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Scientific Research: A Career Choice for Waqifat-e-Nau

This article explores the importance of scientific research as a career choice for Waqifat-e-Nau, providing insights into various research fields and valuable guidance for planning a successful scientific career. It emphasizes the motivation from the Holy Quran and the inspirational words of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih V.

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Scientific Research: A Career Choice for Waqifat-e-Nau

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  1. Scientific ResearchA Career Choice for Waqifat-e-NauNusrat Sharif, PhDserving as President Ahmadi Women Scientists Association(AWSA) USA 5th NATIONAL WAQIFAT-E- NAU CAMP June 23, 2019

  2. Outline: • A message to Waqifate Nau • Why indulge in Scientific Research? • What are the Research fields that a Waqifat-e-Nau can pursue? • Planning a Scientific Career at an early age • Why is scientific research in an Industry setting interesting? • Summary Points to successful Scientific Research

  3. A message to Waqifat-e-Nau

  4. “Why indulge in Scientific Research?” Motivation from the Holy Quran • The Holy Quran motivates us to Seek the Signs of Allah by pondering over the ships that sail on the sea by favour of Allah (Luqman;32) اَلَمۡ تَرَ اَنَّ الۡفُلۡکَ تَجۡرِیۡ فِی الۡبَحۡرِ بِنِعۡمَتِ اللّٰہِ لِیُرِیَکُمۡ مِّنۡ اٰیٰتِہٖ ؕ اِنَّ فِیۡ ذٰلِکَ لَاٰیٰتٍ لِّکُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَکُوۡرٍ ﴿۳۲﴾ Dost thou not see that the ships sail on the sea by the favour of Allah, that He may show you of His signs? Therein surely are Signs for everyone who is patient and grateful.

  5. The Holy Quran on creation of Universe • The Holy Quran draws our attention to the creation of the universe Verily in the creation of the Heavens and of the earth, and in the alternation of the night and of the day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding.(3:191) Do they then not look at the camels as to how they are created? And at the heaven as how it Is raised high? And at the mountains how they are fixed? And at the earth how it is spread? (88:18-21)

  6. Why do Scientific Sceintific Research? Inspiration fromHadhratKhalifatul Masih V (atba) “Some Waqfin-e-Nau have more of an interest in particular fields, and when they ask me, taking into account their interest, I allow them to study [in that particular field]. But here I wish to inform students that they should pursue various fields of scientific research and this includes Waqfin-e-Nau and other students. If we produce the best scientists in various fields of scientific research, then in the future Ahmadi Muslims will be the ones to provide religious knowledge. And where the world will be in need of you for religious knowledge, they will also be in need of you for secular knowledge”- The essence of Waqfe Nau (Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad)

  7. Scientist Career: Making the Right Choice • Role of Waqifat-e-Nau: • Further the mission of Promised Messiah • Alaihsalam (pbuh). To bring mankind closer to • God & to establish the rights of one another. • By being a Role model Ahmadi- excel in • religious & secular education • High moral values: Observance of Pudah • “As for the girls they are considered special, • if their attire and their purdah are • such that they are reflection of true Islamic teachings • to the extent that when others see them, they envy them, and say, that indeed • living in this society their attire & pudah are exceptional & outstanding

  8. About me: “How I built my interest in Scientific Research” • MS- Biochemistry- University of Hyderabad, India • Major in Life Sciences & Chemistry • Introduction to Immunology • BS- Biology & Chemistry: Osmania University, India • High School: St Anns High School, Hyderabad India

  9. About me: Establishing Scientific career as Industry Scientist • Group Leader: Senior Principal Scientist-Pfizer Inc. • Immunology & Inflammation Research Unit • Research experiences in the field of autoimmunity and inflammation research • Discovery research for patient cures living with life threatning diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, SLE (lupus), Intestinal Bowel Disease (IBD). • Post-doctoral Research Fellow: HSS & Weil Medical College of Cornell University • Research experience in field of Immunology & Inflammation, mechanism of SLE, immune cells causing dysfunction and relevance to autoimmune diseases • PhD in Molecular Immunology: • Thesis Research of molecular regulation of B cell factor responsible for producing antibody by the B cells

