Najia Al-Zanbagi is the deputy director of the Nanotechnology Center in King Abdulaziz University. A professor of parasitology and one of the top researchers around the world, she is the first Saudi female to hold such a prestigious and high-ranking position. Al-Riyadh daily sat down with Al-Zanbagi to talk about her achievements and future goals. Al-Zanbagi's research papers have contributed largely to finding treatment to several parasitic diseases such as bilharzia, lice, malaria toxoplasma and many others. She has registered two patents and is working on another four and expects them to be registered soon. "Saudi women are lucky because they grow up in a family atmosphere that takes care of them and pushes them to excel. Any woman who sets her mind to something will make it happen, especially if her parents help like mine did and continue to do," she said. Of the people who have influenced Al-Zanbagi is her father who continues to give his staunch support for everything she does. Her husband and other members of her family have played different but important roles as well and supported her along the way. Al-Zanbagi's love for biology began when she was in high school. Years later, she specialized in parasitology in graduate school. "I worked hard on my master's thesis and I am proud of the results. My supervisors were happy too. Until today, it continues to be published in various journals," she said. Her PhD dissertation focused on ways to fight bilharziasis infections in the Kingdom through the use of Saudi plant extracts. She defended the dissertation in Aberystwyth University, Wales, and won the respect and admiration of the panel members. Today, the dissertation has become a global reference guide, helping those who want to fight such infections and is available on amazon.com. Al-Zanbagi has so far been given 42 gold, silver and bronze medals from different countries for her participation in global innovation and invention exhibitions. "These successes have made me pay more attention to talented students and help them develop their creative ideas and make them a reality. I also walk them through the procedures of registering a patent because I feel like it is my duty to lend them a hand and make them excel," she said. The culmination of her success was when she was appointed as the deputy director of the Nanotechnology Center in King Abdulaziz University. The center is the largest and the most significant in the Middle East because it has advanced equipment. "I am honored to be the first female professor to hold this position. I have learned a lot and still continue to do so," she said.
