JKSCIENTISTS (KashirScientist)

Director

Syed Mubarak Hussain: Born and raised in Kashmir. A father, and a scientist exploring the mysteries of a fruit fly brain. Syed gets excited about science, science advocacy, diversity, open access, travels, running, hiking, and playing cricket. Currently, he spends most of his free time outdoors with kids exploring New Mexico. More information about Syed at www.syedlab.org, Tweets @neuroseq. If you are interested in being part of a change at JKScientists, please get in touch with at syed(at)jkscientists.org president(at)jkscientists.org

Asif Bakshi (SPECTRUM Chair)

Asif Bakshi is currently a graduate student at the Center for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad. His research broadly aims to understand the fate of neural stem cells during brain development in fruit flies. He did his Masters from Dept. of Biochemistry from the University of Kashmir and also worked as a Research Fellow in JNCASR Bangalore. He likes photography, cycling, and traveling. He has been associated with JKScientists for the last five years and believes in empowering youth through quality education and motivation can uplift our society. He likes to build a friendly and positive relationship with people. Contact Asif at baskshiasif(at)jkscientists.org

Riyaz Shah (Fund Raising Chair)

Riyaz Shah : I come from a small Village “Haji Bagh” located on the West bank of Hokarsar Lake in the Soibugh area of Dist Budgam. I did my schooling at Iqbal Memorial Public school, Bemina. I joined Sri Pratap College for my bachelor of science and it is where I got interested in Biochemistry and decided to delve into the research field. I pursued my masters in Biochemistry from the University of Kashmir and moved to Bangalore where I joined Prof Umesh Varshney ’s research group in the Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology at the Indian Institute of Science as a PhD fellow. During my PhD, I worked on “Role of conserved elements initiator tRNA and ribosome heterogeneity in translation fidelity in E. coli”. I finished my doctorate in Nov 2018, and currently, I am working as a research associate in the same institution. Currently, I am a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Besides research, I like playing cricket and traveling. I have very recently developed an interest in trekking. Being a mentorship coordinator you will find me active on social media for the JKScientists group. I love the way the JKScientists group has evolved and the vision of this organization reflects my conviction. Helping students realize their future goals and depths of potential through academic mentorship is my passion and hence I coordinate the same team @JKScientists. I can be reached at riyazshah(at)jkscientists.org

Zahida Qamri (Communications Chair)

Zahida Qamri is a Regulatory Compliance Officer at The Ohio State University, USA. She is a PhD in Biosciences from Jamia Millia Islamia (India) and holds Master’s degrees from Jamia Hamdard (India) in Biochemistry and The Ohio State University (USA) in Applied Clinical and Pre-clinical Research. She has expertise in the oncological field mainly breast, lung, and brain elucidating the molecular mechanisms for the onset of these cancers. She has published her work in peer-reviewed journals on novel therapeutic strategies for the prevention and management of these cancers. Presently, she is involved with the initiation and opening of Phase 1, 2, and 3 clinical trials at OSU after timely approvals from legal institutional, state, and federal agencies. She is self-motivated, a “forever student” in a quest for beneficial knowledge, and passionate to understand the unknown. Email Zahida at zahidaqamri(at)jkscientists.org

Saima Beigh

Energetic and enthusiastic graduate student of Psychology; Saima can read your brain. She has brought new energy and new programs to the JKScientist community. Saima loves reading minds, books, and cooking global fusion food. She can be reached at saimabeigh(at)jkscientists.org

Jameel Ahmad Khan (Mentorship Chair)

Jameel Ahmad Khan is working at cCAMP as a bio-entrepreneur. His work focussed on the digitization of agriculture and coordinating grant challenges for disruptive startups. He desires to empower agriculture through environmentally conscious technology by creating innovation having market value.

Jameel has obtained PhD in Plant Biotechnology from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore. He has contributed to the novel design of root phenomics platform at ICAR-National Institute of Abiotic Stress, Pune. His contributions to developing the mathematical parameter ‘Micronutrient Productivity’ has led to the development of biofortified rice in India. Jameel can be reached at jameel(at)jkscientists.org

Khalid Gul (Outreach Chair)

Khalid Gul did his PhD in Processing and Food Engineering from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India and started his career as an Assistant Professor on a Tenure basis at the Islamic University in Avantipore, Kashmir.

