Congratulations to Dr Weaam Alhabashi, who recently passed her viva to graduate with a PhD from the Liverpool School of Architecture – all whilst single-handedly raising a young family and welcoming a new baby.
Weaam, from Saudi Arabia, came to Liverpool in 2021 thanks to a scholarship from her employer, Taif University, where she works as a Lecturer in Interior Design. With a goal to produce original knowledge and research in her field, her PhD focused on developing natural insulation materials from date palm fibre for use in building applications.
With her husband based in Saudi Arabia and unable to join her in the UK due to work commitments, Weaam made the move to Liverpool with young daughters Rodina and Ruba, now aged 9 and 5, respectively. During the first year of her studies, her son Qusai – now three and a half – arrived.
Now preparing to return to Taif University to continue her research on sustainable building materials, Weaam reflects on her experience and her success.
“I chose Liverpool for its strong research reputation, supportive environment, and the alignment between my research interests and the expertise of the faculty. It provided the right setting to develop my skills and make a meaningful contribution.
“Of course, there were challenges. In the early stages of my PhD, I was pregnant while also caring for my three children. Balancing family life with research was demanding, but with the encouragement of my supervisors I developed strong time-management, resilience, and focus, which supported my progress throughout the programme.”
Weaam’s PhD supervisors, Dr Hanmei Chen and Dr David Chow, commended her on her achievements.
“Achieving this milestone is a remarkable accomplishment — made all the more inspiring by the fact that Weaam has balanced her doctoral journey while single-handedly raising three wonderful children,” commented Dr Chen.
“Her perseverance and dedication make her a powerful role model, not only for the School of the Arts, but for our wider community of research students.”
An example of the final product – insulation material developed from date palm fibre.