Resilient researcher completes her PhD journey

By: Geron Malbas  

Aniqa Shahid, a PhD graduand in the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), looks to the future with the goal of continuing her contributions to scientific research alongside raising her family.

Originally from Pakistan, Shahid attended the University of Karachi, and earned her Bachelor's degree. Upon graduation, she joined the HIV molecular epidemiology research laboratory at the Aga Khan University in Karachi.

She came to Canada in 2012 and completed her Master of Science in FHS. Later on, she pursued her PhD research in FHS on the persistent cellular reservoirs of HIV. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a shift in her timeline, prompting her to hold off on HIV research for eight months.

“I made the most of this time and pivoted to SARS-CoV-2 research; I contributed to a project that evaluated nasopharyngeal swab collection techniques and provided recommendations on COVID-19 diagnostic sampling,” she explains. “This resulted in a publication in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, on which I am a co-first author. Overall, witnessing a pandemic unfold was quite an experience, both professionally and personally.”

Reflecting on her journey and research accomplishments, including earning the Frederick Banting and Charles Best Doctoral Award and the Canadian Association for HIV Research’s (CAHR) New Investigator Award for Basic Sciences—a prestigious award conferred on the best emerging HIV researcher in the country, she credits the support of her family and supervisors for these achievements.

“I just took a few weeks after having my son because I didn’t want to delay my PhD any further,” she explains. “But this was only possible because of my mom, who supported me tremendously and helped me with my son, while I finished my PhD. Additionally, my supervisor has been incredibly supportive throughout this time.”

These supports allowed Shahid to amass several publications while working on her dissertation which was passed without any revisions. She credits the interdisciplinary and highly supportive environment at FHS and the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS—where she has contributed as a member of the Brumme Lab—for her scholarly skills. “It’s been a privilege to work at these institutions alongside all [my] colleagues, whom I made lifelong connections with.”

As for the future, Shahid has begun her post-doctoral appointment with FHS professor Dr. Zabrina Brumme and hopes to further develop the skills essential to becoming an independent researcher. She extends her gratitude to Dr. Zabrina Brumme, who mentored her during both her MSc and PhD.

“For over a decade, her advice on both research and my career has been invaluable,” Shahid compliments. “She has always encouraged me to think beyond solving the technical intricacies of research. It is immeasurable just how much I have learned from her, and I am extremely grateful for having worked with her all these years. She has made me a better scientist.”