简介
Personal Statement
Originally trained as a microbiologist, I am currently holding a position of Senior Scientist and serving as Head of Virology Laboratory at icddr,b and an Associate Professor of the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology at North South University, Dhaka. I have a broad background in virology for more than 15 years with specific training and expertise in epidemiology, genetics, vaccine, and drug trials. As PI and co-investigator on several projects on infectious diseases, I collaborated with other researchers from leading universities and research organizations around the globe, learned from experience, and produced over 130 peer-reviewed publications. In recent years, my work has involved several major areas: (a) design, implementation, and analysis of vaccine trials; (b) conducting surveillance for HIV, rotavirus, and influenza virus; (c) etiology study on pneumonia (PERCH) and child mortality (CHAMPS); (d) laboratory assay development for vaccine evaluation; and (e) bioinformatics and genomics analysis of complete sequencing of viruses. I am also deeply committed to mentoring new scholars in our field, having supervised more than 50 undergraduate research students in my past, including two who have successfully completed their Ph.D. program. I am also supervising 10 junior and mid-level scientists in icddr,b. The Global Network of Bangladeshi Biotechnologists nominated me as the best resident scientist 2015 for my scientific achievements.
Honors
1989-1991 Departmental scholarship of the University of Dhaka for undergraduate level
2001-2002 Scholarship from the Belgian Technical Cooperation for specialization in Medical Sciences
2004-2007 IRO scholarship from the University of Leuven for Doctorate program
2004 Dr. Mario Escobar Award in 20th PASCV annual meeting, Florida
2015 Best resident Bangladeshi scientist 2015: Global Network of Bangladeshi Biotechnologists (GNOBB), Dhaka. (2015)
Ad Hoc reviewer
The Lancet, PloS ONE, Journal of Clinical Microbiology, Journal of Clinical Virology,
Virology Journal, Journal of Medical Microbiology, Journal of Medical Virology, Veterinary Microbiology, BMC Pediatrics, BMC Infectious Diseases, European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, Journal of Medical Virology, Virus Genes, Infection, Genetics and Evolution, Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, Intervirology
Selected Ongoing Research
1. COVID-19 testing and tracing in Bangladesh, Grant Number: GR-01936; Gates Foundation, June 2020-June 2022; Role: Principal Investigator
2. Strengthening the country wide testing capacity for SARS-CoV-2 in Bangladesh
Grant Number: Global Affairs Canada, July 2020 – December 2021; Role: Principal Investigator
3. Elucidating the mechanisms and markers of infection- and inflammation-associated preterm birth - Bangladesh studies (NIHR PRIME), Grant Number: GR-01745; NIH through Sheffield University, UK, October 2019 to February 2021; Role: Principal Investigator
4. Surveillance for deaths among under 5 children and stillbirths in Baliakandi sub-district, Rajbari and investigation of etiology: a CHAMPS study ICDDRB Protocol Number: PR16082; Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USA, August 2016 to July 2022; Role: Co-Investigator
Publications
A complete listing of my publications can be found in My Bibliography at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/myncbi/1tWBlpc679cAo/bibliography/41221229/public/?sort=date&direction=descending
