Federal Minister of Science and Technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain has congratulated Pakistan scientist Dr. Nergis Mavalvala, calling her the ‘new icon’ for the female scientist community in the world, as she was named the new dean of Massachusetts Institute of Technology-MIT School of Science.

“Nirjis Mavalwalla has become a new Icon for Women Scientists of the World, especially she has made Pakistani girls proud. Congratulations Nirgis and wishing you all the best for future endeavors,” tweeted Fawad.

The Karachi born Dr. Mavalvala will succeed Michael Sipser, who will return to the faculty as the Donner Professor of Mathematics, after six years of service, informed MIT.

“We’re in this moment where enormous changes are afoot,” Mavalvala says while talking about her new role in the present scenario. “We’re in the middle of a global pandemic and economic challenge, and we’re also in a moment, at least in U.S. history, where the imperative for racial and social justice is really strong. As someone in a leadership position, that means you have opportunities to make an important and hopefully lasting impact,” she added.

Professor Mavalvala was born to a Parsi family. She did her initial schooling from Convent of Jesus and Mary before leaving for the US where she graduated with a BA in physics and astronomy from Wellesley College in 1990. She then did her Ph.D. in physics in 1997 from the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology-MIT.