Founder
Dr. Aseem Z. Ansari
Dr. Aseem Z. Ansari is a distinguished scientist, educator, and mentor who has played a pioneering role in strengthening scientific exchange and research opportunities between India and the United States. He is the co-founder of several transformative initiatives, including the Khorana Program (2007), the S. N. Bose Program and Winstep Forward (2013), and Sci-ROI (2015). These programs have created exceptional opportunities for students and researchers to gain international exposure, pursue scientific research, and build lasting collaborations across disciplines and countries.
The Khorana and S. N. Bose Programs, supported by the Government of India through DBT and SERB and developed in partnership with the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF), the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), and Winstep Forward, have become highly successful platforms for promoting STEM education and India–US scientific exchange. The programs provide undergraduate students in STEM fields with research experiences and mentorship opportunities in leading laboratories, fostering the next generation of scientists and strengthening international scientific collaboration.
Through Sci-ROI and Winstep Forward, Dr. Ansari has further expanded his commitment to scientific mentorship, education, and creating opportunities for young researchers. His efforts have contributed to building a broader ecosystem that connects talented students and scientists with research institutions, mentors, and opportunities for scientific growth.
Dr. Ansari is the R. J. Ulrich Endowed Chair of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics and Chair of the Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. His research focuses on developing synthetic gene regulatory systems to control cell fate and reprogram gene regulatory networks, with applications in stem cell biology and neurodegenerative diseases.
His own scientific journey began in India as a summer intern in the laboratory of the renowned neurobiologist Dr. Obaid Siddiqi at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai. He subsequently pursued his Ph.D. in Chemical Biology at Northwestern University and completed advanced training with leading scientists at Harvard University and MIT. Before joining St. Jude, he was a professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison for nearly a decade.
Through his scientific accomplishments and, equally importantly, his commitment to mentorship, STEM education, and India–US scientific collaboration, Dr. Ansari has established a lasting impact on both biomedical research and the development of young scientists around the world.
Naveeda Qadir
Naveeda Qadir has been an integral part of the Khorana and S. N. Bose Programs since their inception in 2008 and Sci-ROI in 2015. She was part of the founding team that traveled extensively across India with program co-founders Dr. Aseem Ansari and Dr. Ken Shapiro, along with Kim Santiago, Asia Coordinator at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. During this formative journey, the team met with leaders of national scientific agencies and academic institutions, as well as directors of leading undergraduate colleges across India, laying the foundation for the programs’ enduring India–US scientific partnerships.
Naveeda currently works closely with the Khorana and S. N. Bose alumni networks, coordinates scholar exchange programs, and contributes to the development of new initiatives across these programs and Sci-ROI. Through her sustained efforts in program coordination, community building, and international collaboration, she has helped create and nurture a growing network of students, scholars, educators, and scientists committed to strengthening scientific connections between India and the United States.