Bazgha Zia, Ph.D.

Dr. Bazgha Zia is a geneticist and genomics scientist with over a decade of experience advancing environmentally sustainable solutions for agriculture, resilient food systems, and community-engaged research. She is currently working as a Research Scientist at Clemson University.

Previously, Dr. Zia served as a Scientist in Plant Genetics and Genomics at South Carolina State University, where she led research, laboratory development, and stakeholder-driven initiatives. Prior to this role, she was engaged as postdoctoral research at the United States Department of Agriculture and at Clemson University's College of Agriculture and Forestry, contributing to multi-institutional research programs focused on crop improvement and sustainable production systems.

Dr. Zia holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural, Food, and Life Sciences (Plant Breeding and Genetics), with formal training in molecular genetics, genomics, crop improvement, quantitative and qualitative data analysis, scientific writing, and project management. Her research integrates plant genetics, climate science, and systems-based approaches to enhance food production under environmental stress and improve suitability for growing human populations.

Her work extends beyond biological science to address the social and structural dimensions of climate change, including food insecurity, environmental justice, and community vulnerability factors, closely linked to sociological outcomes and risk. Through partnerships with farmers, land-grant institutions, and federal agencies, Dr. Zia advances place-based solutions that connect scientific innovation with workforce development, social stability, and community resilience.

Dr. Zia's interdisciplinary profile positions her to collaborate effectively across food production, agricultural productivity, climate science, and sociology, contributing to efforts aimed at reducing climate driven inequities and strengthening sustainable, resilient communities.