The Saudi scientist and researcher Dr. Fatimah Abdulhakeem has been awarded the 2025 L’Oréal–UNESCO For Women in Science Awards as part of the Middle East Regional Young Talents Program.
Moreover, this recognition highlights her significant scientific efforts and research contributions in the field of plant immunology, while also reflecting the remarkable progress of Saudi women in scientific and research fields, both locally and globally.
In this context, Dr. Fatimah currently heads the tissue-culture laboratories at the National Seeds Agricultural Production Company (NSPC), one of the subsidiaries of Nadec. In addition, her work focuses on producing high-quality, virus-free seeds adapted to the climate of Saudi Arabia, thereby supporting national efforts to reduce reliance on imports, enhance food self-sufficiency, and strengthen the agricultural sector in the Kingdom.
Her research delves into the mechanisms that plants use to defend themselves against diseases and harsh environmental conditions, and at the same time explores how these natural processes can be leveraged to protect agricultural crops. She has concentrated on a protein that binds to RNA and is found in all eukaryotic organisms.
Through her extensive research, Dr. Fatimah discovered that this protein acts as a molecular switch regulating immune signaling and plant responses to environmental stresses through phosphorylation—a biochemical process in which a phosphate group alters the structure and function of proteins.
Her findings also revealed that, under heat stress, this protein contributes to the formation of stress granules—small, membrane-less assemblies made of proteins and mRNA. By isolating these granules, she identified their components and demonstrated how plants reorganize their cellular activities under stress. Consequently, these insights lay the groundwork for developing crops with stronger immunity and greater resilience, helping reduce reliance on pesticides, improve productivity, and support food security in the face of climate change.
Dr. Fatimah was honored during the official award ceremony held at the Museum of the Future in Dubai, under the patronage of Sarah bint Yousif Al-Amiri, UAE Minister of Education, together with senior representatives from L’Oréal and UNESCO.
Her passion for science began at the age of fifteen, when she represented Saudi Arabia in several international science competitions, most notably the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in the United States, where she presented her first project on limiting the growth of microbes causing skin infections. This formative experience, in turn, sparked her scientific curiosity and set her on a path of discovery, innovation, and award-winning research.
The L’Oréal–UNESCO For Women in Science Program is one of the world’s leading initiatives dedicated to supporting women researchers. As such, it aims to empower women in scientific fields and enhance their presence in research by annually recognizing outstanding women scientists and emerging young talents contributing to scientific advancement and global innovation.