Nazira Karodia
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University of St Andrews (PhD)
Organic synthesis
Nazira Karodia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Alma mater | University of Natal University of St Andrews (PhD) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | STEM education Organic synthesis |
| Institutions | University of Florida University of Bradford University of Wolverhampton |
| Thesis | Preparation, structure and reactivity of some new types of stabilised phosphorus ylides (1996) |
| Doctoral advisor | Alan Aitken[1] |
| Website | www |
Nazira Karodia MBE CChem FRSC is a chemist, Professor of Science Education and Deputy Vice Chancellor at Edinburgh Napier University (2021–). She was previously Pro-Vice Chancellor for Regional Engagement at the University of Wolverhampton. She works on organic synthesis, green chemistry, heterocyclic compounds and science education.[2]
Karodia was born and grew up in South Africa under apartheid.[3] Like most people not of European origin, she suffered from racial segregation during her schooling. She was able to study chemistry at the University of Natal, which had been only for white people, and she graduated in 1990.[4] She left South Africa in 1992.[4] Karodia completed her PhD at the University of St Andrews,[1] working on phosphorus ylide supervised by Alan Aitken in 1995.[5][6][7][8]
Career and research
Karodia joined the University of Florida as a fellow in the Centre for Heterocyclic Chemistry where she worked on developed Benzothiazines and Benzotriazoles.[3][9][10] Karodia was appointed senior lecturer at the University of Bradford and made director for STEM in 1998.[4] Here Karodia developed her interest in science education and science outreach programs that looked to benefit the local community. She was a senior member of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) STEM programme, where she was made Regional Director (Yorkshire, Humber and North East) of the National HE STEM programme.[11][12] Her chemistry research focused on ionic liquids and liquid crystalline polymers.[13][14] Karodia is part of the European Union funded GENOVATE project: Transforming organisational culture for gender equality in research and innovation.[2][15] She is also working on programmes to promote careers in science and engineering, especially for students from underrepresented parts of the community.[16]
Since 2021 she has held the position of Deputy Vice Chancellor at Edinburgh Napier University. Prior to this she worked at the University of Wolverhampton where she was Pro Vice Chancellor Regional Engagement (February 2020 – July 2021), Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering (February 2016 – January 2020) and Professor of Science Education.[17][18] She has partnered with the Doaba Group of Colleges.[19] In 2018 she launched a new partnerships health science course.[19]
