Young Kashmiri researcher Moomina Javid awarded prestigious IDEX Master’s Fellowship

June 24, 2025 by News Desk

Momina Javid, a young biochemist from Sopore in north Kashmir, has been awarded the prestigious IDEX Master’s Excellence Fellowship by Université Paris-Saclay in France.

The fellowship secures her place in the university’s competitive international Master’s programme in Life Sciences and Health – Infectiology: Biology of Infectious Diseases.

As part of this research-intensive programme, Momina will begin her studies at the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge in Cambodia and complete a six-month thesis in France.

On graduating, she will receive two master’s degrees—one from Université Paris-Saclay and another from the University of Health Sciences, Cambodia.

Currently working as a Junior Research Fellow at Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi, Momina is engaged in translational research on CAR-T cell therapy, one of the most advanced forms of immunotherapy.

Her academic journey includes a BSc in Biochemistry from Jamia Hamdard, where she graduated with distinction, followed by a master’s from Jamia Millia Islamia with a CGPA of 9.24.

Her master’s thesis at AIIMS focused on the expression profile of miR-223-3p in Vitamin D-deficient allergic rhinitis patients, reflecting her growing interest in immunology and molecular biology.

The IDEX Fellowship is part of France’s Investissements d’Avenir initiative, designed to attract global academic talent. Momina’s selection was based on her academic merit, research capabilities, and potential to pursue doctoral studies in the field of infectious diseases.

Mentored by members of JK Scientists, a network of Kashmiri professionals supporting young researchers, her achievement is being celebrated as a significant moment of pride for the region.

Momina plans to continue her academic journey with a PhD in Infectious Disease Biology after completing her dual master’s.

Her work and aspirations reflect the growing scientific ambition among young scholars from Kashmir, where global academic opportunities are still limited but increasingly within reach for dedicated students.