SAFIR Research Newsletter - Third Issue

Released eight times per year, the newsletter highlights recent research outputs, events, partnerships, and opportunities across SUAD.

Recent Publications

Journal Articles

· Bsaibess, E., El-Rifai J., Christopoulos S., Slimani A., Laux-Le Guyon V., Optimization of bismuth telluride nanoparticles synthesized via spark ablation. MRS Communications. https://doi.org/10.1557/s43579-025-00742-9

· Chakraborty, T. A compounded Burr probability distribution for fitting heavy-tailed data with applications to biological networks. Chaos, 35(6). https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0270403

· Debailly, R. Effects of the right to be forgotten for childhood or breast cancer survivors. Journal of Cancer Survivorship. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-025-01830-4

· Li, L. Elastic circular organic microcrystals prepared by photoinduced delamination. Nature Communications, 16(1), 4933. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59670-w

· Li, L. Mxene quantum dot insertion-induced electron transfer in CoFe LDH for high-performance zinc-air batteries. Chemical Engineering Journal, 516, 164075. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2025.164075

· Meziane, T. Carbon dioxide emissions from coastal waters and mangrove sediments in a microtidal bay under tropical monsoon climate. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 322, 109355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2025.109355

· Pavlopoulos, K. Preliminary hydrogeological implications using structural analysis and cave mapping. Episodes Journal of International Geoscience. https://doi.org/10.18814/epiiugs/2025/025015

Conference Papers

· Al Suwaidi, M., Chaterera-Zambuko, F. Advancing Records Management Excellence in the UAE Oil Industry. 12th URIC, Abu Dhabi University. https://hal.science/hal-05091325v1

· Ferhani, B. Dark Digital Leadership. 6th RIPCO Research Day, Paris. https://hal.science/hal-05103233v1

Book Chapters

· Germoni, K. L'autre nom du bonheur était français de Shumona Sinha ou une langue de l'entre-deux(trois), in P. Fleury, F. Leca-Mercier & C. Stolz (eds.), L'Humour du prochain. Hommage à Anne-Marie Paillet, Louvain-la-Neuve: Éditions Academia, "Au coeur des textes", n°48, 2025, pp. 259–273.

International Conferences Participation

· ECLC 2025: 17th European Conference on Liquid Crystals, Bsaibess, E., 1 June, Prague

· International Conference on Education Sciences, Kordoni, A., 2 June, Kuala Lumpur

· IALLT/LET Conference, Harbi, I., 25–28 June, Manoa

· Rencontres Francophones Transport Mobilité (RFTM), Motte-Baumvol, B., 18–20 June, Dunkerque

· ESARBICA XXVIII Biennial Conference 2025, Masuku, M. & Critelli, M., 16–20 June, Zimbabwe

· Archiving 2025: Society for Imaging Science and Technology, Critelli, M., 24 June, Granada

· 6th Congress of GIS Moyen Orient et Mondes Musulmans, Chaveneau, C, 26 June, Strasbourg

· 9th IFAC Symposium on System Structure and Control (SSSC), Younes, G., 30 June, Gif-sur-Yvette

· International Association for Media and History Conference, Masuku, M., 30 June, Cape Town

Spotlight on Research Excellence

Debailly, R. Effects of the right to be forgotten for childhood or breast cancer survivors. Journal of Cancer Survivorship. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-025-01830-4

“Beating Cancer Twice: Navigating Financial Barriers After Cancer"

Surviving cancer presents a formidable challenge in itself; however, obtaining a mortgage after such an experience often proves equally complex. In France, the “Right to Be Forgotten” (RTBF) law seeks to prevent financial institutions from factoring an individual’s medical history into their lending and insurance decisions, particularly regarding loan-related insurance. This study investigates the actual impact of the RTBF law on cancer survivors. Findings indicate that, following the implementation of the RTBF, the likelihood of being denied loan-related insurance has decreased, especially for individuals who overcame cancer during childhood. Nevertheless, certain limitations persist: adult cancer survivors may still encounter significant barriers. In summary, while the RTBF represents a significant advancement in addressing the “financial toxicity” associated with cancer, further improvements are needed to enhance its effectiveness and accessibility.

