Dr. Basmah Alharbi | Microbiology | Best Researcher Award

Assistant Professor of Epidemiology from Qassim University, Saudi Arabia

Dr. Basmah Fehaid Al-Wahbi Al-Harbi is a dedicated academic and researcher currently serving as an Assistant Professor at the College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Her career reflects a balanced integration of clinical expertise, public health research, and educational leadership. With a strong background in epidemiology and public health, she has contributed to significant scholarly work addressing issues such as infectious diseases, physical activity among Saudi women, and evidence-based healthcare practices. Her administrative roles, including Vice Dean of Female Students Affairs and Chair of various academic committees, reflect her leadership within the academic community. Dr. Alharbi’s international education and research experiences in Australia and the United Kingdom have given her a broad global perspective. Her work has been recognized through numerous prestigious awards, and she has actively participated in international conferences and peer-review processes. As an infection control consultant and researcher, she also plays a vital role in bridging clinical application with scientific evidence. Overall, Dr. Alharbi stands out as a proactive and impactful researcher whose academic journey and contributions significantly enrich the field of public health and applied medical sciences.

Professional Profile

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• ORCID Profile

Education

Dr. Basmah Fehaid Al-Wahbi Al-Harbi holds an impressive academic record with degrees from prestigious institutions across three countries. She earned her Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the Public Health and Social Work College at Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia, in 2022, graduating with outstanding distinction. Her doctoral work focused on understanding young Saudi women’s beliefs regarding physical activity, utilizing mixed-method approaches. Prior to this, she completed her Master of Science in Health Promotion and Public Health with distinction and honors from Ulster University, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, in 2016. Her foundational academic background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Laboratories from Al-Qassim University, Saudi Arabia, completed in 2013 with an excellent rating and second-class honors. In addition to her academic degrees, she has obtained professional certifications including a Training of Trainers (TOT) certificate from the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation in 2022 and an International Certificate in IT Skills approved by the Ministry of Education in 2014. This combination of academic and professional qualifications highlights her solid grounding in both research and practical applications within public health and laboratory sciences.

Professional Experience

Dr. Alharbi’s professional career reflects a progressive and diverse trajectory in academia, research, clinical settings, and administration. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Basic Health Science Department at the College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, a role she has held since 2022. In parallel, she also functions as an Infection Control Consultant at Qassim University Medical City. Her previous academic roles include Lecturer and Teaching Assistant within the same college, highlighting her long-term commitment to the university and student development. Her clinical experience began with an internship as a Medical Laboratory Specialist at King Fahad Specialist Hospital and the Maternity and Children Hospital of Buraidah between 2012 and 2013. Dr. Alharbi also holds key administrative responsibilities, having served as Vice Dean of the Female Campus and Vice Dean of Female Students Affairs at Qassim University. She has chaired disciplinary and guidance committees, and she is currently a member of the Permanent Extraordinary Increases Committee. Her experience in teaching, clinical work, and university governance demonstrates her capability to lead multifaceted roles within academic institutions, strengthening her influence in both education and healthcare systems.

Research Interest

Dr. Alharbi’s research interests are rooted in public health, epidemiology, and behavioral health promotion, with a specific focus on women’s health, infectious disease control, and health behavior interventions. Her academic work frequently explores sociocultural dimensions of health, particularly in the context of Saudi Arabia. She has conducted qualitative and quantitative studies on topics such as physical activity among Saudi women, student engagement in evidence-based healthcare practices, and preventive measures for traveler’s diarrhea. Her interest in epidemiological mapping is evident in her work on cutaneous leishmaniasis, which aligns with regional healthcare concerns. She has also contributed to international health research by co-authoring studies on COVID-19 and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) using machine learning and gene expression data analysis. Her interdisciplinary focus combines biomedical sciences, behavioral theories, and data-driven health assessments. With a strong interest in global and regional health challenges, Dr. Alharbi continues to expand her research to address public health gaps, promote evidence-based policy recommendations, and improve population health outcomes through both clinical and community-focused strategies.

Research Skills

Dr. Alharbi possesses a comprehensive and diverse set of research skills that span the domains of epidemiology, public health, and clinical laboratory sciences. She is proficient in designing and conducting both qualitative and quantitative studies, as demonstrated by her mixed-method doctoral research on physical activity behaviors. Her ability to perform psychometric evaluations is evidenced by her work on validating Arabic versions of evidence-based practice scales for undergraduate nursing students. Dr. Alharbi is skilled in conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses, as shown by her publication on probiotics and traveler’s diarrhea. She demonstrates expertise in biostatistics, data interpretation, public health surveys, and infectious disease surveillance. Moreover, she integrates innovative approaches like machine learning into epidemiological research, highlighting her adaptability to emerging scientific methodologies. Her peer-review activities for international conferences also show her ability to critically assess academic work. Her background as a medical laboratory specialist further supports her skills in microbiological analysis and infection control. Overall, her robust technical and analytical abilities, combined with her interdisciplinary approach, make her a well-rounded and capable researcher capable of leading impactful studies in public and global health.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Alharbi has received multiple awards and honors that recognize her academic excellence, research achievements, and leadership contributions. She was awarded the Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Award in 2023 by Queensland University of Technology, Australia, for her exceptional research on Saudi women’s physical activity beliefs. In 2021, she received the Young Investigator Award at the 52nd Asia Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health Conference in Indonesia, underlining her international recognition. Her contributions have also been celebrated within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where she earned the 1st Best Presenter and Best Poster Presentation Awards at the 3rd Regional Public Health Conference in Riyadh in 2019. Dr. Alharbi was honored with the Distinction Prize for Scientific Excellence by the Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureaus in both Canberra, Australia (2020), and London, UK (2016), highlighting her consistent academic performance abroad. Additionally, she ranked third among high school students in Jeddah in 2005, marking the beginning of her academic excellence from an early age. These accolades affirm her dedication to scientific research and public health advocacy and serve as strong endorsements of her contributions to both local and global health scholarship.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Dr. Basmah Fehaid Al-Wahbi Al-Harbi exemplifies the qualities of a distinguished researcher, educator, and healthcare advocate. Her multidisciplinary academic background, paired with a steady trajectory of professional growth in academia and public health, positions her as a leading figure in the field. Her research demonstrates both depth and breadth, addressing regional health issues with global relevance, and she effectively bridges the gap between theory and practice. Dr. Alharbi’s ability to integrate epidemiological methods with behavioral science frameworks makes her contributions particularly impactful in the promotion of health education and preventive care strategies. Her numerous national and international awards speak to her credibility and dedication, while her leadership roles within Qassim University underline her institutional commitment. While there is potential for further development through expanded international collaborations and externally funded research projects, her current achievements are substantial and commendable. Dr. Alharbi’s profile reflects a researcher who not only contributes to scientific knowledge but also influences policy, education, and clinical practice. She is undoubtedly a strong and deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award.