Laiba Bilal has completed her PhD in electrical engineering at Stony Brook University after a journey spanning two decades and multiple countries. Bilal, originally from Karachi, Pakistan, began her pursuit of a doctorate in 2005 after earning her master’s degree from GIK Institute. Her academic path was interrupted several times due to family commitments and challenges related to pursuing higher education as a woman in Pakistan.
“I made the difficult decision to step back,” Bilal said about pausing her studies following marriage. She later attempted doctoral programs in Pakistan but faced institutional accreditation issues and societal pressure that questioned the appropriateness of advanced degrees for women with families. “I was constantly reminded, sometimes directly and sometimes through subtle comments, that a PhD wasn’t meant for women. And especially not for mothers with young children and a home to manage,” she recalled.
After raising three daughters and moving to New York, Bilal resumed her academic career at Stony Brook University in 2021. She credited faculty members Thomas Robertazzi and the late Matthew Eisaman for their encouragement upon her return: “They reminded me that sometimes you don’t just return, you come back stronger.”
A significant moment came when she joined Anibal Boscoboinik’s research group at the Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN) at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). Boscoboinik is an adjunct professor at Stony Brook University. Under his mentorship, Bilal said she regained confidence in her research abilities: “While working with him, I came to understand what a true advisor can do; not just guide research, but lift you up, nurture your growth, and help you reconnect with your purpose and passion.”
Boscoboinik highlighted Bilal’s contributions: “Her PhD work focused on the development of noble gas trapping materials, rooted in fundamental surface science. What made her contributions particularly noteworthy was her ability to successfully translate this foundational research into engineered materials that are now a step closer to real-world applications that can directly benefit society.”
Mónica Bugallo, vice provost for faculty and academic staff development at Stony Brook University, also supported Bilal during her studies: “Laiba’s journey is truly inspiring… Beyond her technical achievements, she has shared her work with broader communities and is a passionate advocate for STEM education and women in science. It has been a pleasure to support her and watch her grow as a scholar and role model.”
Bilal received several awards during her time at Stony Brook including the Association for Women in Science Career Re-entry Scholarship Award (2022), Clean Energy Technology Transfer Fellowship (2023), People’s Choice Award at the Three-Minute Thesis Competition (2024), Center for Inclusive Education Scholar (2024), and Armstrong Award for Excellence in Research and Highest GPA (2025). She graduated with a GPA of 4.0.
“These were more than awards to me,” said Bilal. “They were a reflection of healing, purpose, and the strength it takes to return after being away.”
In addition to research achievements—such as leading efforts toward commercializing nanocage-based noble gas trapping technology—Bilal served as chair of CFN’s Users Executive Committee and mentored students.
She attributes much of her drive to early encouragement from family members including parents who supported her interest in engineering despite cultural norms.
“It’s never too late to begin again,” said Bilal. “Even the eagle retreats to shed its feathers… Sometimes stepping back is just nature’s way of preparing you to rise even stronger. Where there’s a will, there’s always a way.”
Currently serving as a fellow at CFN/BNL leading commercialization projects based on materials developed during doctoral research, Bilal is exploring postdoctoral opportunities while considering staying connected with Stony Brook University where one of her daughters will enroll this fall.
“My eldest daughter is joining SBU this fall as an Honors Scholar,” she said,“and I am aiming to get into the IRACDA Postdoctoral Fellowship in Fall 2025…”
