Clinical researcher

Khushnuma Bhesania of Baroda who completed her Masters in Bioscience (MBS) degree from the Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences (KGI), Claremont, California in 2011, was elected the first international president of the student government at KGI and on graduation received the Exemplary Student Leadership Award for her contribution to student life during her presidential tenure. This, her second Masters qualification, is a specialized management degree with focus on the life science industry. Based on her academic track record Bhesania was granted a scholarship and tuition waiver for her education at KGI, as per a write-up received on e-mail from Rustom M. Daboo of Baroda.

Khushnuma Bhesania accepting her award from the dean

After completing her schooling from Baroda’s Convent of Jesus and Mary School where she was assistant head girl, Bhesania moved to Ahmedabad where she obtained her BSc in biochemistry and vocational biotechnology from St Xavier’s College. There she earned a gold medal for research on protoplast fusion. In 2003 Bhesa­nia returned to Baroda and did her MSc in biochemistry from the Maharaja Sayajirao University, winning a gold medal.
After graduation Bhesania joined Quin­tiles India Private Limited in Ahmedabad as clinical research associate where she was responsible for monitoring global clinical trials for oncology, cardiology and psychiatry. Three years later she relocated to Singapore as assistant training manager, addressing the needs of Quintiles staff across Korea, China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Japan, the write-up mentions. After four years she quit the company to pursue further studies at KGI.
The daughter of Dr Navaz and Cyrus, Bhesania now lives in San Francisco where she works as product manager for Veracyte, a molecular diagnostic company, the write-up concludes.