In collaboration with COMSTECH (the OIC’s Standing Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation), we are proud to welcome another PhD researcher from abroad to the Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering (SBASSE) at LUMS as part of our ongoing efforts to promote internationalization. 

This year, we extend our greetings to Bella Belinga from Cameroon, Africa!

Previously, we had the pleasure of hosting Fargana Alizada from Azerbaijan, who conducted her research under the guidance of Dr. Nauman Zafar Butt in the Central Lab at SBASSE.  You can learn more about our previous partnership in this video.

Ms. Bella Belinga is pursuing her PhD in Organic Chemistry at the University of Yaounde 1, Cameroon. Her thesis is entitled “Molecular networking approach, for study indole alkaloids and other constituents of two medicinal plants from the Apocynaceae family: Pleiocarpa mutica and Pleiocarpa bicarpellata and evaluation of anticancer and/or antiplasmodial activities.” In addition to her doctoral studies, since 2017 she has been serving as a lecturer at Government High School Meyila.

At LUMS, she is collaborating with Dr. Ghayoor Abbas’s research group within the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. Here, she is acquiring practical training in scientific techniques, which include the chemical modification of indoles through catalytic borylation and Suzuki coupling, as well as the isolation and biological activity studies of indole alkaloids.

Ms. Bella currently resides in on-campus accommodations at LUMS and actively engages in our sports facilities during her leisure time. She is integrating well within the LUMS community, forging new friendships, and eagerly immersing herself in Pakistani culture. Recently, she participated in an informal session with PhD students at SBASSE, sharing insights from her cross-continental experiences. Additionally, she prepared a presentation for her fellow PhD colleagues in Pakistan, offering a virtual tour of life and culture in Cameroon.

This collaboration not only supports Ms. Bella’s professional growth but also enriches our colleagues' experience with Bella's valuable knowledge and expertise, promoting the exchange of scientific ideas and solutions. We eagerly anticipate future opportunities for such collaborations.