Postdoc Feature
Mahima Sharma, Ph.D.
Mahima Sharma is a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the School of Engineering, where her work centers on the transformative potential of light in understanding and improving human health. Her research explores optical and photonic technologies, from enhancing cancer diagnostics to developing tools that identify nerves during surgery and detect infectious diseases. Guided by a spirit of curiosity and purpose, Mahima embraces both the breakthroughs and the inevitable missteps that come with discovery, finding meaning in each step forward.
Originally from India, Mahima’s scientific journey began with a love of stories, exploration, and invention. She discovered optics during her Ph.D. in Chennai, where research on polarization-based cancer diagnostics first sparked her fascination with the “hidden treasures” light can reveal. The support of her family and mentors helped her persevere through obstacles and encouraged her to pursue a career in science shaped by adventure, learning, and impact.
At Vanderbilt, Mahima continues expanding her expertise in a collaborative and uplifting research community. Her work builds across disciplines and applications, driven by her desire to contribute tools that help clinicians better understand disease and improve patient care.
Outside the lab, Mahima enjoys the same sense of exploration that fuels her research—finding inspiration in new experiences, opportunities to learn, and the community that surrounds her.