The Life of Nadia Chaudhri

An international leader, Dr. Nadia Chaudhri was a Montréal-based psychology professor at Concordia University.

Originally from Pakistan, she travelled to the US at age 17 to pursue a Bachelor of Science at Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania. She became the first woman to receive the college’s Williamson Medal, awarded to senior class students for outstanding academic and extracurricular achievements. After earning her PhD in neuroscience in 2005, she became a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Chicago before joining Concordia.

Her research focused on exploring the neurological basis of developing alcohol and drug addiction, produced through the Chaudhri Lab.

As an advocate for young scholars, Dr. Chaudhri launched the Nadia Chaudhri Wingspan Award at Concordia, an annual scholarship to support emerging neurologists who might be overlooked due to prejudice and systemic barriers.

Sadly, Dr. Chaudhri passed away on October 5, 2021 more than a year after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

One of her final goals was to raise awareness of ovarian cancer. Telling her story, @DrNadiaChaudhri encouraged women “Do not dismiss your pain or malaise. Find the expert doctors.” wrote colleague and friend Byers- Heinlein.

Her advocacy and drive is truly inspirational. Dr. Chaudri’s legacy lives on through the people she has touched all around the world and the amazing work she has done.

(Photo Credits: Chaudhri Lab)

Writing credit: Amal Abdulrahman