Dominican gets Ph.D in Biomedical Sciences

Durand is a Research Fellow in the Department of Regenerative Medicine at Mayo

Dominican, Nisha Durand, has received a Ph.D in Biomedical Sciences; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, from the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in Rochester, Minnesota.

The 28 year-old Durand is from the village of Salisbury and is an alumnus of the Convent High School and Dominica State College.

She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Biology (summa cum laude honors) and Minor in Chemistry from Chadron State College, Chadron, Nebraska.

She began her  graduate training in July of 2012 in the Department of Cancer Biology at Mayo Clinic’s campus in Jacksonville, Florida where she examined the role of kinases in cell signaling and cell adhesion.

While in graduate school, Nisha published several scientific manuscripts, and presented the findings  of her dissertation at  regional and international scientific conferences.

Currently, she is a Research Fellow in the Department of Regenerative Medicine at Mayo, working in a Human Cell Therapy Lab  where cell therapies are developed for patients with a broad range of ailments.

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58 Comments

  1. syncronize
    May 30, 2017

    Stand Tall and Elegant, you are making Dominica proud.!!!! Medical Researcher at Mayo Clinic one of the highest ranking Medical Research institutions in the US and possibly the world, with record history of saving lives and performing the most intricate and delicate surgeries by top ranking surgeons. Girl you are the best, young jean BAWI. You are rising even before you realize it. Keep your head up high my girl. Congrats

  2. Chester
    May 29, 2017

    Congrats Nisha, well done.
    Please Do Not read the negative comments as they are worthless. However, I cannon help wondering where are our young men. But again how can young men produce these great things when our gov’t, judges and police keep jailing them for a little bit of marijuana when everyone else is legalizing it partly for this same reason? This all seem skewed towards large companies and the proponents of probihition when all around them is crumbling largely due to senseless persecution of marijuana users. Is this sometning you can include into your research at the molecular level of brain development? Just asking.

    • Me
      May 30, 2017

      That could be the problem Chester. Are our young men smoking too much weed? I see women smoke far less marijuana than men and maybe that is smart.

  3. Daily Bugle
    May 29, 2017

    Ph.D at 28, that is a hell of a job. You’re in the top 1% bracket in terms of education on the island. Continue to do your best and let your passion for your profession lead you. Congrats!

  4. CA
    May 29, 2017

    Great Job Nisha!!!! As a fellow scientist on the same path I know what it takes to acocomplish this !! I hope you enjoy whatever field you end up in and are able to make the difference that you set out to make!

  5. Opinionated
    May 29, 2017

    Congrats Nisha.

    Oh my it’s a while we have not spoken.

  6. Envar
    May 28, 2017

    If this is who i think she is.. this woman has been always a brilliant individual. Congratulations are in order.

    keep it up ms. Durand

  7. May 28, 2017

    Congrats my dear to you n keep striving…your mom and aunty sharon must be so dam proud…

  8. Chris Cassell parillon
    May 28, 2017

    Congratulations, well done. Wisg you every success for the future

  9. Hendricks ismael
    May 28, 2017

    How difficult is it to say congratulations to a genius who has made us proud and keep politics out of it ?. Having a high iQ score does not mean that someone is in intelligent there are patterns with the so called smart ones amongst us most intelligent people make mental short cuts all the time one of the most powerful is self serving bias , they tend to think they are better than others. And that goes for all the stupid comments made by people on this young lady achievement . Congratulations miss Nisha- Durand on a job well done.

  10. Tonya
    May 28, 2017

    Congratulations on a job well done! Keep striving for greatness :-D

  11. Sci-Fi
    May 28, 2017

    Congrats Dr. Durand ! I always knew you would do it. Now for the post-Doc ! The world is your oyster ! Take every opportunity which you can out there to develop your career further.

  12. Dominica
    May 28, 2017

    Congratulation. to DR Durand.
    May God continued to bless you as you continued in this Journey
    Proud of you,
    You make Us Proud and Happy.
    Dominica

  13. prophet
    May 28, 2017

    Congratulations. You were always such a focus, hard worker. You are a reminder that our children have the potential to change the world.

  14. jupe
    May 28, 2017

    Congratulations !

  15. Sam Christian
    May 28, 2017

    Doctor doctor!

    Congrats Nisha! You make us all proud.

    What an enormous privilege excelling in such cutting edge science at world renowned, top rated Mayo Clinic! Every cell in our Dominican being rejoices​ with you. As you glow in your amazing achievement, we know you will remember your humble beginnings and give back as the Good Lord allows.

