Ishika Rashed is a PhD candidate in Analytical Chemistry at The University of Texas at Austin. Her research focuses on developing DNA-based biosensors to investigate biological systems and understand the roles of metal ions in biology. Through her research, she has gained interdisciplinary experience spanning analytical chemistry, molecular biology and biotechnology, and has contributed to the development of technologies with potential applications in biomedical research and sensing.
Ishika is passionate about translating academic discoveries into real-world applications and is particularly interested in the intersection of science, innovation and business. Her professional interests include technology transfer, intellectual property, commercialization, industry R&D, and product development, particularly within the biotechnology, cosmetics, personal care, and consumer products industries. Through Discovery to Impact, she hopes to help bridge the gap between academic innovation and industry while building a career at the intersection of scientific research and real-world impact.