What does it look like to build an international chemistry career? Alaa El Din Mahmoud has some expertise. A Ph.D. candidate, he began his career at Alexandria University in Egypt, and his academic journey has taken him to Greece, Germany, and beyond. Along the way, Mahmoud has received recognition for his teaching and his research. In 2013, he was recognized by Alexandria University during the Day of Excellence for scientific contributions in teaching and research, and he was awarded a National Commission Young Scientists Award from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Man and the Biosphere program.