Aziza Abugaliyeva: Pioneering research and embracing global citizenship

Aziza Abugaliyeva’s time at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar has been transformative, marked by academic distinction and groundbreaking research. Graduating with University and College Honors in Biological Sciences and a minor in neuroscience, Aziza made the most of CMU-Q’s opportunities to delve deep into her scientific interests.   

“I’m really grateful that CMU provides this hands-on experience in the labs,” she says. During her studies, she developed a keen interest in neuroscience, which led to her to initiate the first neuroscience-focused research project on the Qatar campus, studying Alzheimer’s disease. 

“Being the first student to start a neuroscience project here is something I’m really proud of,” she notes.   

Aziza’s research journey has taken her around the world. She worked in the area of Parkinson’s disease at CMU’s Pittsburgh campus, and presented her work at conferences in the United States and Austria. 

“I truly believe that as scientists, we cannot just sit in the labs. We have to share our findings,” Aziza asserts.   

Beyond the lab, Aziza was deeply involved in campus life, serving as vice president of the Bio Sci Club and volunteering as a Peer Health Advocate. Her commitment to global citizenship shone during her semester in Pittsburgh, where she co-organized Charity Week to raise money for refugee families. 

“All of these experiences,” she explains, “taught me to be not only a researcher, but also someone who cares about the world”.   

Looking ahead, Aziza plans to pursue graduate studies in neuroscience, and to spend her career in academia as a professor and researcher. “I would like to leverage all of my skills and knowledge to contribute to the research in brain science, both in Qatar and my home country, Kazakhstan.”