Group Members

Dr. Damira Kanayeva

Associate Professor · Department of Biology, Nazarbayev University

Dr. Damira Kanayeva earned her Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Arkansas in 2010 and joined the Department of Biology at Nazarbayev University as a full-time faculty member in 2011. Since then, she has taught microbiology and molecular biology while leading a research laboratory in electrochemical biosensing. During the University's formative years, she also established and directed a biosensors laboratory at what is now National Laboratory Astana (formerly the Center for Energy Research and later NURIS). She additionally served for two years as Acting Director of the University's Interdisciplinary Instrumental Center, overseeing 53 research staff across eight laboratories, two State Targeted Research Programs, and shared research infrastructure supporting interdisciplinary research and graduate training.

Her research focuses on aptamer-based electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) biosensors for cancer biomarker detection and infectious disease diagnostics, including tuberculosis, SARS-CoV-2, and monkeypox virus. Her laboratory holds a granted Kazakhstani patent (No. 33639) for single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) aptamers targeting Mycobacterium tuberculosis and has secured approximately USD 1.6 million in competitive research funding as Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator. To date, she has supervised four Ph.D. graduates, with three doctoral candidates currently in training.

Dr. Kanayeva is the recipient of the Academician Nailya Bazanova Medal (2026), awarded by the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Distinguished Researcher in Natural Sciences Award (2021), awarded by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan. She currently serves as Chair of the Department of Biology Curriculum Committee and as a member of the Faculty Senate and Academic Council at Nazarbayev University. Her academic leadership spans curriculum development, faculty recruitment, accreditation (ABET/ANSAC), research administration, and institutional governance, building on more than a decade of continuous service to the University.

Beyond research and teaching, Dr. Kanayeva has long been committed to mentoring student research and scientific innovation. She served as Faculty Advisor to Nazarbayev University's team participating in the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Giant Jamboree, which earned a Silver Medal in 2015, and has served as faculty mentor for NU SciPod, the University's student-run science podcast, since 2024.

Kamila Sagdat

PhD Candidate · Fall 2024 – present

Trained in EIS, SPR, ELONA, and photomask design for interdigitated electrode (IDE) lithography. Developed monkeypox biosensors for sensitive detection of the A29 antigen. Took 3rd place for her poster presentation at the A5+N International Summer School (China Agricultural University, Beijing, July 2025), fully funded through the lab's international collaborations.

Meruyet Issimova

PhD Candidate · Fall 2024 – present (currently on academic leave)

Zhazira Zhumabekova

PhD Candidate · Fall 2025 – present

In the lab since late 2020; trained in EIS, SPR, SPR(i), biosensor surface chemistry, live cell culture, and aptamer-based assays. First author on the group's 2025 dual-pathogen EIS aptasensor paper and lead author on the 2026 TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry review. Her PhD work focuses on testing and optimizing aptasensor parameters for high sensitivity, specificity, and stability. Took 1st place for her oral presentation and 3rd place for her poster at the A5+N International Summer School (Beijing, July 2025).

Kamshat Kozybayeva

MSc in Life Sciences · Fall 2025 – present

Assisting with post-SELEX modification studies and bioinformatics. As a new team member, brings foundational knowledge of aptamers and bioinformatics while gaining hands-on research experience under senior researcher mentorship.