Biography

Dr. Farzana Nazneen is a biomedical scientist, physician, and educator with a distinguished career bridging medicine, research, and teaching. She earned her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences with a specialization in Viral Immunology from The University of Southern Mississippi in 2024, where her research focused on understanding the pathogenesis of emerging and re-emerging viruses, including Zika, West Nile Virus, and SARS-CoV-2. Following her doctorate, she pursued postdoctoral research at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, concentrating on the development of novel immunotherapeutics for breast cancer. Her research contributions have been recognized through the publication of 10 peer-reviewed articles in leading international journals, including npj Vaccines and PLOS Pathogens. With a strong passion for teaching, Dr. Nazneen also dedicated six years to teaching undergraduate courses in Virology and Immunology at The University of Southern Mississippi. Prior to her academic career in the United States, she practiced medicine for six years in Bangladesh and the Maldives after completing her MBBS degree at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital in 2011. In Fall 2025, she joined Johnson C. Smith University as an Assistant Professor, where she continues to integrate her medical background, research expertise, and teaching experience to inspire the next generation of biologists.