Mahtab Farahbakh, a Ph.D. student at the Child Vision Lab, has been awarded the inaugural Mirzakhani Scholarship for Women in STEM at UK’s top research institution, the prestigious University College London. Ms. Farahbakhsh’s doctoral studies at the Institute of Ophthalmology focus on brain imaging, biomedical engineering, and neuroscience to help children with visual impairment. A top graduate in biomedical engineering, a winner of a neuroscience prize, a volunteer helping children with autism, and an intern at hospitals and neuroscience labs, Ms. Farahbakhsh was chosen by the independent panel to receive this significant scholarship, the first of its kind in Europe.

Persia Educational Foundation established the Mirzakhani Scholarship in remembrance of the first woman to win the prestigious Fields Medal in mathematics, the late Stanford Professor, Maryam Mirzakhani. The inaugural scholarship is offered to women enrolled in STEM studies at University College London, available online here. Each year, an independent panel selects the recipient of the Persia Mirzakhani Scholarship from among eligible applicants. The results are announced on 3rd May, marking the anniversary of the birth of the late Maryam Mirzakhani (3 May 1977 – 14 July 2017).

The Mirzakhani scholarship is GBP 1500. Eligible applicants for the 2019-2020 academic year are required to submit their application to Persia Educational Foundation by 5:00 pm BST on 1 February 2019. The scholarship results will be announced on 3 May 2019.

A UK-registered charity, Persia Educational Foundation advances education in line with Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030), by offering special opportunities for character and civic education, as well as scholarships, awards, and educational resources.