BEU Graduate Conducting Research on Nuclear Safety Admitted to Doctoral Program at University of Helsinki

Sama Mammadova, a graduate of Baku Engineering University (BEU), has been admitted to the doctoral program at the University of Helsinki in Finland. As a winner of the "State Program for Youth Education at Prestigious Higher Education Institutions of Foreign Countries for 2022-2028," she will continue her doctoral studies with state support.

Sama Mammadova's doctoral research is dedicated to developing methods that enable rapid and reliable analysis of radionuclides in food products, drinking water, and other natural matrices in the event of a nuclear accident. The goal of the project is to make a scientific contribution to the prompt assessment of risks to the environment and human health during emergency nuclear events.

The young researcher studied chemistry at BEU. Admitted to the university with a score of 634, the graduate completed her bachelor's studies with an overall average performance score of 97.51, ranking first in her specialty.

After completing her bachelor's degree, she pursued a master's degree in "Chemistry and Molecular Sciences" at the University of Helsinki within the framework of the State Program. During her master's studies, Sama Mammadova became a winner of the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship program, designated for female researchers studying in the field of nuclear science. This fellowship program is awarded each year to approximately 100-150 promising female researchers from various countries around the world, based on their high academic performance and leadership potential. Alongside providing financial support for her studies and research project, the fellowship enabled her to join the international scientific network, collaborate with leading specialists in the nuclear field, and expand her professional connections.

Within the framework of the program, Sama Mammadova returned to Azerbaijan and completed an 8-month professional internship at the Nuclear Research Department operating under the Innovation and Digital Development Agency. She also became the first female fellowship recipient within this program to complete an official work placement in Azerbaijan.

Serving as a lecturer at BEU's Department of Chemical Engineering since September of last year, Sama Mammadova has taught the subjects of analytical chemistry, instrumental analysis, introduction to chemical engineering, and materials science. She stated that she began her teaching activities with great enthusiasm and completed the academic year with high student satisfaction ratings and effective teacher-student relationships. According to Sama Mammadova, the academic experience she gained at the university was an important preparatory stage for her before beginning her doctoral studies and future teaching activities at the University of Helsinki.

The main goal of the BEU graduate is to apply the knowledge and experience she has gained at the international level in Azerbaijan in the future, and to contribute to scientific activity in the field of radiation safety.