Shanjida Khan’s PhD research at Oregon Health & Science University focused on building imaging systems that allow scientists to see the front part of the human eye.

“The imaging systems use a noninvasive imaging technique, optical conference tomography, which is similar to ultrasound,” she explains. “But instead of using sound waves, it uses light. This allows us to see very small structures inside the eye.”

These structures are especially important to visualize corneal disease, where cells often show the first signs of damage.

Khan successfully defended her PhD a month ago, with her ARCS Oregon award donor Julie Drinkward in attendance. They shared a big hug, both knowing the obstacles Khan had to overcome to achieve a PhD.

“Perseverance is what brought me here,” Khan says. “Not talent alone, not confidence, but persistence through setbacks. Every student’s path looks different, and struggle does not mean you are not capable.”

Her parents influenced her early, prompting her to memorize the multiplication table when she was very young. In her education, she was most successful with hands-on learning.

“I enjoyed chemistry labs in high school because experiments made ideas feel real,” she says.

Khan’s parents were born in Bangladesh. Khan was born in New York City, where her parents moved to start a new life. As undocumented workers, her parents eventually returned to Bangladesh for several years to work towards legal US status. They are now US citizens who move between New York and Bangladesh. Khan also moved from the US to Dhaka, back to the US, then back to Dhaka.

“My personal journey has not been linear,” she says. “However, I wanted to prove to myself and to my parents that I could succeed in higher education. My upbringing made me adaptable, resilient, and comfortable navigating uncertainty.”

She moved to Oregon for her PhD program during COVID, which made the transition especially difficult.

“All my classes were online. The lab was mostly empty. Building a community took years, not months,” she says. “It forced me to grow independently and learn how to adapt.”

She says she learned that confidence came from showing up, doing the work, and trusting her own growth over time. Having a community both inside and outside of school made a huge difference for her.

“Science is important to me because it helps us understand the world accurately, especially at a time when misinformation is everywhere,” Khan says. “Science is how we develop better technology, better imaging, better treatments, and solutions. It turns curiosity into impact, and that is why it matters to me.”

Khan says she sees herself in the future in a management or leadership role within a research field.

“I enjoy learning and building systems, but also like applying knowledge, organizing complex projects, and moving ideas forward,” she says. “My next goal is to apply optical coherence tomography, not to the eye, but instead to the teeth in my new postdoctoral position.”

Khan thanked ARCS and her donor at her PhD defense in Oregon.

ARCS member and donor Julie Drinkward summed up after the defense, “whatever Shanjida has accomplished, we can all take pride in. ARCS has been a valued supporter.”