Meet our RA Humeira Gowher

 

Our Biography

I was born in India in the valley of Kashmir, a place described as the paradise on earth by a Mughal King Jahanghir. From childhood, through youth to adulthood, I had always wished to become a scientist as no other profession seemed more impressive to me than that. I feel proud to say today that I realized my dream to become a scientist and am currently working as a Postdoctoral fellow in the field of Biochemistry, a subject that has always been of major interest to me.

I started my scientific career in India at the renowned Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. I began my PhD at this institution and in July 1999 I was offered an opportunity to continue my doctoral degree by Prof Alfred Pingoud (Director of Dept. of Biochemistry, Justus Leibeg University, Giessen) in his department under the supervision of Dr. Albert Jeltsch. The offer was absolutely attractive in terms of both the professional and personal development and I gladly accepted it. I successfully completed my PhD at this institution and was awarded a fellowship by IQN (International Quality Network), DAAD to continue my work as a postdoctoral fellow in the group of Dr Jeltsch in 2002.

My husband Dip.Ing. Faisal Lateef was born in a town in North India called Budaun. He has degrees in Mechanical Engineering (AMU, India) and recently completed his Diploma in Computers and Communication Engineering at the Universität Duisburg-Essen. He is presently working part-time in a telecom company Cetecom GmBH in Essen. Faisal is an extremely friendly person and is very responsible. We are blessed with a beautiful daughter Hana who is nearly 2 years old. She loves to say “Hallo” and “Auf Wiedersehen” to everybody.

I came to IUB in Sep. 2003, with my husband after Dr. Jeltsch moved to IUB as Prof. Jeltsch and I was offered a position as a Research Associate in his group. We were extremely impressed by the uniqueness of the academic system at IUB. The campus life reminded me of my best years in college and university where I also used to live on campus. The friends I made in those times are now friends for a life time. I learned to live harmoniously with them, shared happy and sad times, revealed weaknesses, always had a shoulder to cry upon and a partners in crime do indulge in some naughty tricks.

I decided to become a Residential Associate at IUB, because I believed this experience would give me the same pleasure again of being part of a multicultural harmonious society like that in my past. Moreover, as an RA, I am available for the students in any situation where my experiences can offer help. I believe I can assist them in many ways and make their stay and studies in IUB a worthwhile experience that they shall cherish for years to come. My hobbies are dancing and sports but I generally run short of time for my hobbies due to my career and raising my daughter.

 

(Text By Humeira Gowher Edited by Saskia Dewitz and Mkhokheli Mhlanga)