ISE doctoral student holds 15 taekwondo global tournament medals

Waad Tarman, a doctoral student studying industrial and systems engineering (ISE) with a research focus in electronics manufacturing and reliability, holds 15 medals from more than 20 global tournaments in taekwondo. 

Tarman first got involved with taekwondo when she was just 5 years old. 

“It was all my parents,” she said. “I was just a chubby 5-year-old when, after a lot of resistance, they managed to sign me up for a taekwondo academy as a way to improve my health and discipline.”

Although she initially resisted, taekwondo became something she loved, and Tarman would go on to join Jordan’s cadet national team at 11 years old. 

“This accomplishment followed my progression onto the junior national team and, eventually, the senior national team in 2016,” Tarman said. 

During her time competing, Tarman won medals in 15 global competitions and finished fourth place twice in the Taekwondo World Championships. Tarman later became a taekwondo coach in Jordan. 

“These experiences have enhanced my determination and taught me valuable lessons in perseverance and focus,” Tarman said. 

Tarman, who was born and raised in Amman, Jordan, always wanted to be an engineer. When she read more about the different fields of engineering she found industrial and systems the most interesting for its diverse applications and for combining engineering and business.

Tarman lived in Jordan until she transferred to Auburn to pursue her doctorate in 2022. She received her undergraduate degree in industrial engineering from Hashemite University in Zarqa, Jordan. 

Before coming to Auburn, Tarman was assigned to Georgetown University for a summer course through participation in the Middle Eastern Project Initiative (MEPI) Student Leaders Program.

Funded by the State Department, the MEPI Student Leadership Program is a leadership and civic engagement program for up to 60 competitively selected undergraduate and graduate students between the ages of 20 and 24 from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Tarman wanted to continue her education and was very interested in the ISE program at Auburn. 

“Auburn’s exceptional reputation in the field of industrial and systems engineering, coupled with its supportive faculty and innovative opportunities, made it the ideal choice for my doctoral studies,” Tarman said. 

Tarman is the president of the Auburn chapter of the Surface Mount Technology Association (SMTA), and works as a teaching assistant in the ISE Lean Systems Engineering lab. She also works with ISE Associate Professor Sa’d Hamasha in her research in electronics manufacturing and reliability. 

“I am very much looking forward to all the following years of working and learning from him,” Tarman said. 

Tarman holds Auburn ISE in the highest regard, and her time with the department has been both intellectually stimulating and personally fulfilling.

“The program’s commitment to academic excellence, coupled with its emphasis on practical application and real-world impact, aligns perfectly with my academic and professional aspirations,” Tarman said. “It’s a dynamic and enriching environment that encourages growth and innovation.”