He moved to South Korea and China for his postdoctoral and later joined Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai as a Senior Researcher. He also volunteers for an Elsevier Science journal in its editorial board.

His association with JK Scientists started in late 2017; he has been particularly fascinated with the outreach and mentorship programs and advises/mentor students particularly those interested in moving to South East Asia for higher education.

In his leisure, he listens to music, reads, and spends time with friends. If you have an interesting topic in mind or interesting speakers to nominate or if you want to self nominate as a speaker, please email Khalid at gulkhalid(at)jkscientists.org or outreach(at)jkscientists.org

Abdul Haseeb Shah

I started focusing on biological research during my undergraduate studies where I took biochemistry as my main subject. After finishing my undergraduate studies I started my Masters in Biotechnology Department at Kashmir University, India to get more exposed to advanced biological studies. Various courses during my post-graduate studies fascinated me to pursue biological research and in my last semester of post-graduation, I moved to the National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi. After working there briefly, I moved to Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi for my Ph.D. During my Ph.D. program, I worked on some of the features of fungal pathogenesis. I worked on drug resistance aspects of Candida albicans, a human fungal pathogen, which causes highly devastating diseases in humans worldwide.

After graduating from Jawaharlal Nehru University, I got more interested in the study of fungal diseases because the factors responsible for fungal pathogenesis in humans are generally similar to the features seen in cancerous cells. Moreover one of the frequent causes of death in cancerous patients is the secondary infections caused by these opportunistic fungal pathogens. Soon I joined as Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi in early 2015 to further continue my research and widen my area of expertise, and to do more interdisciplinary study to devise novel ways to check the spread of fungal pathogens.

Currently, I work as DST-INSPIRE Faculty (http://bioresources.uok.edu.in/Main/ViewPage.aspx?Page=104) at the University of Kashmir, Srinagar, J&K ,and also serve as ASM international Young Ambassador to India (https://asmyoungambassadors.wordpress.com/young-ambassadors-of-science/). Can be reached out at: abdulhaseeb(at)jkscientists.org tweets @_PAHS_

Dr. Ahsan Ul Haq Qurashi

I am an Associate Professor at Khalifa University, UAE. I have earned Ph.D. in Materials Chemistry from Chonbuk National University, South Korea, and completed post-doctoral work at Toyama University, Toyama, Japan. Before joining Khalifa University, I served as an Asst. Professor at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

My group works on the development of novel methods for the production of materials for clean energy generation and storage, catalysis, sensors, and biological applications. In my free time, I play cricket and enjoy eating food.

Mir Zahoor Gul

I am Mir Zahoor Gul, an alumnus of the University of Hyderabad, where I obtained my Ph.D. in Plant Biotechnology. I am currently working as a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Department of Biochemistry, University College of Science, Osmania University, Hyderabad. I am an enthusiastic researcher, and I enjoy using my skills to contribute to the exciting scientific advances that happen in our laboratory. Besides being engaged in scientific adventures, I love to interact with people to gain new inspirations and inspire others. I spend my free time with family, reading, watching sports, and listening to music.

I have been associated with JK Scientists for the past three years and it has been a great experience. This association has broadened my perspective in terms of social activities. Currently, I am the Lead Coordinator for Outreach and Sprout (Academic mentorship programs at JK Scientists, and can be reached at ziahgul(at)jkscientists.org

Mentorship (SPROUT) Team:

Aisha Hamid

Aisha Hamid is a PhD student at the University of New Mexico. She studies the cellular and molecular pathways leading to the generation of neural diversity during the development and establishment of neural connectivity, in the model system Drosophila melanogaster. Previously, Aisha studied the molecular mechanism of a non-enzymatic post-translational modification in eukaryotes, known as pyrophosphorylation with Dr. Rashna Bhandari at CDFD, Hyderabad. Aisha also studied orthologs of a peptidoglycan hydrolase in Gram-negative bacteria with Dr. Manjula Reddy at CCMB.

