Kunsulu Zakariya

Kunsulu Zakarya
Kazakh: Күнсұлу Закария
Born	(1967-07-02) July 2, 1967 (age 57) work settlement Karsakpay, Ulytau District, Karaganda region, KazSSR, USSR
Citizenship	Soviet Union  Kazakhstan
Education	Biological safety
Alma mater	Kazakh National Pedagogical University
Parents	Kaliyev Dalton Zakariyevich (father) Iglikova Zhansulu Abu-Talipovna (mother)
Awards
Scientific career
Institutions	Advisor to the President of Kazakhstan on science and innovation

Kunsulu Daltonqyzy Zakaryia (Kazakh: Күнсұлу Дальтонқызы Закария, born 2 July 1967) is a Kazakh researcher in biological safety, Doctor of Biological Sciences,^[1] and from April 2023 the President of the Kazakh Academy of Sciences.^[2]

Zakaryia is a developer of the QazVac (QazCovid-in) vaccine candidate against COVID-19.^[3][4]

Biography

Born to a family of an engineer and a teacher^[5] in the town of Karsakpay (Ulytau District, Karaganda region) on July 2, 1967, Kunsulu graduated from Aktobe Paedagogical Institute in 1989.^[6] She continued her studies at Venice International University (Italy) and did an internship at K-Water (South Korea) where she developed and managed biological resources and water infrastructure.^[7] Kunsulu Zakaria entered the world ranking of women who have made the greatest contribution to the development of vaccination against COVID-19.^[8]

Career

Zakarya’s academic career began at the Ospanov Medical Academy, where she worked her way up from assistant lecturer to head of the department of natural sciences. In 2003, after receiving the title of professor, she alternately headed departments at three universities in Kazakhstan.^[9]

2006 saw the start of Ms. Zakarya’s civil service as she joined the Central Office of the Ministry of Environmental Protection. Having held leading positions at various public scientific enterprises in Kazakhstan between 2008 and 2022, she came to the helm of QazBioPharm^[10] in August 2022.

In April 2023, President Tokayev appointed her the Head of the Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan.^[11]

Zakarya has authored numerous scientific publications and inventions.^[1][12] Two recombinant and one subunit vaccines against coronavirus infection have been developed under her guidance.^[13]

On January 22, 2024, she was appointed Advisor to the President of Kazakhstan on science and Innovation.^[14]

Public activities

She takes an active part in Kazakhstan’s public life, is a member of the National Kurultai,^[15] Presidential Council on Science and Technology, Amanat Party Political Council,^[16] the Board of Directors of Kazakh National University,^[17] and the editor-in-chief of Biosafety and Biotechnology Journal.^[18]

Awards

• People’s Gratitude medal in Kazakhstan (2020);^[19]
• Al-Farabi Science and Technology State Award (2021);^[20]
• Best Engineer of the Year (2020);^[21]
• Honored Inventor of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2022).^[22]

References

1. "Kunsulu Zakarya". www.researchgate.net. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
2. "Kunsulu Zakaria appointed President of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan". kazpravda.kz. 2023-04-12.
3. "Tokayev was reported about development of domestic vaccine against coronavirus". kaztag.kz. 2020-10-29.
4. "Creator of Kazakh vaccine against COVID-19 QazVac appointed President of National Academy of Sciences". akipress.com. 2023-04-12.
5. "Кунсулу Закарья. Мои правила жизни". corp.kommesk.kz (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-02-19.
6. "Кафедра биологии". fe.arsu.kz (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-04-24.
7. "Баннер с разработчиком QazVac установили в Нур-Султане". tengrinews.kz/ (in Russian). 2021-07-28.
8. "IWD special: Women behind the Covid-19 vaccines". techcollectivesea.com. 2024-02-05.
9. "Наши выпускники-наша гордость!". news-ru.arsu.kz (in Russian). 2021-08-20.
10. "Kunsulu Zakarya named Director-General of QazBioPharm". www.kt.kz (in Russian). 2022-08-22.
11. "Kazakhstan names President of National Academy of Sciences". 2023-04-12.
12. "АО "Национальный холдинг «QazBioPharm" возглавила Кунсулу Закарья". pharm.reviews (in Russian). 2022-08-22.
13. "Глава государства принял генерального директора Научно-исследовательского института проблем биологической безопасности Кунсулу Закарью". www.akorda.kz (in Russian). 2020-10-28.
14. "Кунсулу Закарья стала советником президента по вопросам науки и инноваций". informburo.kz (in Russian). 2024-01-22.
15. "First National Kurultai Outlines Priorities, Seeks to Strengthen National Unity and Encourage Broader Public Involvement in Decision-Making". astanatimes.com. 2022-06-16.
16. "Из 500 научных работ до производства дошли восемь – Кунсулу Закарья об исследованиях в Казахстане". liter.kz (in Russian). 2022-11-26.
17. "ИЗБРАНЫ И НАЗНАЧЕНЫ РЕКТОРЫ КАЗНУ И ЕНУ". www.gov.kz (in Russian). 2021-02-06.
18. "Биобезопасность и Биотехнология. Закарья К.Д." journal.biosafety.kz (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-02-20.
19. "Medal "ХАЛЫҚ АЛҒЫСЫ (HALYK ALGYSY)" for perfective work in the fight against the pandemic of Covid-19 Coronavirus infection". 2020-06-24.
20. "Комментарий к Указу Президента Республики Казахстан от 6 декабря 2021 года № 709 «О присуждении Государственной премии Республики Казахстан 2021 года в области науки и техники имени аль-Фараби»". www.akorda.kz (in Russian). 2021-12-13.
21. "Разработчица QazVac вошла в число победителей конкурса "Лучший инженер года" в Казахстане". www.inform.kz (in Russian). 2021-05-26.
22. "Minister of justice awarded honored inventors of the republic of Kazakhstan and presented wipo medals and gold medals named after V.I.Blinnikov". qazpatent.kz. 2022-10-03.