Speakers
Prof. Valeria Costantino
Full professor in organic chemistry
Prof. Valeria Costantino, a full professor in organic chemistry, leads the BlueChemistryLab group, which focuses on natural products, drug discovery from microorganisms, and the impact of climate change on cyanobacterial blooms. She has published 115 papers and written numerous reviews and oversees the Summer School on Natural Products, a key program of the Italian Chemical Society. As Vice-rector for Erasmus Programs and Vice-president of the European University Foundation, she enhances higher education through mobility experiences.
She is the principal investigator of a MUR-funded transnational program named SULIEIA, which coordinates a consortium of five Italian Universities and 30 partners.
Dr. Dana Yaseen
Researcher and Assistant Professor
Dr. Dana Yaseen is a lecturer at An-Najah National University, specializing in English Language, Literature, and Educational Methodologies. Her PhD in the Philosophy of Education rethinks “academic eyed entities” — what is seen through the academic gaze — through a post-qualitative methodology called “academic resonance imaging.” Her research interests include academic identity, philosophy of education, and English language teaching. Dana has published on qualitative research capacity-building in Palestinian higher education and is developing novel approaches to curriculum and research ethics. She brings a cross-cultural perspective shaped by her experiences in both the UK and Palestine.
Dr. Ola Anabtawi
Researcher and Assistant Professor
Dr. Ola Anabtawi is a Palestinian nutritionist, researcher, podcaster, and trainer with a strong background in public health nutrition and academic leadership. As the former Head of the Nutrition and Food Technology Department (2020–2024), she has led initiatives bridging research, policy, and community engagement. Holding a PhD in Nutritional Sciences with a focus on public health, Ola is experienced in primary research and advanced data analysis, employing both traditional quantitative/qualitative methods. Her expertise extends to capacity building as an FAO Green Jobs Programme trainer and social entrepreneurship facilitator, where she empowers communities through skill development and active participation. A dedicated advocate for public health, Ola has played a key role in shaping national policies through her involvement in NGOs and governmental committees, including a major initiative to combat anemia in Palestine. Through her multifaceted work, Ola Anabtawi continues to drive progress in nutrition, health, and community resilience.
Dr. Amjad El-Qanni
Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering and Director of the Academic and Professional Development Center
Dr. Amjad El-Qanni is an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at An-Najah National University (NNU), Palestine, and Director of the Academic and Professional Development Center. He holds a PhD in Chemical and Petroleum Engineering from the University of Calgary, an MSc from École Centrale de Nantes, and a BSc from NNU. His research focuses on nanotechnology for energy and environmental applications, as well as wastewater and solid waste management. El-Qanni has received several prestigious awards, including the Werner Graupe International Fellowship, and has authored over 40 publications. He actively supervises students, collaborates across disciplines, and reviews for leading journals.
Ms. Maria Popova
Group Product Manager at LinkedIn
Ms.Maria Popova is a Group Product Manager at LinkedIn, where she leads trust-focused initiatives that empower members to feel safe and in control of their experience on the platform. With a background spanning privacy, product strategy, and design thinking, Maria has driven the development of consent and privacy tools that support transparency and ease of use. Her work is guided by a deep commitment to building technology that earns and upholds user trust. She is also a longtime TechWomen mentor, passionate about supporting women in STEM globally.
Ms. Chiara Boni
Specialist in Gender Equality and International Cooperation
Ms.Chiara Boni is currently serving as an external collaborator at UniNA, supporting the implementation of the SULIEIA project, specifically the work package dedicated to assisting partner universities in developing their own Gender Budgets and Gender Equality Plans. She completed her university studies in anthropology and international cooperation and has received further academic training in gender studies. With a background in international research, her experiences have focused particularly on the fields of reproductive justice and migration dynamics. She has previously worked for different NGOs in Italy, Greece, and Sudan.
Dr. Abdulsalam Khayyat
Vice President for Academic Affairs at An-Najah National University and an Associate Professor of Epidemiology
Dr. Abdulsalam Khayyat is the Vice President for Academic Affairs at An-Najah National University and an Associate Professor of Epidemiology. A Public Health expert in Palestine and the MENA region, he is a scientific collaborator at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute and an Honorary Senior Researcher at Bristol Medical School, UK. Dr. Khayyat obtained his PhD and postdoctoral studies from Basel University and has trained at institutions such as Novartis Institute for Biomedical Sciences. His research focuses on Non-Communicable Diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mental health. He has led several international research studies in Palestine and served as Head of the Public Health Department and coordinator of the Master of Public Health program. Dr. Khayyat co-founded the An-Najah Global Health Institute and has consulted for various local, regional, and international organizations.
Prof. Mariafelicia De Laurentis
Professor and Leading Researcher in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Mariafelicia De Laurentis is a Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Naples Federico II and a researcher at the Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN). She has taught at Tomsk State Pedagogical University (Russia) and at the Institut für Theoretische Physik at Goethe University Frankfurt (Germany), where she joined the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration. She currently serves as the Project Scientist of the EHT.
Her contribution has been pivotal in the production of the first direct images of supermassive black holes, including Messier 87 (M87*) and, most notably, Sagittarius A* (SgrA*), located at the center of our galaxy. For the SgrA* results, she played a key leadership role in coordinating the gravity testing efforts, serving as lead of the Gravitational Physics Input group and overseeing the related scientific publication.
Her research focuses on gravitational physics and relativistic astrophysics, with particular emphasis on testing general relativity in the strong-field regime and exploring possible deviations from Einstein’s theory, using black holes as natural laboratories.
She previously served as Deputy Project Scientist of the EHT and as a member of the collaboration’s Science Council.
She has received several prestigious awards, including the 2020 Einstein Medal and the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics. With more than 250 scientific publications, she continues to contribute to the advancement of our understanding of gravity and the most extreme objects in the universe
Dr. Maryam Hmoudah
Researcher and Assistant Professor in the Chemical Engineering Program
Dr. Maryam Hmoudah is an assistant professor in the Chemical Engineering Program at An-Najah National University, specializing in sustainable wastewater treatment. A native of Nablus, she holds a Bachelor’s from An-Najah, a Master’s from the University of Calgary, and a dual PhD from the University of Naples Federico II and Åbo Akademi University, with a focus on advanced materials for environmental remediation. A recipient of the Schlumberger Faculty for the Future Fellowship, her research combines green chemistry, nanotechnology, and process engineering, using materials like MOFs and MXenes to develop efficient, affordable water purification solutions for resource-limited regions. Beyond her research, she is a dedicated educator and mentor, actively advocating for women in STEM and working to address environmental challenges through science and community empowerment.
Dr. Antonella Liccardo
Physics Researcher and President of the Guarantee Committee for Equal Opportunities, the Enhancement of Well-being for Employees and Against Discrimination (CUG).
Dr. Antonella Liccardo, Physics Researcher and Aggregate Professor at UniNa. She is extremely active on gender issues at local and national level. She is President of the CUG, Delegate of the Rector of the UniNA for the Gender Budget (GB), and coordinator of the GB Working Group, in charge of elaborating the GB Report and the Gender Equality Plan (GEP). She coordinates the Working Group on the Gender Budget for the CRUI, authoring the Guidelines for the GB of Italian Universities. She is currently involved in training and supporting universities in the implementation of the GB, in periodic revisions of the Guidelines, overseeing relations with the Ministry Statistical Office and CINECA. With CINECA she developed the project “Dashboard of context indicators and gender reclassification of accounting data”. She is the coordinator of the No women no panel protocol for UniNA. She is the author of the Laleo Lab board game on gender stereotypes produced by UniNA.
