Rabiah Mayas, Ph.D. is currently the Science Director of the Center for the Advancement of Science Education at the Museum of Science and Industry. Since beginning in this capacity at the Museum in Fall 2009, Rabiah’s primary role is to enrich the science content of the Center’s programs for teachers, students, Museum guests and the community; help identify cutting-edge science and integrate it throughout Museum programs; develop and participate in public programming; and support the online education initiatives of the Museum.
Most recently, Rabiah was the Science Director of Science Chicago, a year-long campaign spearheaded by the Museum from September 2008 through August 2009 that highlighted science and technology achievements, increased access to science learning experiences, and promoted dialogue about the importance of science and technology. In this capacity she represented and advocated for Science Chicago to the greater Chicagoland scientific community, writes for and manages the Science Chicago Blog, and worked with the Science Chicago team and Partners in program development, including advising on current and future science trends, innovations and research and how best to include them in public programming.
Rabiah earned a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at The University of Chicago in 2007. Her graduate work was focused on investigating mechanisms by which eukaryotic cells establish fidelity in pre-mRNA splicing, a process which is estimated to be causative of up to 50% of heritable, mutation-derived human disease. This work has provided key insight into how errors in splicing are prevented and has significant potential to be adapted to the human system for the study of the genesis and treatment of disease.
While working on her Ph.D., Rabiah served as a mentor for Chicago Youth Programs in Jackson Park, a classroom mentor for the University of Chicago BioOutreach Program at Paul Robeson High School and a research mentor for undergrad, graduate students and technicians. These experiences informed her decision to use her scientific training for public health and science education. Specifically, she is interested in bridging the knowledge gap between scientific academia and underserved communities. Her long-term goals include using her research training and education experience to develop programs that advocate for scientific and health education and awareness in such communities in the United States and worldwide.
Rabiah has been awarded numerous fellowships, honors and awards including a Ford Foundation Predoctoral Research Fellowship 2003-2006; a NIH Molecular and Cellular Biology Training Grant (2000-2003); and a Fogarty International Research Training Program Scholarship (1998). She also has B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and a Certificate in Modern Languages and Linguistics (French) from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Dr. Mayas was also a certified Emergency Medical Technician 2000-2002.
