Ashraq AlFaraj's PhD journey tested her in every way possible - during her six and a half years at the University she got married, had two children and dealt with the stress of a seriously ill baby during a global pandemic.
But she says her difficult path to success has shaped her as a person and that she will ‘always look back on it with strength and gratitude’.
Ashraq first came to Aberdeen in 2017, attracted by the institution’s strong reputation in geological sciences and supported by a scholarship from the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research to study for a PhD in Petroleum Geology/Geochemistry.
She said: “When I began my academic journey at the University of Aberdeen, life brought me two incredible blessings — I got married and welcomed my first baby while studying abroad. It was a beautiful milestone that brightened my path, but as an international student, it was far from easy. “In my second year, my daughter was diagnosed with a heart condition and underwent open-heart surgery — a deeply emotional and challenging time. Shortly after, the world was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, and like many others, I faced additional stress from my sponsor, ongoing medical concerns, and the uncertainties of global disruption. “Despite all of this, I received valuable guidance from the University, and the support of my family and friends helped me carry on. I am incredibly proud that I didn’t give up.”
Ashraq further credits her success to her supervisors, Professor John Parnell and Dr Stephen Bowden, who she says provided ‘not only deep scientific knowledge but also unwavering support’.
“I highly recommend the University of Aberdeen for anyone considering advanced studies in geochemistry. The experience shaped me both academically and personally, and I’m truly grateful for it,” she added.
“Graduating is more than just an academic achievement — it is a deeply emotional milestone. I feel a profound sense of relief and pride knowing that I made it through some of the toughest years of my life. “In my final year, after enduring years of medical challenges, I was blessed with my second baby girl — a beautiful addition to my growing family. Despite all the hardships, I earned my degree and witnessed my family blossom at the same time.”
As well as juggling busy family life and her academic studies, Ashraq found the time to give back to the Aberdeen community that welcomed her, volunteering with groups that support mothers of children with Down syndrome, both in the city and back home in Kuwait.
Now working at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), she looks back with fondness on her time in the Granite City – not least because it provided her with her first ever experience of snow.
But she is now committed to continuing to develop her scientific and research skills to give back to Kuwait, which supported her academic journey through a scholarship.
She said: “I carry a deep sense of gratitude and responsibility to contribute meaningfully to Kuwait’s scientific and research community and I want to contribute to the advancement of research infrastructure at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR). I am especially committed to enhancing laboratory capabilities and promoting scientific excellence within the institute.”