“Say: Travel through the Earth and deeply observe how God did originate the creation; then God produces the next creation; surely God has power over all things” (Qur’an 29:19-20)

Welcome and May the peace and blessings of God be upon you.

“We celebrate the brain by seeking answers. It’s all part of Islam. If you worry that people will stray if they ask questions, then you have a problem with your faith. Questioning can only lead you to the truth”

dr. rana dajani

What do you do in your job?

"I do a lot of things. It’s not a job; I love what I do. It's like having fun every day. It's all because I study what I love. So what I do for fun every day is mainly being a Professor Molecular and Cellular Biology. My research is mainly in two fields:

1. Genetics of ethnic populations, specifically the Circassians and Chechans. Circassians live in the southern Caucus Mountains in southern Russia, which was taken over by Russia. They were persecuted for their religion, deported, killed or forcibly displaced. They fled south and settled in Jordan, Turkey, even as far away as New Jersey. When Russia held the Winter Olympics, it was in an area where there was a major genocide/massacre for Circassians. That ended up getting a lot of publicity. So the people that settled in Jordan, there is now a big population and there is intermarrying amongst each other. When I finished my PhD, I started a research lab in Jordan to study them and produce international science that is really new, and not just mediocre science. I did this because it was a passion for me and I wanted to really contribute, not just check off a box that I had done research. The Human Genome Project had just come up in 2006. We started an entire project to learn about the Circassians and Chechans, something similar to the Framingham Study. The team consisted of different scientists from different disciplines: biochemistry, epidemiology, anthropology, the National Center for Diabetes, etc. We first studied anthropology to analyze heritage and really identify their unique history. Then we analyzed mitochondrial DNA, basically how you trace lineage. We created a database of their family tree, not just for science, but to serve their community. We had an entire random sample of the whole community in Jordan. Then we looked at epidemiology, reviewing the whole population’s medical history, focusing on diabetes and metabolic syndrome, because there is no stigma on diabetes anymore and it is something that could help the rest of the world. The whole team went to the region, and we went from community to community, giving free medical devices, testing for triglycerides, cholesterol levels (LDL, HDL), all for free. We did an extensive survey of lifestyle and medical history. We published many papers looking at different epidemiological trends. We found that Circassians have a lower prevalence of diabetes compared to Jordanians. Although my PhD was in Molecular/Cell Biology, focusing on cellular signaling, I couldn’t limit myself to one area, so I shifted to genetics. We did genome-wide association studies and discovered a novel gene risk factor for diabetes based on the Circassian population data, published in Scientific Reports and Nature. To do the genome work, we collaborated with CHOP Center for Genomics to perform the analysis. Then we tried to identify the function of the gene because it has never been identified before to be related to diabetes. This led to stem cell research work, where we created a team to implement regulations on how to work on research with stem cell under Islamic and Jordanian law. There were no prior guidelines, we created the first law. It was approved by Parliament and implemented the proper research on stem cells in the region. We even worked with UC Berkeley, Copenhagen on further adding to the database, leading to more research and publications.

2. The other research arm is the impact of trauma on refugees. The Syrian crisis has led to ~2 million refugees in Jordan. NGOs come in and roll out interventions to help the adolescents. We became the lead group in Jordan for a large study on adolescents and vulnerable youth. This led to focus on mental health biomarkers (cortisol in hair) and looking at genetics. This was a collaboration with Yale and more importantly, we worked together as colleagues with the local community, Syrian and Jordanian children. We explained all the science we were doing and that’s how we decided on utilizing hair instead of obtaining blood, since it can get so messy. We shared all our results, going back to engage with them and show how their cortisol went down. Our research assistants were Syrian and Jordanian and each had an input on the research design. Not only did we focus on trauma, but we also included a survey on resiliency. The journal, Science, did a whole special edition on our work. Now through a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and in collaboration with Yale and the University of Florida, we are now looking at the impact of trauma on DNA and if it can transfer to the next generation” is trauma hereditary? We have three generation cohorts evaluating this. However, we are looking for positive signatures in the DNA. People have always been in war throughout history, so we are looking for epigenetic signatures that show a relationship with resiliency, not just trauma. The hope is that we can roll out interventions that focus on epigenetics to turn genes on/off to improve trauma outcomes.”

