SRINAGAR: Zainab Amin, a young scientist from the border district of Kupwara and a PhD scholar at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, has been conferred with the prestigious NMRS Young Scientist–Jharna Rani Samal Award 2025 for her research in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.
The award was presented during the annual meeting of the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Society (NMRS) of India, hosted at IISER Bhopal, recognising her outstanding contribution to structural biology and protein research.
Working in the laboratory of Professor Shrikant K. Kamat at IISER Pune, Zainab’s research focuses on understanding how Heat Shock Protein B8 (HSPB8) responds to cellular stress. Using solution-state NMR spectroscopy, she has investigated the folding, stability and oligomerisation of the protein’s α-crystallin domain, a region critical to its biological function.
Her study, “Folding, Stability, and Oligomerization of HSPB8: An NMR-Based Investigation of Its α-Crystallin Domain,” seeks to unravel how the protein changes its structure under stress and during refolding. Since defects in HSPB8 have been linked to protein aggregation disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, the research could contribute to a better understanding of cellular protein quality control mechanisms and future therapeutic strategies.
During the conference, Amin presented findings showing that HSPB8 is highly sensitive to environmental stress and identified previously unexplored intermediate states in its folding pathway. The presentation attracted considerable interest from scientists, leading to technical discussions on protein folding, intermediate conformations and oligomer formation.
Currently in the final phase of her doctoral research, Zainab has represented her work at several national and international scientific conferences, including a recent scientific meeting in the United States.
Her academic journey has been marked by consistent excellence. She secured fifth rank in the Higher Secondary Examination with 97 per cent marks from Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Kupwara. She later graduated as the topper from Government Degree College, Kupwara, before completing her Master’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Kashmir, where she also stood first.
Beyond science, Zainab is also known for writing poetry, reflecting a creative side that complements her scientific pursuits.
Her latest recognition has been widely welcomed in Kupwara, with many describing it as an inspiration for aspiring researchers from Jammu and Kashmir. The award underscores the growing presence of young scientists from the region in cutting-edge scientific research and international academia.
