Fr | Ar

Zeina HOBAIKA KHOURY

Chef de département - Sciences de la vie et de la terre - biochimie

Enseignant Cadré - Professeur associé - PhD

Faculty of Science (FS)
Research Unit: Environment, Functional Genomics, and Proteomics (UR-EGP)

(+961) 1 421 000 ext 3380 zeina.hobaika@usj.edu.lb

Prof. Dr. Zeina Hobaika is an accomplished biochemist with a PhD in Structure, Function, and Proteins Engineering from Denis Diderot University, complemented by an Executive Diploma in Management and Conduct of Strategic Projects from Sciences Po in Paris, France. She currently servs as an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Life and Earth Sciences-Biochemistry at Saint Joseph University of Beirut in Lebanon. Dr. Hobaika leads the Macromolecules Structure and Interactions Research Team, focusing on rational drug design to combat diseases like AIDS, Cancer, and Alzheimer’s. She is also deeply involved in sustainable practices, researching the management and valorization of agro-industrial byproducts and waste for a sustainable future. Throughout her career, Dr. Hobaika has received numerous prestigious awards and recognition for her contributions to science and leadership. She was awarded the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women In Science Pan Arab Fellowship in 2011 and was selected for the TechWomen Program and for the International Visitor Leadership Program by the U.S. Department of State in 2012 and 2020, respectively. In addition, she was recognized in the top 10 Emerging leaders in STEM Fields in the MENA Region by the International Business Times, New York. Additionally, she is a distinguished member of the Arab-German Young Academy of Sciences and Humanities AGYA, where she served as co-President in 2019. With a substantial scientific output, she actively engages in various projects with both public and private sectors.


• Executive Certificate in Management and Strategic Project Leadership
• PhD in Protein Structure, Function and Engineering
• Master in Macromolecules Structure and Interaction and Functional Genomics
• Master in Protein Structure, Function, and Engineering
• Teaching Diploma in Biochemistry


Engineering and Technology, Sciences

Drug Design: Study of the structure and interactions of macromolecules; Design and characterization of inhibitor complexes for therapeutic purposes: applications to metalloproteins and DNA sequences involved in pathologies.

 

Valorization of waste and agro-industrial co-products: characterization of bioactive compounds and production production of biogas and fertilizer.

 


• AGYA vise à créer une communauté d'excellents chercheurs arabes et allemands, qui sont au début de leur carrière académique (3-10 ans après le doctorat) et soutient des projets innovants conjoints dans divers domaines de la recherche à travers différentes disciplines en sciences et en sciences humaines ; à savoir l’Éducation arabe et allemande, l’héritage et les défis communs, l’Energie, l’Eau et l’Environnement, l’Innovation, la Transformation, la Santé et la Société. Nous tenons à signaler que l’acceptation est très sélective et que seuls les excellents dossiers sont admis. AGYA compte globalement une cinquantaine de chercheurs arabes et allemands. AGYA regroupe les Universités les plus prestigieuses en Allemagne et dans le monde Arabe. Elle offre à ses membres une occasion unique de développer et mettre en œuvre leurs idées, visions et projets dans le cadre de la coopération de recherche arabo-allemande. En outre, AGYA favorise l'expérience interculturelle de ses membres et les promeut comme ambassadeurs de la science et de la culture. Cette académie est soutenue par le Ministère Fédéral allemand de l’Éducation et de la Recherche, la BBAW (Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities), la German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, German Goethe Institute, Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation et le DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service).
• Sélectionnée par le Bureau des Affaires de l’éducation et de la culture du Ministère des Affaires étrangères des Etats Unis comme Femme Leader émergente dans la région MENA dans les secteurs des sciences et de la technologie (TechWomen program)
• Thèse de doctorat en Structure, Fonction et Ingénierie des Protéines avec mention très honorable et les félicitations du jury
• Premier prix Berytech Incubation and Business Support (LIRA 13 Forum)
• Nommée par International Business Times, New York, tête de liste de 10 femmes Leaders en technologies dans la région MENA (Moyen Orient-Afrique du Nord)
• Lebanese Industrial Research Achievment for the project covering “Green valorization of industrial by-products: bioenergy production from grape pomace”. LIRA Program represents a bridge between Academy and Industry. It aims to build effective cooperation between the industrial and academic sectors in Lebanon, through addressing the research and development needs of the Lebanese industries, in order to academically empower the industrial sector with innovations leading to the promotion of competitiveness and productivity.
• Nomination Membre de jury de L'Oréal UNESCO For Women In Sciences Levant Fellowship

• 2019 Coaching Certificate Business Advisor, Université Saint Joseph de Beyrouth/Berytech • Certificates in Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, Communication, Skills Evaluation, Portfolio Elaboration, etc…