Sidra Zafar is a Computer Science academic, researcher, and speaker based in Lahore, Pakistan. She serves as Head of Department at Kinnaird College for Women, where she teaches, mentors students, and works to bridge the gap between academia and industry.

She holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science with research focused on security protocols for the Internet of Bio-Nano Things. Her broader work spans AI in Education, Cybersecurity, Machine Learning, and Requirement Engineering, with publications in high-impact journals including MDPI Sensors and Elsevier's Computers in Biology and Medicine.

A contributing writer on Hacker noon and a speaker at national forums including ITCN Asia, Sidra is passionate about making AI practical for educators, supporting women in computing, and preparing students for an industry shaped by emerging technology. She has served as a judge at prominent national platforms including P@SHA, the Ignite AI Wrapper Competition, and multiple university final year project evaluations, reflecting the trust the broader academic and industry community places in her expertise. She is also a strong advocate for using technology to solve local, real-world problems and ensures her students' final year and term projects are deliberately aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, turning classrooms into incubators for meaningful, community-driven impact.

 EXTRAORDINARY WORK: SPECIFIC WORK AND AREAS

1. AI in Education Designed and facilitated faculty workshops on integrating AI tools into teaching and research, helping educators adopt AI practically and confidently across disciplines.

2. SDG-Aligned Project-Based Learning Believes that student projects should solve real problems, not just fulfill academic requirements. Actively ensures that final year and term projects in her courses address local challenges and align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, covering areas like healthcare access, education equity, financial inclusion, and environmental sustainability.

3. Solving Local Problems Through Technology A vocal advocate for locally relevant tech solutions, Sidra encourages students to look at the communities around them as the starting point for innovation, making research and development meaningful, grounded, and impactful.

4. Judging and Evaluation at National Forums Recognized as a trusted evaluator by the broader academic and industry community, having served as a judge at P@SHA, the Ignite AI Wrapper Competition, and university-level final year project evaluations across Pakistan. This role reflects her standing at the intersection of academia, industry, and innovation.

5. Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics Speaker at ITCN Asia Roundtable on tracking cybercriminals, covering AI-driven attacks, digital forensics, and proactive cyber defense strategies relevant to the Pakistani digital landscape.

6. Academic Research Published researcher in nano-network security, blockchain-based fraud detection, and molecular communication systems, with work featured in internationally recognized journals including IEEE, MDPI Sensors and Elsevier's Computers in Biology and Medicine.

7. Women in Computing Advocacy Active participant and advocate in initiatives, working to create visibility, mentorship, and opportunity for women in tech across Pakistan.