[2][3] Born in Uttar Pradesh, she received her doctorate degree in 1980 from Aligarh Muslim University.
She was involved in scientific research in Zoology and fisheries from 1975 in a career spanning 39 years.
She joined Dhempe College of Arts and Science as a faculty member in 1981, becoming Head of the Department of Zoology in 1996.
[4] Modassir's research included Limnology, culture of molluscs; conservation strategies for mangrove ecosystems; zooplankton of saltpans; effects of pollutants on marine fauna.
[5] She was a founder member of All Goa Association of Zoologists, and a life member of the Mangrove Society of India, the Society of Bio-sciences, the Academy of Sciences for Animal Welfare and the National Environmental Science Academy (Goa chapter).