Majd Al‑Marrawi's work as an undergraduate researcher has earned him two of the nation’s most prestigious academic honors, the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and most recently a Fulbright U.S. Student Fellowship, achievements he said were made possible through the deep, community‑centered mentorship culture at The Ohio State University at Marion.
Al-Marrawi will travel to Amman, Jordan, in January 2027 to begin his six‑month Fulbright grant, conducting research through Hashemite University in Zarqa under the mentorship of Dr. Rana Dajani, a globally recognized molecular biologist and founder of the We Love Reading initiative. His project will examine how war and displacement‑related trauma leave epigenetic markers on Syrian refugee mother‑child dyads, and whether the We Love Reading literacy intervention can buffer these biological effects. He will also volunteer with health‑focused nonprofits serving displaced families in Amman, connecting scientific inquiry with direct community advocacy.
“The Fulbright is more than an honor; it is a testament to perseverance, resilience, and the unwavering support of my mentors, friends, and family,” Al-Marrawi said. “As a Syrian‑American, I see this as an opportunity to use my heritage in the service of others. This award reaffirms my dedication to dismantling the cultural and linguistic barriers that drive health disparities and to advancing more equitable, compassionate care for all.”
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is a fully funded international academic exchange program. While Al-Marrawi awaits final financial details, Fulbright awards typically include travel, housing and living support, a monthly stipend, a one‑time setup allowance, and research‑related funding, with amounts varying by country and cost of living.
Al Marrawi’s path to these honors began at Ohio State Marion, where faculty mentorship shaped his academic identity and research trajectory. According to Al-Marrawi, his curiosity for scientific inquiry was first sparked by Dr. Melissa Petreaca in her introductory biology and physiology courses. “Dr. Petreaca’s kindness and encouragement stayed with me,” he said. “She helped me see that science wasn’t just something I could study, it was something I could contribute to.”
That early encouragement ultimately drew him back to Ohio State Marion after transferring to the Columbus campus, where he began working closely with two additional mentors: Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Dr. Renee Bouley, and Professor of Molecular Genetics and Member, Cancer Biology, The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Dr. Ruben Petreaca,
Dr. Bouley said Al-Marrawi’s independence and drive set him apart from the moment he joined her lab.
“Majd graduated with research distinction in May, which required writing a thesis and defending the thesis in an oral presentation,” Bouley said. “He largely worked independently on his many computational projects and met with me and his co‑mentor every other week to discuss his progress and determine next steps. It is extremely rare for an undergraduate student to be able to have the level of involvement and independence in a research project that Majd has shown.”
She added that Al-Marrawi’s initiative extended far beyond the laboratory.
“Majd has always set goals for himself to pursue opportunities such as applying to multiple scholarships such as Goldwater and Fulbright. I greatly appreciate how Majd would independently identify opportunities to apply to and communicate with me on deadlines and requirements. He has also greatly honed his oral communication skills through presenting his research via seminars and posters, along with being a general chemistry teaching assistant. He has truly made the most out of his time as an undergraduate, which required resilience and adaptability. He was always juggling multiple responsibilities like coursework, research, presentations, outreach, and studying the MCAT. I know that all these responsibilities were stressful and challenging for him, but he was able to find a balance and still succeed,” said Bouley.
Al-Marrawi shared that Dr. Bouley’s belief in him was transformative. “Her belief in me shaped my growth as a scientist, a student, and a person,” he said. “Her guidance opened doors I never imagined I could walk through.”
According to faculty mentor, Dr. Ruben Petreaca, Al-Marrawi’s work ethic is what guided his academic and research success and serves as an example to other students entering undergraduate research.
“Majd has a drive that is unparalleled among other undergraduate students I have met,” said Petreaca. “I always tell students that the most important quality to succeed is hard work and perseverance and he has both. I feel fortunate to have met him and I have to thank Renee (Bouley) and Melissa (Petreaca) for introducing him to me.”
“As teachers, said Petreaca, “we do this job not for the money but for the satisfaction we derive from seeing students like him succeed. He is the fulfillment of all our hard work. It gives me great pleasure to know that the next generation has people like him.”
Dr. Petreaca’s mentorship deepened Al Marrawi’s technical skillset, teaching him the intricacies of conducting rigorous, meaningful research. “Dr. Petreaca’s generosity in teaching me the details of research was invaluable,” he said. “He helped me understand not just how to do science, but how to do it well.”
Al-Marrawi emphasized that Ohio State Marion’s smaller, community‑focused environment played a critical role in his development. The campus’s close‑knit culture allowed him to form meaningful relationships with faculty and peers, receive individualized guidance, and eventually mentor younger students in return, continuing the cycle of support that shaped his own success.
“Ohio State Marion exceeded every expectation I had,” said Al-Marrawi. “I didn’t arrive expecting it to become the foundation of my entire academic career, but the relationships I built there ended up shaping nearly everything that followed. The community at Ohio State Marion made it possible for me to grow and to help others grow alongside me.”
Petreaca said, “It is not lost on me that Majd has chosen to work with Marion faculty. In doing so, he has elevated our campus and serves as an example to other students that success is personal and achieved only through hard work.”
“I hope my story can help someone transform the weight of their own potential into the fuel that drives them forward,” added Al-Marrawi
Al-Marrawi’s achievements, from Goldwater Scholar to Fulbright Fellow, reflect the power of mentorship, resilience, and community. His story demonstrates how Ohio State Marion’s faculty‑driven guidance and supportive learning environment can help students turn potential into purpose and purpose into global impact.
