Her Story
About Iman
My journey in healthcare began when I graduated as a pharmacist in 2012. I was raised in a family that valued education highly - my parents and two brothers all pursued advanced degrees in medicine and biotechnology. While I loved medicine, I didn't want to be a physician. Instead, I was drawn to the chemistry of how medicines cure patients, which led me to pharmacy. I spent 10 years working in Dubai in various roles including clinical pharmacist, pharmacy manager, and team leader overseeing 25 pharmacists in the pharmaceutical industry. During that time, I encountered cases of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in neonates at governmental hospitals, and as a mother myself, these cases touched my heart deeply. I felt these children needed more research and better treatment options. In 2022, I made the decision to move my family to the USA to pursue research, because when you think about research, you think about the USA. I joined the University of Alabama at Birmingham as a research scientist, working on finding treatments for bronchopulmonary dysplasia. My mentor and I have achieved good results in basic research on mice, though we're still in the early stages. I completed my Master's degree in Biotechnology in May 2025, a joint program between the Biotechnology Department and Pulmonology. My personal experience as a single mother also shaped my current PhD research, which I began in Fall 2025. When my son was young, he couldn't be properly diagnosed with asthma because available diagnostic devices required children to blow consistently, which young children cannot do. It wasn't until we came to the USA and he was 7 years old that a pulmonologist could properly diagnose and treat him. This experience inspired me to develop a diagnostic device for asthma and primary ciliary dyskinesia in children under 5 years old. I chose to focus on medical devices rather than pharmaceuticals because device development takes less time than the 20+ years required for new medicines, and a successful device company could fund my continued research on bronchopulmonary dysplasia treatments. Every day, I balance dropping my kids off at school, attending classes, reading research papers, meeting with patients at the hospital to understand the limitations of current diagnostic devices, picking up my kids, managing their activities and homework, and then studying for myself. It's not easy being a single mom in this field, but I want to teach my daughter that she can do anything and be strong even when alone.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Iman
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the incredible mentors I've had along the way. I've been very lucky because I've had not just one mentor, but many mentors, and all of them have been trying to make me the best version of myself. They are supporting me till the end. They are with me, they are in my back, always telling me 'you can do that, don't worry.' Everyone can fall and can stand back up and become even stronger. This support system has been invaluable to me. I also believe in the advice I received: what you are seeking is seeking you. What you are dreaming to achieve will come to you. I've learned to trust the process and trust in myself, knowing that every woman can do anything. Even when I was very young and divorced with two kids, everyone thought it was crazy to think I could achieve what I have, but I proved them wrong.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is: what you are seeking is seeking you. So what you are dreaming to achieve, it will come to you. This advice has guided me throughout my journey and helped me trust in the process of pursuing my goals.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this field is just to be happy and to like what you are doing. Trust the process, and trust in yourself. Every woman can do anything. I know this from personal experience - when I was very young and divorced with two kids, everyone saw it as crazy to think I could achieve anything, especially with what I had and with my children being so young. But I did it. You can do it too. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my field right now is funding and grants. Everyone is talking about this - it has become very limited. To work in research, you need more and more money, more grants. At this time, it's very tough for the pharmaceutical industry, for biotech, for everything. The problem of funding and grants is what most people are suffering from right now.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In my family life, I try to be friendly with my kids and make them able to be kind and feel for other people. I want them to be honest, courageous, brave, and strong. These are the values I'm instilling in them. In my work, I value discipline above all. I also deeply appreciate the people who are trying to help you till the end. I've been very lucky because I've had mentors - not only one, but many mentors - and all of them have been trying to make me the best version of myself. They are supporting me till the end. They are with me, they have my back, always telling me 'you can do that, don't worry.' Everyone can fall and stand back up even stronger. This kind of support and dedication is what I value most in my work.
Keep Exploring
More Influential Women · Alabama
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.