  10. Steps in establishing a successful research career • Start Early: as a child, middle/high school- Read books, Form a goal. • “Parents should instil in them the habit of reading books that will increase their knowledge & when they go to school parents should select such subjects that will introduce them to science”- HadhratKhalifatul Masih IV (Allah be pleased with him)” • Guidance from Khalifat: Write to Huzur, communicate with him your interests, request prayers, not just one time, but establish “personal bond” with Khilafat. • Build a Foundation in Research: High School is a good opportunity. Exposed to a variety of courses, which can interest you. Consider Summer internships, STEM • Think big, Plan ahead: What type of Scientific Research? What field? What to select in college to move to where you want to be? Courses, internships, research labs for experience. • Dedication, Hard work & Prayers: All three highly important for achieving your goal.

  11. High School/College: Crucial in making career choices • Shape your interest in scientific research. • STEM : Science, Technology, Engineering & Math. • NSF (National Science Foundation) • Explore Summer intern opportunities in Pharmaceutical companies/Academic labs • Networking • Study all your high school courses diligently. Score high. • Form a goal. Apply to universities- Cast a wide net • Additional Resource: Ahmadi Women Scientists Association

  12. Research CareerAcademia v. Industry Industry PhD Graduate (Molecular Immunology) Academia • Funding for research • provided by the • larger organization. • Security in finding the • right match. • large pharma • vs small biotech • More structured, • process oriented • enviornment. Research • aligned with focus of • the company. • Translational- Direct • impact on patients • life. • Grant writing-Funding • Securing a • tenure-track position • Researchers are self • starters and have • freedom of pursuing • their own research • interests • Research is more • discovery focussed- • much of the research • done for learning • than clinical • application Post-doctorate (Inflammation & Cytokine Signaling) A Scientist Career in Industry offers flexibility to an Ahmadi Woman to perform her diverse Islamic roles

  13. Towards understanding the role of Autoimmunity in immune-mediated diseases Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Normal Immune Response Tregs T Effector Immune Homeostasis Aberrant Immune response T Effector Autoimmunity Tregs • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) &Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) are • chronic inflammatory diseases resulting from breakdown of immune tolerance • to self antigens. • There is an unmet need in therapies for these diseases

  14. Discovery Research ProcessA stage gate system Lead Optimization Pre-Clinical Evaluation Assay Development Lead Discovery Discovery Pre-Development Early Exploratory Late Exploratory Phases DT 1 compound Confirmed Hits 2 chemical series Milestones Advanced hits Clinical development Timeline 24-36 months 3-6 months 9-12 months 10-12 years • Criteria must be met at each stage in order to proceed • Timelines are attached to each stage • Multiple projects • Multiple teams

  15. Why is discovery research in Industry interesting? • Creativity: Everyday is a new day in terms of creativity, challenge and cutting edge science. • Provides opportunity to work on novel drug targets and their implications in autoimmune diseases. • Excel in Knowledge: • Diseases with unmet needs are targetted, so an opportunity to understand the molecular mechanisms of broad range of prevailing autoimmune diseases. Eg : RA, SLE & IBD (Crohn’s & Ulcerative Colitis) • Service to humanity: • What you do everyday directly impacts patients lives living with chronic autoimmune diseases. The Holy Quran has guided us to do service to humanity: “You are the best people created for the good of mankind” (3:111)

  16. Cutting Edge Science: “Humanized mice” for human specific studies Intravenous injection Humanized Mouse Engraftment of human cells in peripheral blood of NSG mice Human Human cells Flow Cytometry analysis Showing staining of hCD45+ marker on Human cells

  17. Summary Points to Successful Scientific Research • Inspire from the teachings of Holy Quran and explore avenues of research. وَ لِکُلٍّ وِّجۡہَۃٌ ہُوَ مُوَلِّیۡہَا فَاسۡتَبِقُوا الۡخَیۡرٰتِ “And every one has a goal which dominates him; vie, then, with one another in good works.” (2:149) “Believers must have a goal before them just as other people or nations that set forth on the path of making progress set one for themselves” HadhratMirzaMasroor Ahmad (aba) JalsaSalana, Spain 2010 • Plan your career early- think of how you will be able to serve mankind? • Strive in the path selected with focus, prayers & inspiration. Follow the guidance of HadhratKhalifatulMasih (aba) “Advance so much in every field of education that your minimum target is a Nobel Prize”.

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