  16. CS
    May 27, 2017

    Congratulations Nisha! Proud of you. Keeping making Salisbury and Dominica proud!

  17. LostButFound
    May 27, 2017

    Wow!!! Congratulations on your remarkable achievement. I can only imagine the committment, hard work, perseverance and sacrifices that have been invested in your extra-ordinary journey so far. As a fellow Dominican and world citizen, I am truly happy and proud of your accomplishment and hope that The Most High continues to bless you abundantly in your personal and professional pursuits.

  18. Daniel J Tanner
    May 27, 2017

    Congratulations.

  19. Unknown
    May 27, 2017

    Congrats to young lady

  20. May 27, 2017

    Outstanding! We are proud of. Dr. Durand as her accomplishments and that of many others at home show we are an intelligent and worthy people. May she serve the best cause of science and cohere in beneficial purpose to render meritorious service to her commmunity while remembering to pass on her knowledge to those from her homeland.

  21. Shameless
    May 27, 2017

    Spags…pleaseee hook a brother up man :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: . Sister is smart, beautiful and a daughter of CHS. Me, I am an SMA guy, very smart by default, have lots of commonsense and a jean-bawi by choice 8) . I need parl-rep intervention on my behalf bro.. :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

    Assertive like Moses’ rod! :twisted:

  22. concern citizen
    May 27, 2017

    Congrats to U miss. Durand I love UR. achievement young lady
    Praise God U worked extremely had for UR. PhD, and that U did not pay for it in INDIA with CBI money like those in power who wish to carry that title behind their names

  23. Dr Clayton Shillingford
    May 27, 2017

    My congratulations to the young lady, Dr Nisha Durand. The Dominica Academy of Arts & Sciences (DAAS) under my Presidency presented a Diaspora Policy Document to the DLP Government in response to a request from Skerrit back in 2004.. One of the key recommendations was for the Government to assemble a catalogue of skilled and qualified Dominicans in the Diaspora and bring their “brain drain” talents to bear on the national development programmes in all fields ..health, agriculture, education, tourism,environmental protection etc..That recommendation on linkage with the Dominican Diaspora and others were not followed..It is presumably more to the partisan political interest of the DLP to shuttle willing Diaspora Dominicans to come to vote..and try to consolidate a one party state. In this complex world it is not possible to move forward without adequate brain power and to lean instead on poorly trained and incompetent leadership in the key areas of the national development…

    • Spike
      May 27, 2017

      You would have us address you as Dr. but you will not address the Prime Minister as Mister, and you impugn his motives on the issue of the day, which has nothing to do with this page. I wonder whether you are adversarial because government ignored your recommendations 13 years ago–or vice versa.

      • %
        May 28, 2017

        How hypocritical can you be!!!How does Skerrit address the opponents of his wicked rule as PM?You seem to be asleep,or just waiting for your pampers.

      • @spike
        May 28, 2017

        Wow. you mean laborites actually read?

      • Spike
        May 28, 2017

        To “%”: (1) I do not use diapers; (2) I have no idea how rude the Prime Minister was; I was addressing the rudeness just now of the Doctor on a page otherwise devoted to the praise of Ms. Durand’s achievement; (3) Please don’t confuse me for someone else.

    • Me
      May 28, 2017

      Shameful that clayton would use this page for his barrage of garbage. Have some respect for the young lady. You want her to join DAAs for you and sticky fingers to ………………..ok

      • Toronto Diaspora
        May 28, 2017

        When I first started reading the congratulations, someone explicitly said “keep politics out of it” I guess intellect and common sense with kindness is two totally different things. Dr Clayton, I do not know you but your remarks in that feed is shameless..not becoming of a “Dr”

      • Lang Mama
        May 29, 2017

        It is amazing how laborites label opponents as sticky finger when the biggest thieves are those they uphold and defend. The biggest thieves are those who executed a garbage bin bobol, fertilizer bobol, sweep money in a rubbish bin, those who have become filthy rich overnight with unexplained villas. The millions of dollars that went astray from the passport selling program;

  24. Ray
    May 27, 2017

    That’s remarkable, awesome. Congratulations

  25. May 27, 2017

    I would like to first thank her parents, then her, on behave of the people of D.A congrats, lots of hard work on your part , we will need you at the so call new hospital to get her with the rest of our D.A. doctors hope you will be accepted back home from the present administration, skerro look at all intellectuals as a treat to his power especially from your village , so keep the faith and be strong,…………………good luck.

    • Proud Dominican
      May 27, 2017

      You’re attacking folks with that poor grammar? Get it together

    • Kermit
      May 27, 2017

      How something positive could turn to something so negative. I mean grow up, get a life. You sound pathetic.

