2026 PhD Yearbook

My story begins in Kanloo, a small village in Kashmir, where I took my first steps into education long before I understood where they would lead. I completed my early schooling there, before moving on to Higher Secondary School Pattan for my 10+2. From there, I pursued my B.Sc. at S.P. College and went on to complete an M.Sc. in Biochemistry at the University of Kashmir, years that shaped my curiosity into a genuine passion for science. My early research career took me to CSIR-IIIM, where I worked as a Research Associate in the Cancer Pharmacology lab, gaining my first real taste of scientific discovery and its power to change lives. That spark eventually carried me far from home, to Northern Ireland, where I joined Ulster University's Diabetes Research Centre to pursue my PhD under the mentorship of Professor Nigel Irwin, Peter Flatt and Dr Dawood Khan. My research there centred on proglucagon-derived peptides and their therapeutic potential in islet and metabolic regulation, work that deepened my belief in the possibility of turning fundamental biology into real-world treatments. Today, I continue that mission as a Preclinical Scientist at Dia Beta Labs Ltd., an Ulster University spin-out dedicated to developing next-generation therapeutics for metabolic disease. Looking back, my journey from the quiet hills of Kanloo to a research career spanning continents has been shaped by curiosity, resilience, and the enduring hope that science can bridge distances and change lives, no matter where it begins. My proudest moment was when I stood up to deliver "From Kashmir to Ulster: My Research Journey" at the UoA3b ECR Showcase — seeing how far that journey had come, from a place many people had never heard of to a research career built at Ulster.

My favourite memory was arriving at Ulster for the first time and heading towards the lab, when I saw my supervisor coming out. We met for the first time right there, near the elevator at W block, in front of the DRC lab. We shook hands, and I asked him for a hug — and we hugged. That was my very first memory of Ulster, and it's still one of my favourites. I'll never forget the kindness of the staff and the sense of community outside the lab, especially the International Student Advisory Service Coordinator Miranda and Philip, who host a range of events and activities, including a weekly catch-up for international students called "Coffee & Chat." Working with them as a Global Ambassador for three years was an absolute joy. I couldn't have got through this without the grace of God, the prayers of my loved ones, the guidance of my supervisors, and the camaraderie of my colleagues. If I could speak to myself at the start of my PhD, the best piece of advice I would give myself would be to trust the process and enjoy the journey — the harder the battle, the sweeter the victory.