“You have to pursue your curiosity and go where the questions lead, instead of being stuck in a particular field.” (Dr. Rana Dajani)

What do you love about your job?

“We’re all born with the flame to keep curiosity alive. We just stifle it. Keeping curiosity alive is so essential to our survival. One question leads to another, gives us purpose to life, joy and spice. The Qur’an mentions to look, observe, question. We celebrate the brain by seeking answers. It’s all part of Islam. If you worry that people will stray if they ask questions, then you have a problem with your faith. Questioning can only lead you to the truth. Those who do not stray, are strong in their conviction.”

What do you like least about your job?

“You're going to hit up against walls at some point, it's natural, it's normal. The idea is, one would assume, that if there were no limits, one would keep on going. It’s a part of nature that we ultimately need breaks: a grant doesn't go through, publications aren’t published, you want to see your kids and spend time. It helps you reassess your position, your approach. These break are positive and we can learn from them. After you spend time with your kids, you come back refreshed, your brain took a break. There is nothing that I don't like about my job. I have a knack for turning what people would see as negative into a positive. My husband says I see an ocean in a drop of water.”

“Read, in the name of your Lord, who created” (Qur’an 96:1)

Did faith play a role in choosing your career? Do you see any relationship between faith and your career?

“I grew up in a practicing Muslim family, where religion and faith were a part of everyday life. It was interwoven in everything we did. We were taught that you should always have a purpose, but you are also responsible for yourself and the greater community. It was also about trying to do something, not only succeeding. It’s not always important if you succeed, but it’s important to try. It is so liberating, growing up with that attitude. We also had an open space to ask questions and debate, as something consistent with our religion. It’s what allowed that curiosity to flourish and that feeling of being a pioneer. My outlet was science. Pioneer has different meanings, like to discover mountaintops, the oceans or the moon, or delving into the deepest levels of science. So I took that pioneering spirit of discovery and took it to Molecular/Cell Biology. It was all inspired by my faith: having a purpose, using my brain, using that framework.”

Are there parts of your job that make you a better Muslim? more spiritual?

“Every time we do work, make a new discovery about a mechanism of action or cellular interaction or protein interaction, I’m in awe. I’m in awe of the elegance, the wonder of nature that Allah created. A creation that was not spontaneous but set by laws and rules from which all this universe has evolved. Every discovery is a new testimonial of the greatness and elegance of Allah. Pursing science brings me to closer to Allah. The basics are so simple, but so much profound diversity comes out of them. It confirms my faith and brings me closer to Allah, reveling in his wonder.”

“Wonder is the feeling of the philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder.” (Plato)

Is there any part of your job that you think doesn't fit with Islam?

“Nothing. On the contrary, everything brings me closer. The framework of how I understand Islam gives me that.”

What do you want people, especially Muslims, to know about your career?

“1. Dream big: find your passion and follow it, whatever it is. Trust in yourself and have confidence. Share ideas with your family, friends, and community. Nothing is impossible. It doesn’t matter what you achieve, so long as you follow your curiosity. No one may know of your discovery, but you will have your internal satisfaction. Keep curiosity alive.

2. We have a responsibility beyond the workplace, lab, and class. Whatever you do, employ your skills and knowledge in solving challenges the community faces. Each person should see themselves as a unique person, their DNA is different. Everyone is a guardian, in Islam. As a scientist, our role is to simplify science and explain it to others, not just in content but also in culture. This is especially true during COVID-19. That is our responsibility. Now that everything is global, we can share information online and help in raising awareness. As the President of SASTA (the Society for the Advancement of Science and Technology in the Arab world), that’s what we’re trying to do: rediscover the potential in our own countries. That’s how I also started We Love Reading. We can change mindsets through reading. Whatever you do, pursue it with enthusiasm and curiosity.”

“We have sent among you a Messenger from yourselves reciting to you Our verses and purifying you and teaching you the Book and wisdom and teaching you that which you did not know” (Quran 2:151)

“Every discovery is a new testimonial of the greatness and elegance of Allah. The basics are so simple, but so much profound diversity comes.” (Dr. Rana Dajani)