Aqsa Dar, Sc.M

Background

Aqsa has a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Functional Biology of Animals from Towson University, where she conducted small protein research in a microbiology/ biochemistry lab. Her honors thesis dissertation investigated essential amino acids of a small transmembrane protein, CydX, in Escherichia coli. Aqsa pursued her interests in molecular biology research at Johns Hopkins University, School of Public Health. She obtained her Master of Science (Sc.M.) in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology while researching the viral mechanism of the measles virus to understand the prolonged immune suppression caused by the virus up to five months post-infection in animal models.

Aqsa transitioned to an epidemiology lab at Johns Hopkins University to further explore population-based science and vaccine research. She worked on large-scale epidemiological studies with real-world data comparing prevalence rates of chronic diseases in indigenous vs. non-indigenous populations in Latin America. She also managed multiple systematic reviews using the Covidence software to update recommendations and course materials for vaccine-preventable diseases, to be used by health professionals in South America; a project funded by the Pan American Health Organization. Aqsa continued to work with scientists at the American Association for Cancer Research, where she developed a passion for project management and using Agile tools to help ensure projects were being completed successfully and efficiently.

As a former scientist, Aqsa has a deep appreciation for scientific/ technical projects and is driven to help scientists advance their projects, using best practices in project management and delivery services. She believes the core of project management is to provide structure, effective communication, clear expectations, and transparency throughout the project life cycle.