Prof. Maria Babak Receives College of Science Teaching Excellence Award for 2025

City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK), May 2025 — Prof. Maria (Masha) Babak, PhD, Assistant Professor of Chemistry at City University of Hong Kong and Head of The Babak Lab, has been awarded the 2025 College of Science Teaching Excellence Award, recognizing her outstanding contributions to science education, mentorship, and curriculum innovation.

A chemist and cancer researcher by training, Prof. Babak’s teaching philosophy integrates hands-on learning, student mentorship, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Her recognition this year highlights her innovative approach to bridging chemistry, biology, and medicine in the classroom—and beyond.

A Passion for Teaching and Innovation

Since joining CityUHK in 2020, Prof. Babak has introduced several groundbreaking teaching initiatives. One of her most celebrated efforts is “Science vs. Crime” (CHEM2809/GE2334)—a forensic chemistry course that allows students to explore crime scenes through an interactive Virtual Reality (VR) platform. This course was supported by a CityUHK-funded project titled “Advancing Forensic Science Education: Interactive Immersive Virtual Reality CSI Walkthrough for Enhanced Teamwork and Learning.”

Prof. Babak’s courses emphasize project-based and team science learning, giving students from various disciplines—such as chemistry, biology, and veterinary medicine—a chance to collaborate on real-world challenges. She has also served as a faculty mentor for the CityUHK iGEM synthetic biology team, which gained international recognition in Paris in 2024 by winning the Best Education Award and ranking in the Top 10 globally in Best Presentation and Best Therapeutics.

Empowering the Next Generation of Scientists

Prof. Babak’s teaching goes far beyond the lecture hall. She is known for her student-centered pedagogy and active mentorship, which have left a lasting impact on both undergraduate and postgraduate students. In her award acceptance remarks, she said, “This award belongs to all of us. It was my students who helped bring these initiatives to life.”

Her students and colleagues alike describe her as passionate, innovative, and deeply committed to academic growth. One of her PhD mentees, Jemma Arakelyan, praised Prof. Babak’s “personalized guidance” and ability to foster a “lab culture built on trust and collaboration.” Testimonials across platforms consistently highlight her ability to inspire and support her students, both academically and personally.

A Role Model in Science Education

This is not the first time Prof. Babak’s mentorship has been publicly recognized. In 2024, she was honored with OncoDaily’s Yvonne Award for Mentorship, a testament to her dedication to student development. Her lab routinely features students as lead authors on high-impact publications—demonstrating her commitment to embedding education within scientific research.

Colleagues credit Prof. Babak with transforming science education at CityUHK, saying she “inspires excellence in education” and creates an environment that nurtures curiosity, critical thinking, and innovation.

About Prof. Maria Babak

Prof. Babak earned her MSc in Chemistry from the Higher Chemical College of the Russian Academy of Sciences in 2010 and completed her PhD in Bioinorganic Chemistry at the University of Vienna in 2014. She pursued postdoctoral training at the National University of Singapore and was also affiliated with the High-Impact Cancer Research Program at Harvard Medical School. Her research at The Babak Lab focuses on developing novel anticancer drugs for aggressive and drug-resistant cancers such as mesothelioma and brain metastases.

If you’re passionate about the future of science, education, and oncology, let her story be a reminder that one person really can make a difference.

Want to hear more stories like this?
Follow OncoDaily for deeper insights into the lives, work, and impact of today’s leading voices in cancer care and research.