Aisha thinks she has been fortunate to be connected to some eminent mentors throughout her journey, who are now her inspiration behind serving at JK Scientists and its initiatives and pay it forward. At JKScientists Aisha leads the SPECTRUM Journal Club program. Contact Aisha at aishahamid(at)jkscientists.org

Umer Saleem Bhat

I am Umer Saleem Bhat and I am from Shalteng, Srinagar. I have completed my masters in Biotechnology from the University of Kashmir. I am currently pursuing my Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali. I am working with Kavita Babu's research group at IISc Bangalore. I am interested in looking at the role of neuropeptides in regulating locomotion during stress conditions like starvation using Caenorhabditis elegans as the model system.

I strongly believe that I can satiate my conscience by serving the community and JK Scientists per se is the best platform for me. I can be reached at umersaleem(at)jkscientists.org

Spectrum Instructors

Amreen Naqash

Born and raised in Srinagar, Kashmir. My career started when I opted for science as my main core stream during my higher secondary school. I knew what I wanted from it. I graduated with a Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm) from the University of Kashmir and later got my Master of Pharmacy -specialization in Pharmacology from the same university. My master’s thesis during this time was focused mainly on carrying the clinical trial, but my heart always lied in the wet-lab setting. To explore the area of wet-lab setting I worked for a few months in Dr Fayaz’s Lab at the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. During this period, I tried to gain the skills that could contribute my knowledge towards the wet lab, and simultaneously I worked remotely in a collaboration with a group of researchers at the University of Monash, Australia. I am presently a PhD student at the University of Otago, in New Zealand. My current research focuses on the functional characterisation of the viral interleukin 10, an anti-inflammatory factor encoded by the parapoxviruses, and their role in dampening the immune responses. I strongly feel that being curious and the capacity to take “no” for the hypothesis is fundamental to my scientific career.

Kashmir! It is the need answered. The vulnerability of education to daily challenges faced by a Kashmiri student motivates me to make a difference. I have been there and faced those limitations, and that is what I don't want for the undergrads with the spark and zeal for science. Being associated with Kashir Scientist provided me with the opportunity to stay connected with roots and play an active role in nourishing them.

SPECTRUM CLUBS

PsychNook (Psychology Club)

Soon to be Dr. Saima Beigh

ICCSR Fellow

University of Kashmir

Tanzeela Wazeer

Bachelors Student,

Psychology and Education

Qurat ul Ain

Graduate, Bachelors,

Psychology and Education

SciVectors (Biology Club I)

Amreen Naqash

Ph.D. Candidate

University of Otago, New Zealand

Mir Aroosa

Postgraduate in Pharmacology,

Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi

Ubaid Tariq

Ph.D. student,

IIT Kanpur

SolutionSquad (Biology Club II)

Iqball Faheem

Ph.D. Student

Indian Institute of Science, IISc Bangalore

Ufaq Bhat

Ph.D. Student

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, IISER Pune

Azka Khan

Ph.D. Student

Central University of Kashmir

SciTalkers (Biology Club III)

Umer Saleem Bhat

Ph.D. candidate

IISC, Bangalore

Nausheen Shafi

Bachelor of Science, Biotechnology

Govt. College for Women, MA Road

SciBrains (Biology Club IV)

Safiya Mehraj

Ph.D. Student

CSIR-IIIM, Srinagar, Kashmir

Adil Rashid Wani

P.hD. student

University of New Mexico, USA

Soon to be Dr. Burhan Farooqee

ACTREC, Mumbai

Alchemists (Chemistry Club)

Zahid Manzoor Bhat

Ph.D., Department of Chemistry,

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, IISER Pune

Shabnum Maqbool

Ph.D., Student,

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, IISER Pune

Haroon Rashid

Ph.D. Student

University of Paris Saclay

ISOTOPES (Physical Sciences Club)

Dr. Aga Shahee

Research Associate

Institute of Physics,

Johannes Gutenberg-Universitat Mainz, Germany

Ambar Nafees

Masters Student

Christ Church College, Kanpur

Sabbatical:

Shoiab Bukhari

Shoiab Bukhari is currently working as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Columbia University Irvin Medical Center. Broadly, he has research experience in Cancer biology scoping in and through cancer signal transduction, marker discovery, and immunotherapeutics. He anticipates his future to be somewhere aligned in nurturing the next-gen to stimulate their creative thoughtfulness for them to be able to develop innovative assay platforms, driving their innovation to translational medicine/ Applied Biology. He also takes an interest in Science policy-making, Healthcare policies, and Sustainable Energy policies.