    • Plato
      May 29, 2017

      The comments of Dr.Clayton Shillingford fits perfectly here. The young lady of focus has achieved in a field which is widely regarded as the saving grace for many economies, and governments all over the world continue to invest heavily in science and technology. This while our government has no interest in the area. We continue to place priority on training lawyers, accountants, economists and the likes for an already oversaturated market. When we take our finances and qualify ourselves in these areas, the government says to us we have no where to put you so we are forced to contribute our expertise to other counties, to the detriment of our own.

  26. Excellent!!
    May 27, 2017

    This is good news!!! Congratulations for all your hard work!!! Enjoy your success and may the good Lord bless you. I don’t know her….but am happy for her.

  27. Pal_lotte
    May 27, 2017

    She was at Convent Preparatory School as wellllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

  28. Me
    May 27, 2017

    Congratulations girl…keep up the good work.

  29. %
    May 27, 2017

    Congrats young lady..
    CONGRATS TO SALISBURY..
    Your village is presently the most advanced village in Dominica,in terms of independent thinking,their work ethic and their stance against corruption and corrupt practices….

    • Me
      May 28, 2017

      Hahahahahah wow Earl must be laughing. Up to now jean bawi still cant speak English

  30. Nacinimod
    May 27, 2017

    I feel joy in my heart for your success. Congratulations! One question though, what is government doing to prevent this brain drain from our small island state. At some time post graduation (with practical work experience) these young people should return to Dominica to help in nation building.

    • Spike
      May 27, 2017

      Ms. Durand had to leave the island to continue her studies. “What is government doing?” Compulsion will not bring her back. She might return if government and society express the heartfelt understanding that her pursuit of excellence did not come at anyone else’s expense and does not impose a duty upon her–and express it more clearly than America’s new businessman-President will express it. Now, what if Ms. Durand does return home but eventually wishes to use her brilliance to rear a fine family rather than perform what you would call “nation-building”? Will that be allowed? It would be if she remains in the United States.

    • Tonya
      May 28, 2017

      NOT! It should be a choice not a requirement especially if the funds for her education wasn’t a part of Dominica’s budget. Do you realize the hard work and dedication it takes to accomplish this? Why should it not be by choice for her to return?

      • Titiwi
        May 29, 2017

        Nobody is obliged to come back to Dominica to further their career. Such a move should be entirely voluntary. We should rejoice if people like Dr. Durand project such appositive image about Dominica to the outside world. This is priceless, genuine and worth far more than spending U.S.$.30,000month on damage control with a New York P.R. firm.

  31. Dominican
    May 27, 2017

    Fantastic. So uplifting and an example of hope and what is possible for our young people. You do not have to buy a doctorate, you can work for- & earn a real one. You have made my day. Thank you!

  32. Emerline Anselm
    May 27, 2017

    Congratulations .

  33. Bawi Woman
    May 27, 2017

    Congratulations N.D.Excellent. Bawi Massive.

  34. Edgar Hunter
    May 27, 2017

    Great job Nisha. As your former Biology teacher I am so proud of you. Congratulations

  35. JP
    May 26, 2017

    Congrats NIsha..Has always been a “brain” . Admired your passion for science from since A-Level classes.

  36. Shaka Zulu
    May 26, 2017

    Congratulations!!! Another of the many PhD products from dominica some silently being embassadors to the land of thier birth. Keep it up.

  37. Vanessa
    May 26, 2017

    Also a past student of the Convent Prep. Congratulations my past student!

  38. Sylvester Cadette
    May 26, 2017

    CONGRATS To Ms. Durand. Though I do not know her personally, but I am delighted at the success of any Dominican. Congrats to her family and circle of support.

    DNO, please keep your own database of all Dominicans who succeed. maybe you should comb your archives from inception of DNO and construct such a Database. It may well prove a service to Dominica and a source of assistance later on. Such a Database could be invaluable to our socio-economic and cultural development.

  39. Bawi Boy
    May 26, 2017

    Jean Bawi!!!!!!!!!!!

  40. Tj
    May 26, 2017

    Congratulations!

  41. Someone_39
    May 26, 2017

    Amazing achievement young lady. Show them what our CHS girls are capable off.

    • Shameless
      May 26, 2017

      Hopefully she is married to or will get to so with an SMA guy :mrgreen: :mrgreen: . Congrats young lady!

      Assertive like Moses’ rod! :mrgreen:

      • Me
        May 27, 2017

        You looking for a wife? Go Salisbury , try finding her parents and they will hook you up

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