Imperial College London, 2025-2026

Born and raised in Jordan, Layan Alkasaji attended King’s Academy, an international boarding school, before earning her Bachelor’s degree in Bioengineering from NYU Abu Dhabi. During her undergraduate years, she studied across a global network of campuses, exploring the intersection of engineering, medicine and design. She is now a Chevening Scholar pursuing an MSc in Biomedical Engineering at Imperial College London, specialising in Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering. She chose Imperial for its strong focus on innovation, entrepreneurship and translational research; for her, the programme provides not only technical expertise in biomaterials, but also exposure to interdisciplinary collaboration and real-world problem-solving. These skills are essential for bridging the gap between research and industry.

At NYUAD, Layan worked on developing soft sensors that help surgeons measure pressure during minimally invasive procedures and designed a low-cost incubator for observing live cells under a microscope. Her work was later presented at international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.

Beyond academics, Layan co-founded the Jordanian Cultural Association, served as a Resident Assistant and was elected Bioengineering Class Representative. She aims to translate biomedical innovation into accessible, sustainable technologies that strengthen healthcare in Jordan. After completing her master’s degree, she plans to work in the biomedical industry or in innovation-focused consulting roles, with a long-term goal of bridging research and real-world impact by advancing affordable, high-impact medical technologies in Jordan and the region.

“I’m particularly interested in how material innovation can improve the performance and affordability of medical devices, and how these technologies can be translated into scalable industrial or commercial solutions.”