Syed Durafshan Sakeena A Postdoctoral fellow at University of California, Santa Barbara investigating how brain selects sequences of actions to produce behavior using fruit flies as a model. Pursued PhD from NCBS-TIFR, Bangalore, and unraveled the mechanisms underlying how motor nerves that enable an animal to move occupy specific domains in the nervous system and innervate specific leg muscles during development. Before venturing into the field of neuroscience, pursued MS in Biotechnology from the University of Kashmir. Born and bought up in Srinagar, grew up with the flavor for learning science, poetry, adventure & photography. While the brain sparks with scientific passion, also interested in science outreach in order to transfer & keep the sparks shining in young interested minds.

Anha Bhat: I come from Srinagar's Haft Chinar area which was famous for its 7 massive chinars. I graduated with a B.E (Bachelor of Engineering) in Biotechnology with majors in Genetic Engineering. The degree gave me an opportunity to spend considerable time with reactor designing and unit operations at VMU-Chennai. I went on to study Nanomedicine and I earned a Master of Science degree in it. A linear dependence of nanomedicine on sensors for diagnostics ignited an old flame with machines yet again and motivated me to pursue my Master's in Engineering in Nanoengineering with specialization in semiconductor devices at University Autonoma Barcelona. Currently, I am pursuing my PhD at Research School of Physics and Engineering at Australian National University. I work on device fabrication of quantum confined systems. I grow semiconductor material systems with techniques like MOCVD, include variations in them permitted within the condensed matter physics boundaries and make them into industry-oriented devices like Quantum Well Nanowire photodetectors and lasers. The device engineering labs at Intel, IBM and JPL-NASA are the major beneficiaries of these researches which explains my interest in tech- entrepreneurship.

In my leisure, I like to read, play tennis, hike and occasionally skydive! I strongly believe that the knowledge economy is one of the best contributions one can afford for nation-building which explains it as my passion and long association with Kashir Scientist forum.

Tafheem Masudi (Editor Newsletter)

Tafheem Masudi is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Institute of Biomedicine, GU, Sweden. He obtained his PhD from FMI, Novartis in Basel, Switzerland. Tafheem has contributed towards understanding the cross-talk within neuronal elements of the olfactory system and motor circuits. His research has been fundamental in deciphering structure–function relationships in the brain.

Tafheem was a cofounder of Team Kalpana, Part of Indus, Axiom Research Labs. Team Kalpana's objective was to establish a self-sustaining ecosystem on the surface of the moon. He also worked as an Expert Facilitator at Scital, an EduTech company. He worked with students to impart applied thinking and problem-based learning. His approach was no lecture but more as a facilitator to mentor underprivileged students from rural areas of India. At JKScientist, he is a core member and the executive editor of the JKS Newsletter.

He can be reached on tafheem(at)jkscientists.org and https://www.linkedin.com/in/tafheemmasudi/

Advisory Board

Insha Rasool has pursued her MS at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, followed by a tenure as a research scholar in molecular cell signaling laboratory at POSTECH, South Korea. She is the founder and CEO of HomeGreens, an establishment of a sustainable organic farming venture based in Kashmir. Through her establishment she aspires to bring the awareness about the ill effects of injudicious application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. She actively educates the young farming aspirants about the sustainable high-intensity farming techniques through the online portals both on Instagram and Facebook.

Khursheed Wani: I am a Research Associate at UMass Medical School in Worcester, MA. I hail from the Apple Town (Sopore) of Kashmir. I did my high school from Aligarh Muslim University, and my BS and MS from the University of Kashmir.

Apart from research, I enjoy reading, outdoor running, and gardening. When at home, I can be found making elaborate salads and soups, baking breads, and singing in my beautiful mother tongue.

Irfan Rather

King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, SA

Pir Jeelani

DZNE Germany

JKScientist Global Coordinators

List of JKScientist Coordinators/Ambassadors

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