ZAHRAA WAJIH ALSAFWANI
COLLEGE OF INFORMATION SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Bioinformatics Major
The intersection of Zahraa Wajih Alsafwani’s two passions have a home in the College of Information Science & Technology.
Her academic interests of biology and technology are found in the innovative bioinformatics degree program.
Bioinformatics is a rapidly expanding field of study that allows researchers to gain insights and make breakthroughs in understanding our genetic makeup and provide solutions to biological problems. The road to her degree – which includes an appearance on the Chancellor’s List her first three semesters at UNO in a row – was bolstered by peers who offer different perspectives on academic work and life. Her academic performance paved the way for her to be the first student to enroll in a 4+1 Bioinformatics program through IS&T, a degree track that allows students to complete their undergraduate and master's degrees in five years.
Alsafwani, a native of Saudi Arabia who speaks English as a second language, said she benefitted greatly from the global experience UNO offered.
“I feel like being involved in academic clubs and student organizations helped me a lot – being social and being more interactive with students and faculty from different departments, different organizations and also different countries and backgrounds,” Zahraa said.