A joyful moment turned heartbreaking when engineer Nadia Ayman Nasif died in a car accident just days before she was to receive her PhD degree from the University of Sharjah.
During the graduation ceremony, her mother, Engineer Farah Abdulrahim Al Hasani, accepted Nadia’s degree on her behalf. As Nadia’s name was announced, the crowd stood in silence, offering prayers and applause, paying tribute to her memory.
According to Emarat Al Youm, Nadia had promised her mother she would hand her the PhD certificate herself. Though she passed away before fulfilling that dream, her family honored her by accepting the degree.
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Her mother shared that walking into the same hall where they had spent years together during Nadia’s studies brought back strong memories. “She was with me,” she said with emotion.
Nadia’s father, Ayman Walid Nasif, said the moment was full of both pride and pain. He watched from the audience while his wife carried their shared sorrow and pride to the stage.
Nadia’s sister, Shahd Nasif, a journalist, described her as “the backbone of the family.” Her brother, Engineer Mohammed Nasif, said Nadia had been looking forward to the ceremony like it was Eid, adding that her recognition didn’t end with her death – she truly earned it.
Nadia leaves behind a three-year-old son, who will grow up remembering his mother’s achievements and strength.
Nadia completed her bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD in structural engineering over 12 years – all with honors. Her PhD research focused on fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC), fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP), and using artificial intelligence for monitoring structural safety.
Despite being early in her career, she published 12 international research papers, with 8 in top Q1 journals. Her research impact score was 1.74, which is 74% higher than the global average.
She was recently selected for a postdoctoral position at the University of Dubai, where she planned to lead new AI-based engineering projects — a dream she was passionate about but couldn’t complete.
Nadia’s untimely death is a deep loss to her family and the engineering world, but her legacy continues to inspire students and professionals around the world.
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