zeena nisar
Zeena is a molecular biologist turned policy researcher who is passionate about bridging the divide between scientific innovation and policy. Her technical expertise and policy experiences range from working on a NASA-funded project to studying public policy in China. Through these experiences, Zeena has developed a keen awareness of the correlation between scientific impact and conducive policymaking.
At the University of Colorado, Zeena earned a BA in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. During her undergraduate career, Zeena worked on cutting-edge research. Most notably, she assisted a NASA-funded biofilm project. Zeena has also co-authored a peer-reviewed journal paper and presented her research at the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research and the International Astronautical Congress.
Since graduating, Zeena has pursued her interests at the nexus of science and policy as a Fulbright Scholar in Kyrgyzstan and as a Schwarzman Scholar in China. As a Schwarzman Scholar, Zeena studied China’s rise as a science and technology contributor. Most recently, Zeena was a research fellow at the Wilson Center in DC. At the Wilson Center, she conducted policy research on emerging biotechnologies, China, and biosecurity.