“I was born and raised in Pakistan, but my wanderlust and my pursuit of higher education brought me to the U.S. after high school, all by myself. I landed in Houston, Texas where I did my B.S. in Biology.
“I’m from the east coast and never ever in my dreams thought I’d come out here. My whole immediate family is in New England. We could talk to each other out the window if we want to. My mom said, ‘don’t ever look at the Pacific.
“I find that it’s hard to be sure about many things, and I try to stay open so I can move forward as things change. At the same time, there are so many things to be sure of. I’m sure that a positive attitude goes a long way.
“I love running around with kids because I feel free to be the goofy person that I am. And as a goofy person, science is easier to learn in an interactive and silly way.
“The show ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ dramatically altered the course of my life. I remember at 12 years old being so enamored with the amazing dance moves, cool costumes, and perfect facial expressions.
