Wasim Sajjad

Institution

Wisconsin Institute for Discovery-UWM US/National University of Medical Sciences Pakistan

Discovery Institute UW Madison/Biological Sciences NUMS

Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, UW – Madison, (608) 209-3354 | 330 N. Orchard St., Madison, WI 53715

National University of Medical Sciences, The Mall, Rawalpindi, 4600 Pakistan.

Research Interests

Antimicrobials, Biosecurity, Science Communication, Science Diplomacy, Bio-economy, Climate Change, STEM Education, Bio-entrepreneurship

Topics to speak on:

Biosecurity, Antimicrobials & One Health, Climate Change, Science Communication

Words of Wisdom

We rise by lifting others.

Biography

Dr. Wasim Sajjad is a microbiologist, science diplomat, and biosecurity expert dedicated to advancing global health security and biotechnology innovation. Currently He is working as a Fulbright Scholar at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery (WID), an Honorary Associate to the Vice Chancellor’s Office on Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He also currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Microbiology at the National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) in Pakistan, where he explores novel antimicrobial strategies.

A distinguished Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Sajjad was selected as one of the 50 Next Generation Leaders (NGL) shaping the future of biotechnology under the ‘Spirit of Asilomar’ initiative. He is a founding member and Vice President of the Pakistan Young Academy, playing a pivotal role in fostering young scientists’ engagement in policy and research. Additionally, he is a member of the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) Working Group on Biosecurity, where he contributes to shaping global biosecurity frameworks.

Dr. Sajjad is the founder of Microbial Hub, a platform dedicated to harnessing microbial potential for sustainable solutions. His research focuses on antimicrobial peptides, microbial byproducts, and biosecurity. He has published over 25 research articles and has secured competitive grants for his work, including antimicrobial resistance research funded by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan.

His expertise in biosafety and biosecurity is recognized globally. He is an IFBA-certified professional, a Biosecurity Champion Fellow with Health Security Partners, and has trained principal investigators and research groups on biosafety risk management. In 2022, he was one of 30 young scientists from the Global South selected for the Geneva Biosecurity Diplomacy Workshop organized by the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA). He also contributed to the Ninth Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention.

Dr. Sajjad’s contributions extend to science policy and diplomacy. As a regional coordinator for the Eastern Mediterranean at the NextGen Global Health Security Network, he has worked on capacity-building initiatives in infection prevention and control (IPC). He was invited as a speaker at the World Young Scientists Summit (WYSS) 2024, where he presented on extremophiles for sustainable development and science diplomacy through biomimicry.

He is also an entrepreneur, having been selected for the prestigious P2D and I2M startup programs, at UW Madison; which support science-driven innovations. He has led successful initiatives, including the Prime Minister’s Innovation League, promoting student-led projects aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a global science advocate, he has represented Pakistan at international forums, winning the 2022 SRI Global Idea Market for bio-based pigment innovations and carbon capture technologies.

With a diverse portfolio spanning academia, industry, and policy, Dr. Sajjad continues to drive impact at the intersection of microbiology, biosecurity, and innovation, ensuring science serves both society and sustainability.