Materials Horizons Emerging Investigator Series: Dr Dana Alsulaiman, KAUST, Saudi Arabia
Abstract
Our Emerging Investigator Series features exceptional work by early-career researchers working in the field of materials science.
Dana Alsulaiman is an assistant professor of material science and bioengineering at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and the Principal Investigator of the BioMAD Lab, which focuses on developing biomaterials and next-generation technologies for minimally-invasive disease diagnosis and personalized medicine. Her research includes advancements in encoded hydrogel microparticles, smart microneedles, as well as optical and electrochemical point-of-care biosensors, all of which exploit materials to achieve superior performance. Dr Alsulaiman completed her undergraduate and Master’s degrees in biomedical engineering at Imperial College London in 2015 and was then granted the prestigious President’s PhD Scholarship to support her doctoral studies. In 2019, she moved to the USA to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship in the Chemical Engineering Department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Throughout her academic career, she has received many prominent awards including the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) Healthcare Technologies Award (2019), the MIT Innovator’s Under 35 Award (2021), and most recently the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Young Talent Award (2023). Her translational efforts have also received international recognition, earning her a top spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 List (MENA) in 2023. Outside of academia, Dr Alsulaiman strives to promote youth in STEM and foster international collaborations through her involvement in outreach programs, renowned youth forums, and international symposiums, most notably co-chairing the Precision Medicine session at the 2023 Arab-American Frontiers Symposium.
Read Dana Alsulaiman’s Emerging Investigator Series article ‘Peptide nucleic acid-clicked Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene for ultrasensitive enzyme-free electrochemical detection of microRNA biomarkers’ ( https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MH00714J ) and read more about her in the interview below:
MH: Your recent Materials Horizons Communication reports engineering and synthesis of peptide nucleic acid-functionalised Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene nanosheets for ultrasensitive enzyme-free electrochemical detection of microRNA biomarkers. How has your research evolved from your first article to this most recent article and where do you see your research going in future?
DA: Ever since my graduate studies, my research has focused on leveraging materials to develop cutting-edge platforms and approaches for the detection of circulating liquid biopsy biomarkers of disease, with a focus on microRNA. I initially concentrated on designing and optimizing materials, mainly hydrogels, to overcome limitations of biosensors. However, as I gained independence as a principal investigator, I shifted my approach and evolved to adopt a more materials-centric perspective: I now begin by exploring the intrinsic properties of materials (including 2D nanomaterials) and by asking how they could be rationally engineered or tailored to enhance a biosensor’s analytical performance, stability, and translational potential. I believe this shift in approach can open up more avenues for creativity and more opportunities to discover new phenomena and capabilities to revolutionize disease diagnostics and personalized health.
MH: What aspect of your work are you most excited about at the moment?
DA: I’m incredibly excited about the recent Nobel Prize announcement in Physiology or Medicine, which highlights the importance and immense potential of microRNA research, especially since my lab’s research aligns perfectly with this field. I’m also looking forward to integrating machine learning and artificial intelligence into my projects, and continuing to bridge the gap between material science and bioengineering to drive further advancements in next-generation biosensors. Another aspect of my work I’m excited about is exploring the realm of smart and stimuli-responsive materials to push the frontiers of my field.
MH: In your opinion, what are the most important questions to be asked/answered in this field of research?
DA: One of the most intriguing and critical questions to explore in this field is the complex interface between biological samples (whether that’s a biofluid or cells and tissue) and the platform or technology’s material surface. This interface is where fascinating phenomena may arise and these can either enhance or hinder the device’s performance in a significant way. Materials and surface characterization techniques play a key role in elucidating and understanding this interface, and I’m excited to continue using such advanced techniques to answer these critical questions.
MH: What do you find most challenging about your research?
DA: Many of the materials that my lab works on have not been extensively explored in the biomedical or biosensing field. This leaves a landscape of unexplored areas and unanswered questions about the materials’ properties, biocompatibility, stability, and performance with respect to the application of interest. While this presents some challenges, it also opens the door for exciting opportunities and ground-breaking discoveries.
MH: In which upcoming conferences or events may our readers meet you?
DA: You’ll find me at the next Royal Society of Chemistry Biomaterials Chemistry Group Annual Meeting held in Burlington House, London, UK, from Jan 8-10, 2025. I’ll be giving an invited talk about smart polymeric microneedles for non-invasive transdermal drug delivery and biosensing.
MH: How do you spend your spare time?
DA: As much as possible, I love being active and spending time with family and friends. I often spend my spare time playing paddle tennis with friends or challenging my parents and siblings to a game of pickleball. To recharge and reconnect, I also enjoy playing the ukelele and piano.
MH: Can you share one piece of career-related advice or wisdom with other early career scientists?
DA: Cultivating and developing your team of students and researchers is one of the most challenging yet rewarding aspects of your journey as a junior faculty. I also advise early-career scientists to believe in themselves and their research, to step out of their comfort zone, and to explore unconventional ideas. For me, it was the interface between materials science and bioengineering that sparked my interest and enabled me to think creatively and differently.
| This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2025 |