications, and multilingual capabilities (fluent English alongside Arabic), demonstrates exceptional academic breadth. Her establishment of the Biochemistry Club (2014-2017, 2020-2023) and Student Activities Unit further illustrates her commitment to holistic academic development.

Societal Industry Contribution

Dr. Alghazzawi has made substantial contributions to society through extensive community service and outreach. She has served as Head of Student Activities Unit (2022-present), creating procedural guides for student activities and establishing programs like the “Science and Computer” initiative (2025) and the “Excellence Award for Distinguished Students” (2023). She trained students in the Mawhiba Academic Enrichment Summer Program for gifted students (2021) and organized health-focused initiatives including the “our community is healthy” program (2025). Her work in establishing the Biochemistry Club and organizing exhibitions, competitions, and volunteer programs demonstrates sustained commitment to science education and public engagement with biochemistry.

Global Recognition Overview

Dr. Alghazzawi’s global recognition is reflected in her international education credentials from Oxford University, her publication in internationally renowned journals (Elsevier, Springer, Royal Society of Chemistry), and her indexed profiles on major research databases (ORCID, Web of Science, Scopus). Her participation in international conferences across Europe (UK), Asia (China), and North America (USA), along with her completion of online courses from prestigious institutions including University of Toronto, Chalmers University of Technology, and University of Tokyo, demonstrates her integration into the global scientific community. Her research on green synthesis methodologies and graphene-based sensors addresses universal healthcare challenges, contributing to international scientific discourse on sustainable nanotechnology applications.