Education
Assist. Prof. Dr. Mashael Aljumaah holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology from a leading U.S. university, where her dissertation explored the role of microbial-derived dipeptidyl peptidase-4 in metabolic and cognitive health from a gut microbiome perspective. She earned her master’s and bachelor’s degrees in microbiology from a top Saudi university with distinction. Throughout her academic journey, she consistently excelled, graduating with outstanding GPAs and producing impactful research projects related to probiotics, gut microbiome diversity, and pathogen interactions in poultry and human health.
Professional Experience
Assist. Prof. Dr. Mashael Aljumaah currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Botany and Microbiology at a prominent Saudi university, where she combines teaching, mentoring, and research. She has previously served as a graduate research assistant in microbiome-focused centers and gained valuable teaching experience both in Saudi Arabia and the United States. Her professional journey includes leadership roles in student and research organizations, where she contributed to scientific discourse and community building. She has developed expertise in designing and leading research projects, supervising student work, and participating in collaborative, multidisciplinary studies across institutions.
Research Interests
Assist. Prof. Dr. Mashael Aljumaah primary research interests lie in microbiome science, probiotics, microbial-derived enzymes, and their connections to host health and disease. She is particularly focused on the gut-brain axis and how gut microbial communities influence metabolic and cognitive functions in humans. In addition, she has a strong background in studying the impact of dietary supplements, natural feed additives, and probiotics on the gut microbiome of poultry and livestock. She is deeply interested in translating fundamental microbiome discoveries into practical health solutions, with a vision of contributing to sustainable nutrition and advancing therapeutic interventions targeting age-related cognitive decline and chronic diseases.
Research Skills
Assist. Prof. Dr. Mashael Aljumaah has developed strong research skills in molecular microbiology, microbial culturing, and next-generation sequencing-based microbiome analysis. She is proficient in designing and conducting randomized clinical trials, animal studies, and laboratory-based experiments to investigate host-microbe interactions. Her expertise extends to statistical analysis, data interpretation, and bioinformatics approaches applied to microbiome datasets. She has hands-on experience in probiotic characterization, enzymatic activity studies, and evaluating dietary interventions on microbial diversity. Additionally, she excels in scientific communication, having delivered numerous oral and poster presentations at international conferences and contributed to the development of reporting standards and guidelines for microbiome studies.
Awards and Honors
Assist. Prof. Dr. Mashael Aljumaah has received several prestigious awards and recognitions for her academic excellence and research contributions. These include poster competition awards at international microbiome and probiotics conferences, as well as travel grants and invited speaker selections at leading scientific meetings. Her research has been acknowledged by professional societies for its originality and relevance to global health challenges. She has been recognized both locally and internationally for her outstanding scientific presentations, leadership in student organizations, and contributions to advancing microbiome science. These honors reflect her growing influence and recognition as a promising scientist in her field.
Publications Top Noted
Title: The gut microbiome, mild cognitive impairment, and probiotics: A randomized clinical trial in middle-aged and older adults
Year: 2022
Citation: 104
Title: Effect of antibiotic, phytobiotic and probiotic supplementation on growth, blood indices and intestine health in broiler chicks challenged with Clostridium perfringens
Year: 2020
Citation: 86
Title: Effects of phytobiotic feed additives on growth traits, blood biochemistry, and meat characteristics of broiler chickens exposed to Salmonella typhimurium
Year: 2020
Citation: 73
Title: Organic acid blend supplementation increases butyrate and acetate production in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium challenged broilers
Year: 2020
Citation: 59
Title: Bacillus subtilis PB6 based probiotic supplementation plays a role in the recovery after the necrotic enteritis challenge
Year: 2020
Citation: 49
Conclusion
Assist. Prof. Dr. Mashael Aljumaah is a highly accomplished microbiologist whose work bridges fundamental and applied aspects of gut microbiome science with clear implications for human and animal health. Her strong academic background, impactful research contributions, international recognition, and leadership roles make her a compelling candidate for the Best Researcher Award. With continued growth in project leadership and expanded interdisciplinary collaborations, she is poised to make even greater contributions to science and global health.