Dr. Wafa Adel Alhalabi | Cretaceous Vertebrate Fossil | Women Researcher Award
Research Assistant at Sao Paulo University, Brazil
Wafa Adel Alhalabi is a Syrian-Brazilian paleontologist and biologist born in Damascus on May 14, 1980. With a lifelong passion for ancient life and environmental conservation, she holds a Ph.D. in Paleontology from the University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil. Her multidisciplinary background bridges paleobiology, environmental management, and biological sciences. Wafa’s career spans continents and cultures, from conducting fieldwork in the Middle East to managing water laboratories in West Africa. She has made significant contributions to the recovery and analysis of vertebrate fossils from Syria, Brazil, and other regions. A dynamic lecturer, mentor, and science communicator, she has been a keynote speaker and active participant in numerous global conferences. Fluent in Arabic, English, Portuguese, and conversant in Spanish and French, Wafa exemplifies cross-cultural scientific engagement. Her mission is not only to uncover prehistoric life but also to inspire and empower women in science through active involvement in educational outreach and scientific events.
Professional Profiles
Education
Wafa Alhalabi holds a Ph.D. in Paleontology (2017–2021) from the University of São Paulo (USP), where her doctoral research provided a detailed review of appendicular skeleton characters in early dinosaur phylogenies, supervised by Dr. Max Cardoso Langer. She earned a Master’s degree in Environmental Management (2006–2008) through a joint program between Damascus University (Syria) and Poitiers University (France), focusing on risk analysis in public waste sites. Her academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology (1999–2004) from Damascus University, where she developed foundational expertise in ecological systems and biodiversity. This interdisciplinary training has enabled her to work across both environmental and paleontological research domains. Wafa’s educational path reflects her commitment to merging environmental stewardship with the historical understanding of Earth’s life forms, equipping her to tackle modern scientific challenges with a deep-time perspective.
Experience
Dr. Wafa Alhalabi’s professional experience spans research, environmental consultancy, teaching, and lab management. From 2022 to 2024, she worked as a fossil preparator and curator at the Laboratory of Paleontology, University of São Paulo (USP), handling delicate vertebrate specimens. Since 2018, she has served as Lab Manager at Liberlab Water Analysis Laboratory in Liberia, West Africa, managing environmental diagnostics. Between 2008 and 2016, she worked as an environmental consultant and biologist for ELARD across the Arab region. Her teaching roles include co-advising student projects on crocodyliform and dinosaur anatomy, and delivering short courses on fossil preparation. Wafa has also participated extensively in outreach initiatives, including the creation of Syria’s first geopark and organizing science education events like Darwin Day and “Ready to be a Scientist”. Her international experience in research and management uniquely positions her as a scientific leader bridging paleontology and environmental science.
Awards and Honors
Dr. Wafa Alhalabi has earned significant recognition in paleontological and scientific circles. She was a keynote speaker at the 5th Paleontological Virtual Congress in March 2025, and a lecturer at prestigious events such as the XXVIII Brazilian Congress of Paleontology and the Global Scientific Congress on Geology & Earth Science in Dubai. As head of the scientific community for the 2023 Regional Meeting of the Brazilian Society of Paleontology (Paleo SP), she showcased leadership in scientific coordination. Wafa also earned the role of organizer and participant in numerous educational science outreach initiatives like “Jurassic Holidays” and Darwin Day in Brazil. She has represented her research across Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East, gaining accolades for both scientific rigor and public engagement. Her continued peer-review work for journals like The Journal of Oman Studies and International Journal of Avian & Wildlife Biology further underscores her standing in the scientific community.
Research Focus
Wafa Adel Alhalabi specializes in vertebrate paleontology with a focus on Mesozoic and Cenozoic reptiles from Syria and South America. Her doctoral work delved into comparative phylogenetics of early dinosaurs, providing a taxonomic and anatomical framework for future studies. Through the “Recovering Lost Time in Syria” project, she has brought to light rare fossil records—including abelisaurid dinosaurs, stereogenyini turtles, and elasmosaurids—highlighting Syria’s untapped paleontological potential. She also contributes to projects on crocodyliforms, early ornithischians, and micro-remains from Peru. Beyond taxonomy, her work emphasizes conservation paleobiology, fossil preparation techniques, and science diplomacy. She is deeply invested in reviving Syrian paleontology amidst geopolitical challenges, bridging academic collaboration between Brazil and the Middle East. Wafa’s broader research ethos incorporates environmental management, seeking to understand past ecosystems to inform present-day ecological restoration and sustainability.
Research Skills
Wafa Alhalabi brings a wide array of technical and interpersonal skills to her multidisciplinary roles. Her laboratory expertise includes fossil preparation, curation, CT data processing, and anatomical reconstruction using Amira and Avizo software. She is proficient in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and advanced MS Office applications, essential for scientific visualization and documentation. Her programming capabilities in R enable her to analyze morphometric and phylogenetic datasets. Linguistically, she is fluent in Arabic, English, and Portuguese, with basic proficiency in Spanish and French—ideal for international collaboration. She excels in field research, lab management, and science communication. Her leadership experience spans organizing conferences, mentoring students, and fostering public science literacy. With years of consultancy in environmental diagnostics and water analysis, she bridges biology, geology, and sustainability. These combined capabilities make her a versatile scientist with both the depth and agility to tackle complex interdisciplinary challenges.
Conclusion
Dr. Wafa Adel Alhalabi is an outstanding multidisciplinary woman researcher whose scientific achievements, international collaborations, cultural outreach, and dedication to underrepresented regions make her exceptionally suitable for a Women Researcher Award. Her contributions not only fill major gaps in Syrian paleontology but also embody the transformative power of cross-cultural science.
Her candidacy aligns strongly with the goals of such an award: recognizing women who break barriers, promote inclusivity, and contribute meaningfully to global science. 
Recovering lost time in Syria: New Late Cretaceous (Coniacian–Santonian) elasmosaurid remains from the Palmyrides mountain chain
Year: 2024
Citations: 0
First fossil insect from Lower Cretaceous Lebanese amber in Syria (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) Year: 2015 Citations: 17
New outcrop of amber from Lebanon and Syria Year: 2012 Citations: 3
Comprehensive review of phylogenetic characters in early dinosaurs – Preliminary results Year: 2021 Citations: 0
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