About the Author

Dr. Renaud Debailly is Associate Professor in Sociology (Maître de conférences) in Sociology and a specialist in Science and Technology Studies (STS). His research focuses on the sociology of science, patient expertise in healthcare, and the epistemology of the social sciences. He is involved in several major interdisciplinary research projects, including WHAOU (Well-being and Health in Urban Trajectories), Co-SParT (on participatory science and sustainability transitions), and TraGenInnov (genomic innovation in healthcare). He has led research on the effects of the Right to Be Forgotten for cancer survivors (ELOCAN project) and supervises doctoral and postdoctoral research on topics ranging from recycling practices in the UAE to biomedical humanities and mobilizations around genomics.

New SAFIR Members

We have 2 new affiliate researchers who have been accepted to join the SAFIR Institute in June 2025:

· Dr. Mohamed Kayal

· Dr. Souhila Siagh 

Doctoral Projects Selected for SAFIR Funding

· Underground Aquifer Recharging in UAE (Supervisors: Kosmas Pavlopoulos & Stephane Desruelles)

· Molecular Switches and Bistability (Supervisor: Ahmed Slimani)

· Reinforcement Learning for Polycube Packing (Supervisor: Lama Tarsissi)

Postdoctoral Projects Selected for SAFIR Funding

· Multi-Agent LLMs for Marine Ecosystems (Supervisor: Giulia De Masi)

· LLMs in the Public Sector (Supervisors: Proscovia Svard, Yann Rodier)

· Danish Architects in the Gulf (Supervisor: Rose-Marie Ferré)

Research Projects Selected for SAFIR Funding

· The Portuguese Fortress Heritage in the Gulf – PI: Delphine Syvilay; Co-PIs: Yann Rodier, Lotfi Lahmar

· AI for Multi-Robot Coral Reef Monitoring – PI: Giulia De Masi; Co-PI: Julia Motte-Baumvol

· LLMs and Sustainability in the Public Sector – PI: Proscovia Svard; Co-investigators: Rodier, Chaterera, Kabata, Masuku, Matsungodo

· Data Compression via Combinatorics on Words and Digital Geometry – PI: Lama Tarsissi

· Migrated Maritime Archives in the UAE – PI: Forget Chaterera-Zambuko

· Advanced Cooling Materials – PI: Eliane Bsaibess; Co-PIs: Valerie Le Guyon, Ahmed Slimani, Joumana El Rifai

Other Information

Funding Application Deadlines

In anticipation of the summer break, please note the following important dates for SAFIR research project funding applications:

· 23 July 2025: Deadline for applications before the summer recess.

· 25 July – 18 August 2025: Research Budget Committee recess.

· 26 September 2025: Final deadline for applications for activities in 2025 (must be completed by 31 December 2025).

· From 27 September 2025 onward: only funding requests for activities in 2026 will be accepted.

Researchers interested in applying to the Research Partnership Grants 2025 with Swiss institutions (Leading House MENA) must submit their proposals by 22 August 2025. Full call details and application forms are available here: https://www.hes-so.ch/en/research/leading-house/mena/partnership-grants. Reach out to Clio Chaveneau for assistance and institutional support.

The 3d round of the Zayed National Museum Research Fund, open until July 14th, 2025. We encourage you to apply for this external funding opportunity. More info on this link: https://zayednationalmuseum.ae/en/research/research-fund-2025

For support with international partnerships—including with key UK and US institutions such as the University of Warwick, University of Edinburgh, University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, and others—please contact Julia Motte-Baumvol. A new International Relations section is now available on e-space, providing templates for agreements, factsheets, and guidance for initiating or expanding academic collaborations.