Becomes first Pakistani to receive prestigious award for contribution to public health and applied research
The renowned Pakistani scientist Dr. Nousheen Zaidi. Photo: X
The renowned Pakistani scientist Dr. Nousheen Zaidi has become the first Pakistani to be awarded the prestigious Georg Forster Research Award.
Dr. Zaidi, a professor at the Public Health, Environment & Applied Research Lab (PEARL) at the Institute of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics (IMMG), University of the Punjab, received the honor in recognition of her academic and research contributions.
The Georg Forster Research Award is awarded annually by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation to internationally recognized academics from developing and transition countries in recognition of their research results. The prize is named after the German ethnologist Georg Forster (1754-1794) and is financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. It carries research funds of 60,000 euros.
To honor Dr. Zaidi’s performance was hosted by Deputy Chief of Mission of the German Embassy in Islamabad Arno Kirchhof at a reception for prominent academic and scientific representatives at the Annemarie-Schimmel-Haus in Lahore on Friday evening.
Big moment for science!👏
Dr. Nousheen Zaidi becomes the first 🇵🇰 to receive the prestigious Georg Forster Research Award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation 🇩🇪
A leader in public health and social impact – bridging cutting-edge research with grassroots solutions. Inspiring! pic.twitter.com/V9aoyGj3j1— Ina Lepel (@GermanyinPAK) 25 April 2026
A significant achievement for Pakistan’s scientific community. Nousheen Zaidi has become the first Pakistani recipient of Germany’s prestigious Georg Forster Research Award, which recognizes her outstanding contribution to research and academic excellence.
This milestone underlines… pic.twitter.com/s2xmYemHcX
— Pak Asia Youth Forum (@payf_official) 25 April 2026
She holds a PhD in biochemistry from the University of Tübingen, Germany, and previously worked at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Janssen Pharmaceutical.
In addition to his laboratory research, Dr. Zaidi as director of the Action Research Collective (ARC), through which she leads a nationwide water quality mapping initiative expanding to several cities in Pakistan.
She also leads the Roshan Clinics initiative, which focuses on stunting, and works through community-based interventions to address key public health challenges. Her work has been described as an integration of cutting-edge scientific research with grassroots impact.
