Rakim joined Oxitec in March 2022 as Director of Global Field Programs. He is responsible for leading a global team of field trial staff across geographies to evaluate the performance and support the registration of Oxitec technologies, in both the public health and agriculture sectors.

Rakim completed his B.S. degree in entomology and nematology from the University of Florida, his M.S. in entomology from Cornell University, and his Ph.D. in environmental science, policy and management at the University of California, Berkeley. During his doctoral studies, and through funding by USDA-ARS and NASA, he evaluated the impact of invasive aquatic weeds on the behavioral and physiological ecology of mosquitoes in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, where West Nile virus incidences had increased over the years, likely in part due to an invasion of plants that increase mosquito harborage in waterways. Rakim was a Principal Entomologist at Ecolab in the Global Research, Development & Engineering Pest Elimination business. There, he served as the technical lead in the launch of the Global Large Fly Program in 33 countries in the fight against filth flies and the disease-causing pathogens they transmit. He served as an Associate Manager, Medical Entomology at SC Johnson in the Global Research, Development & Engineering Pest Control business. In this role, he conducted literature review on novel insecticide technologies and provided scientific outreach, internally and externally, on pests of medical importance. Rakim recently served as the Product Development Manager, Insecticides at FMC Corporation in the Global Specialty Solutions business, where he oversaw the ideation and evaluation of insecticides in the lab and field, globally.