Dr. Ayesha Riaz

Ayesha Riaz is an Assistant Professor of Genetics at the University of Karachi, where she teaches biostatistics, molecular biology, and gene regulation, and supervises student research projects. Her research employs Drosophila melanogaster to model neurodegenerative disorders such as hereditary spastic paraplegia, investigate diabetic neuropathy, and explore the molecular basis of learning and memory. She earned her Ph.D. in Genetics at the University of Cambridge as a Gates Cambridge Scholar under the supervision of Dr. Cahir O’Kane, where she studied the roles of hereditary spastic paraplegia genes in axonal endoplasmic reticulum organization. Previously, as a Fulbright Scholar at Iowa State University, she completed an M.S. in Genetics focusing on lysosomal membrane proteins and ribonuclease biology.

Dr. Riaz has published on lysosomal function, lipid transport, and RNase T2 enzymes, and is currently extending the genetic toolbox for studying endoplasmic reticulum organization in Drosophila. She is the recipient of the Ben Barres Spotlight Award, multiple University of Karachi research grants, and early career distinctions including the Zaidi Abid and Karachi Cotton Association Gold Medals. In addition to her research, she is committed to mentoring students and strengthening genetics education and research capacity in Pakistan.