The Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 23 September 2024 to establish the Daniele Bassoul De Picciotto Scholarship Fund. The agreement was signed at the Rectorate by Prof. Salim Daccache, SJ, Rector of USJ, and Mrs. De Picciotto, in the presence of her two daughters. The ceremony brought together Prof. Richard Maroun, Vice-Rector for Research; Mrs. Cynthia-Maria Ghobril Andrea, Director of Fondation USJ; Prof. Myrna Gannage, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities Ramez G. Chagoury; Mrs. Shiraz Akl Zoghbi, Director of the Financial Aid Office; Mrs. Lynn Farah Bou Samra, social worker; Prof. Antoine Sarkis; as well as members of Fondation USJ.
In her welcome address, Mrs. Ghobril Andrea expressed her pleasure in hosting Mrs. De Picciotto and her daughters for this inaugural collaboration. She highlighted the significance of the initiative, stating that it reflects Mrs. De Picciotto’s steadfast commitment to USJ and represents a meaningful investment in the future of young researchers who will contribute to the advancement of knowledge and the University’s international standing.
Mrs. Ghobril Andrea also commended the efforts of Prof. Richard Maroun, Vice-Rector for Research, emphasizing that this initiative lays the foundation for strengthened support of research at USJ and enables students to fully realize their academic and scientific potential through close collaboration and sustained commitment.
She further paid tribute to the memory of Prof. Dolla Karam Sarkis, whose legacy continues to inspire initiatives of this nature. Mrs. Ghobril Andrea also expressed gratitude to the investment fund Globivest, managed by Mrs. Jasmine Busson, which will provide a work placement aimed at reinforcing the link between academic research and innovation.
The scholarship fund will grant a full scholarship covering three years of tuition to deserving PhD candidates at USJ specializing in artificial intelligence, machine learning, or data analytics. In addition, two final-year master’s students in psychology, serving as research assistants, will receive scholarships covering 25% of their tuition fees, supporting their research in an environment conducive to innovation and scientific discovery.
Mrs. Ghobril Andrea concluded by thanking Mrs. De Picciotto and underlining that the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding reflects a strong and enduring commitment to academic excellence, research, and innovation at USJ.