Speaker: Sweeta Akbari
Location: Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Galway
Date: Wednesday, 19th November 2025
Dr Sweeta Akbari holds a PhD in chemical engineering and is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University in Finland. Dr Akbari’s expertise spans a multidisciplinary research background, including 3D biomaterials, emulsion sciences, surfaces and interfaces, porous materials, polymers, plant-based bioactive compounds, and composites among others. She has authored over 25 scientific articles and book chapters published in prestigious high-impact, peer-reviewed journals. At Tampere University, she is developing multifunctional biomaterials for applications such as tissue engineering, biosensing, and drug delivery. Sweeta has earned several medals for her research projects as well as academic achievement awards and secured a highly prestigious and competitive research grant from The Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation in Finland in 2024.
Dr Sweeta Akbari has served as the academic research advisor at the Ministry of Higher Education of Afghanistan in 2019, where her expertise has significantly influenced academic publications, research activities, and professional development initiatives in the country.
Dr Sweeta Akbari is the founder and CEO of Scholars in STEM, a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Finland dedicated to empowering women and girls through STEM education, training, and professional development. Dr Akbari is deeply committed to advancing educational and research opportunities for Afghan women and girls, especially in the wake of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021. Her dedication to this cause reflects her broader commitment to social justice, equal access to education, and professional development in STEM fields, particularly for women in underrepresented regions.
The event is co-hosted by Abhay Pandit & Claire Riordan.
