Born: 1946 (Petropavl, Kazakhstan)
Biography:
Nagima Aitkhozhina was a Kazakh biologist who specialized in the field of molecular biology. She dedicated her life to the study of the structural and functional organization of the genome of higher organisms and the molecular mechanisms of regulation of its expression.
Born on February 22, 1946, in the city of Petropavl, Nagima Aitkhozhina showed an early interest in biology. She pursued her passion by enrolling in the biological faculty of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, where she graduated in 1969. Following her graduation, Aitkhozhina continued her studies at the Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology of the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union, where she completed her post-graduate studies in 1973.
In 1974, Aitkhozhina defended her Doctor of Philosophy thesis on the Structural and functional organization of nuclear RNP particles containing pro-mRNA. Her expertise and dedication to the field were recognized, and she went on to complete her Doctorate of Biological Sciences thesis on Alkaloids – inhibitors of the biosynthesis of macromolecules in 1990.
Throughout her career, Aitkhozhina held various prestigious positions. From 1973 to 1983, she worked as a junior and senior researcher at the Botany of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR. Following the reorganization of the institute, she became the senior and lead researcher at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR from 1983 to 1989.
Showing great leadership skills, Aitkhozhina served as the acting director of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from 1988 to 1990. Her work didn’t go unnoticed, as she was elected as an elected deputy of the Congress of People’s Deputies of the Soviet Union from the Committee of Soviet Women from 1989 to 1991.
In 1999, Aitkhozhina reached another milestone in her career by becoming the President of the Kazakhstan Academy of Sciences, a position she held until 2002. During her presidency, she played a crucial role in advancing scientific research and promoting knowledge across the country.
Aitkhozhina’s contributions extended beyond Kazakhstan. She was a member of the Interdepartmental Scientific Council for priority areas of physical and chemical biology and biotechnology of the State Committee for Science and Technology under the Council of Ministers of the USSR from 1987 to 1991. She was also a member of the Scientific and Technical Council and expert of the projects of the All-Union program Priority problems of genetics in Moscow between 1990 and 1991.
As a prominent figure in the world of biology, Aitkhozhina founded and served as the general director of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry named after M.A. Aitkhozhin of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Under her leadership, this laboratory became Kazakhstan’s first genome laboratory, contributing significantly to the development of molecular biology research in the country.
Nagima Aitkhozhina’s achievements were recognized and celebrated throughout her career. In December 2001, she was decorated with the Order of Parasat, an esteemed honor. Ten years later, she received the Order of the Leopard, Third Class, further acknowledging her outstanding contributions to the field of molecular biology.
Throughout her life, Nagima Aitkhozhina dedicated herself to expanding our understanding of the molecular complexities of life. Her commitment to scientific research, her leadership in academic institutions, and her contributions to the advancement of molecular biology have left an indelible mark on the field. Her legacy continues to inspire and motivate future generations of scientists.
Awards:
– Order of Parasat (December 2001)
– Order of the Leopard, Third Class (2011)