Choosing to become a PhD scholar is not a decision that I have taken lightly. I have thought
exceptionally very long before deciding to apply. I was aimed to complete advanced studies through
my courses in science and my appreciation has fully grown as I have evolved through the years. With
the progress in research projects particularly cancer research, love to analytical instruments made me
to realize I was created to work in the field of cancer biomarker detection to serve the human kind.
During graduation, I worked in chemistry lab where I learned about different types of synthetic
mechanisms and chemical modification processes, to make compounds from small molecule which
render them effective and less or non-toxic. With this approach in mind I planned to work on skin
regeneration during master program at Interdisciplinary Research Center of Biomedical Materials
(IRCBM), COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus in 2018. I also worked on hydrogel
formation of silk fibroin with chitosan for in depth bone regeneration. All these projects were the
base for the skin related problems even including skincancers.
After completion of MPhil. thesis, I joined IRCBM as Research Assistant in Sensor & Biosensor
(S&B) group. Here I completed several projects predominantly in the field of electrochemical
biosensors related to cancer biomarkers besides optical and flourescence based nanoprobes and have
published several research articles. Here in this lab I learnt basics of actual interdisciplinary research
which works at the interface of different fields of science including physics and biology in
collaboration of analytical chemistry. Our group have also developed an electrochemical prototype
as an early warning system for on-site screening (product development) of food products in
agriculture industry. Throughout the course of these projects our team had to correspond frequently
with mentors in academia and industry and this involvement has broadened my appreciation of
practice and application in a real life situation.
With these different experiences and knowledge obtained I will be able to work in dynamic and
challenging environment in order to get the exposures of the advanced cancer research and possibly
pave the way for new inventions I will hopefully, be able to resolve not only the mystery of advanced
electrochemical research ideas, but also be able to contribute towards the translational research at the
interface of different fields in the area of cancer research.
SIDRA RASHID