Nadia Tasnim Ahmed, a student from Bangladesh at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, is set to make history as the first person in the United States to earn a PhD in pharmaceutical engineering this month.
VCU established the nation’s inaugural pharmaceutical engineering PhD program in 2020, with Nadia becoming its first-ever student, reports 8News.
Her academic journey in the field of medicine and pharmaceuticals began in Bangladesh, where she earned a master’s degree in pharmaceutical chemistry from Dhaka University.
After moving to the US, she pursued a second master’s degree in pharmaceutical nanotechnology at the University of South Florida.
Nadia’s path to VCU was a pivotal moment in her career.
“I was contacted by Dr Sandro Da Rocha about an opportunity to join the program’s inaugural class,” Nadia told VCU News.
“When I found out that this was the first and only program of its kind in the country, I knew that I wanted to be a part of it. This meant that, while I was developing my skills as a researcher, I also got to witness the program’s own growth over the years. It has been a wonderful experience overall.”
Nadia said she hoped to continue her career as an analytical scientist in the pharmaceutical industry.
Currently, she is working full-time as an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) fellow with the US Food and Drug Administration.
Adam Hawkridge, Nadia’s advisor and an associate professor in VCU’s School of Pharmacy, praised her determination and excellence.
“Nadia embodies everything you hope to see in a graduate student: curiosity, persistence, independence and fearlessness,” said Hawkridge. “I feel very fortunate to have served as Nadia’s advisor; she was outstanding.”
