Amid the storm of challenges that have shaken Syria for years, Syrian youth continue to face countless difficulties on the path to their ambitions. Feelings of discouragement often creep into their lives. Yet, some success stories written by determined young people stand as beacons—dispersing the darkness and reviving hope for many who carry dreams that need encouragement to push beyond borders and overcome every obstacle.

Fawaz Dabbaghieh… A Young Man from Aleppo Bridging East and West with Science

Fawaz Dabbaghieh, a young Syrian, has carved out a remarkable academic journey in the field of bioengineering. From his hometown of Aleppo in northern Syria, he paved his way into bioinformatics through prestigious universities and research centers in Germany, eventually earning a PhD in bioinformatics there and preparing to continue his research career at one of the top universities in South Korea.

Fawaz began his undergraduate studies at the University of Aleppo in 2009, majoring in bioengineering. Through an Erasmus AVEMPACE academic exchange program, he spent a year at the Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences in Germany, then returned to Aleppo to complete his degree, graduating in 2015. In 2016, he returned to Germany, conducting research in Bonn and Cologne before pursuing a Master’s degree in bioinformatics at Saarland University. Excelling in his research, he advanced to doctoral studies at the University of Düsseldorf.

With Patience and Perseverance… Dabbaghieh Overcomes Challenges and Earns His Place Among Researchers

His doctoral research focused on developing algorithms for understanding and analyzing amino acid sequences and graph-based structural data. He published several scientific papers and articles, presented at international conferences, and received multiple awards.

•  MetaProFi: an ultrafast chunked Bloom filter for storing and querying protein and nucleotide sequence data for accurate identification of functionally relevant genetic variants
• BubbleGun: enumerating bubbles and superbubbles in genome graphs
• The third international hackathon for applying insights into large-scale genomic composition to use cases in a wide range of organisms

During his PhD, he also served as coordinator of the MODS project at the University of Düsseldorf, funded by the German government, where he organized meetings and workshops with more than 20 researchers.

The path was far from easy. Fawaz faced challenges in securing study opportunities, especially in the highly competitive field of scientific research where places are scarce. He also experienced psychological pressures during his research phases, but confronted them with patience and diligence. His love for music, particularly playing the piano, became one of his coping strategies, helping him persevere. Each rejection he encountered when applying for scholarships or research positions became a driving force to refine his skills and deepen his expertise.

In July 2025, Fawaz will begin a new chapter of his journey by joining Seoul National University, the most prestigious university in South Korea, to continue contributing to scientific advancement as a bioinformatics expert—leaving his mark both in East and West.

Dabbaghieh: Passion is Essential for Success, Pursuit of Fame and Money Leads to Failure

Fawaz says: “Research requires true passion and long patience. One cannot pursue it for money or fame, but for the sake of understanding, discovery, and the desire to share knowledge with others.”

The story of Fawaz Dabbaghieh is a reminder that success is never a coincidence—it is the fruit of passion, determination, and investment in oneself. It is also a message of hope for every ambitious researcher: the path may be difficult, but it is always possible.