We've really enjoyed our time here and bringing up our children in the city

What did you do before coming to Sheffield?

I studied my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in dental technology at Middle Technical University in Baghdad, Iraq. Once I had graduated, I stayed at the university as a teacher.

What is involved in your research?

I've been working with Dr Gwen Reilly in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering along with colleagues in the Medical Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre to develop small-scale 3D printing processes that can be used for biomedical applications. My particular interest is in the use of titanium for dental implants.

I recently published part of my thesis in the Journal of Mechanical Behaviour in Biomedical Materials: Selective laser melting processed Ti6Al4V lattices with graded porosities for dental applications.

I have also received an award from the University of Kufa College of Dentistry in Iraq. This is an award presented to anyone from the university who has published a high quality scientific research paper.

Why did you choose Sheffield?

My husband and I received scholarships from the Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research to study for a PhD in Sheffield. I knew about Dr Reilly’s research and contacted her about joining her team.

We have been in Sheffield since 2014 and have really enjoyed our time here. It’s such an interesting historical place, and we’ve enjoyed bringing up our children in the city.

What will you do next?

Once I've submitted the final version of my thesis, I would like to return to my university in Iraq to become an academic, so that I can teach what I have learned and continue my research into dental materials.