Prof. Dr. Ibtesam Saeed Badhrees
Chief Research Scientist, Nuclear Technology Institute
Energy & Industry Sector, KACST
A pioneering physicist and science diplomat, Prof. Badhrees is celebrated as the first Saudi woman member of CERN (2006). Her research spans particle physics, astrophysics, medical physics, and nuclear science. Recipient of the APS "Woman Physicist of the Month" award (2014) — the first non-American woman honoured.
Prof. Dr. Ibtesam Saeed Badhrees is a Professor of Elementary Particle Physics and a pioneering research scientist whose career spans experimental particle physics, accelerator technology, medical physics, nuclear science, and science diplomacy. She holds a PhD in Particle Physics from the University of Bern and served as Chief Researcher and former Manager of the National Center for Accelerators Technology (NCAT) at KACST. She also holds a PhD in International Relations from the Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations, an MSc in Applied Physics from Fairleigh Dickinson University, USA, and an MA in Teaching English as a Second Language from the same university. She is internationally celebrated as the first Saudi woman member of CERN (2006) and the first Saudi female PhD holder at the National Center for Mathematics and Physics at KACST. She is a former Adjunct Professor at Carleton University, former G20 Task Force Member, a member of the Saudi Nuclear Society, WiN Global, and senior member of the International Neutrino Experiment (EXO). She received the APS "Woman Physicist of the Month" award in August 2014 — the first non-American woman to receive this honour.