Zahraa Alraies
Postdoctoral Associate
Affiliation: NYU Abu Dhabi
Education: PhD. PSL University, France, MSc Paris Descartes University, France, BA Kalamoon University, Syria
Research Websites: Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology
Research Areas: Mechaniobiology, immunology, cell biology, nucleus, mechanosensing
Zahraa Alraies has a solid background in pharmacy and biomedical engineering. She earned her PhD from Institut Curie in Paris, where she worked on an interdisciplinary project at the interface of biology and physics. Prior to her PhD, Alraies completed a Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering at Université Paris Descartes. She also has valuable experience in the pharmaceutical industry, having managed her own pharmacy in Syria
During her PhD, Alraies developed a deep interest in mechanobiology and cell mechanics, working under renowned supervisors Ana Maria Lennon-Duménil and Matthieu Piel. Recently, she joined NYU Abu Dhabi as a Postdoctoral Associate, where her research focuses on the role of mechanosensing in stem cell differentiation and the regulatory functions of actin cytoskeleton components in this process.
Her contributions to the field have been recognized through several prestigious awards, including the IC3i program at Institut Curie. Furthermore, Alraies was honored by the MEDNIGHT initiative as one of the "Marie Curie's of the Mediterranean" for her distinguished work in biomedical science. This recognition highlights her groundbreaking research on dendritic cell mechanics and immune responses, which formed the core of her research at Institute Curie.