DipIT, B. Sc
Hazrah Moothoo is a multi-talented research associate with BCIT’s Natural Health and Food Products Research Group (NRG). She has worked with NRG since 2001 and has developed a strong skill set in plant authentication, a fundamental pre-requisite for ensuring botanical product safety. Hazrah serves as the primary curator of NRG’s plant vouchers and manages the laboratory licenses, including cannabis research license and controlled substance license. Hazrah coordinates many of NRG’s larger research projects, acts as NRG’s liaise to BCIT programs and supervises our student projects. Hazrah has a BSc in biology from SFU and a DiplT in biotechnology from BCIT. Prior to joining NRG, Hazrah gained experience in a variety of industry laboratory positions. She began her career in the biosciences as a research assistant working as part of a therapeutic drug monitoring program team and continued in industry analyzing pesticide residues in food materials. Hazrah assisted in the preparation of course and laboratory materials for BCIT’s Food 1190 – Herbal Product Quality. The course was designed to provide practical training in botanical authentication for companies to create a quality control program for compliance with Health Canada’s NHP Regulations. As a member of board for the BC Herb Growers Association from 2004-2006, Hazrah was also instrumental in securing funding from the Health Product and Functional Food Program (BC Innovation Council) to revitalize the Association’s marketing approach. Hazrah completed a professional development leave in 2011 where she was invited to conduct field collections of Crataegus species in the Pacific Northwest as part of an NSERC funded research project with the Royal Ontario Museum. As a visiting scholar with University of Mississippi’s Maynard W. Quimby Medicinal Plant Garden, Hazrah assisted in the cultivation of trial plots of 3 types of chamomile to support research projects conducted by the School of Pharmacy. Hazrah has completed the Associate Certificate in Leadership at BCIT.