MAPS-Capital Region: Trailblazing the Future – A Young Innovator's Journey Into Biotech and Beyond

Zaara Ahmed, a senior at the National Cathedral School in Washington, DC, shared her inspiring journey into biotech, highlighting her motivation and early influences that propelled her toward this field. Her experiences span diverse projects in bioengineering and global health, including initiatives addressing the “Pink Tax” in Tanzania and AI-based pneumonia detection research at Stanford. Zaara’s work emphasizes the importance of sustainable solutions over temporary aid, connecting biotech innovations to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Her passion extends into environmental sustainability, showcased by her research on sustainable agriculture at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) and her fellowship under the Haile Climate Fellowship, where she explored biotech applications for environmental resilience.

A key theme was cyberbiosecurity, where Zaara discussed the importance of cybersecurity in biotech to ensure industry resilience and trustworthiness. Her introduction to economics and finance, particularly through experiences with angel investing and sustainable finance, highlighted her vision to integrate these fields with biotech to foster sustainable growth.

Looking forward, Zaara aspires to build collaborations with global organizations like BRAC and the World Bank to empower young leaders in biotech and cybersecurity. Her vision includes encouraging diversity, promoting awareness through media, and fostering the next generation of biotech innovators. She offered suggestions for leaders in the industry on how to connect to the younger generation, including making the topic of biotech more well-known and understood as a connection to the life sciences degrees.

This presentation showcased Zaara as a promising young leader who blended technical expertise with a drive for social impact and inspired those who attended.

Submitted by Sarah Boynton