Uffaf Khan
Biography
Previous Degrees
BS in Biology and minor in Chemistry. MS Biomedical Sciences-Neuroscience
What is your favorite word? What do you like about it?
Serendipity
Serendipity means the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way or an unplanned fortunate discovery. It signifies the hope one person holds on to and also events people remember and cherish in their lives. It can be life changing word for some and for others an interesting story to tell and read. Many scientists have made important discoveries due to serendipity.
What is on your bookshelf?
My virtual bookshelf is mostly filled with scientific papers and bookmarks to science daily news and articles. You would easily also find fiction and mystery genres on my bookshelf. Growing up I was extremely fond of reading John Grisham novels.
What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
I am a very optimistic person. This quality of mine has not just helped me in life but has also benefitted many people around me.
What excites you about joining Texas A&M School of Medicine for your PhD studies?
I am extremely excited about the interdisciplinary, innovative and collaborative nature of the Medical Sciences program at Texas A&M Institute of Bioscience and Technology. Having an extensive experience of more than 10 years of working in both academic and industry research, I feel very excited to have the opportunity to gain further insight about the IBT Biotech Alliance track and its focus on research, biotechnology and entrepreneurship.
If you could met any scientist throughout history, who would you want to meet and why?
Each renowned scientist has made important contributions in their field of expertise, and therefore, it’s very difficult to just name one because I want to ideally meet them all. However, I have always been fascinated by Marie Curie’s life and scientific legacy and her steadfast determination and complete confidence in her work from a very early age. She was a female scientist of the firsts. She strived for her ambition and struggled her way through her life especially in the late 1800’s to make her place as a women scientist in a time where women were not given many opportunities to excel as a scientist. She was a brilliant and extraordinary scientist who not only was the first female to receive a Nobel Prize but also the only person to have ever received two Nobel Prizes in two different fields up to this date. Her first Nobel Prize of Physics was awarded in 1903 for her contribution in the discovery of radioactivity a term which she coined, and her second Nobel Prize of Chemistry was awarded in 1911 for discovery of two new elements Radium and Polonium. She was also the first female Professor at the University of Paris. Her discoveries of Radioactivity and radiation have revolutionized the field of cancer biology and have provided effective ways to develop new technologies for treatment in this field. My admiration for her is immense and throughout my journey in science and research I have always been mindful and fond of Marie Curie’s famous quote, “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less”.
Tell us something you are passionate about apart from research.
Being a non-traditional student time management is one of the key aspects of my life. I love spending time with my family, physical fitness activities and volunteering for the community. I believe it’s very important for any individual especially the scientists to stay connected and be aware of the environment around them by being an active member of their communities.