A Successful Bangladeshi Physicist- Prof. Dr. A A Mamun

^*Department of Physics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

^aDepartment of Physics, Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

^bDepartment of Physics, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, Bangladesh.

^cDepartment of Physics, Moulana Vasani Science and Technology University, Tangail, Bangladesh.

^dResearch Fellow, Post Graduate Education, Research and Training Centre, National University, Gazipur, Bangladesh.

Assitant Director, Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, Bangladesh, Dhaka.

______________________________________________________________________________

A A Mamun is a Bangladeshi Physicist,^[1] a professor of physics at Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh,^[2]and a Regular Associate,^[3] of the International Center for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy. Dr Mamun, for his pioneering contribution in complex plasma physics, was awarded a number of very prestigious post-doctoral fellowships and national and international awards (by national and international open competitions). The most important fellowships are Alexander von Humboldt (AvH) Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship (Germany), Commonwealth Post-doctoral Research Fellowship (UK), Max Planck Research Fellowship (Germany), etc. The most important awards are Bessel Research Award-2009,  by the AvH foundation (German),  Third World Academy of Science (TWAS) Prize-2006 by the TWAS (Italy),  Bangladesh Academy of Science (BAS) Gold Medal-2004, UGC Award-2008, Best Young Physicist Prize-2000 by the ITCPP (Trieste, Italy) etc. It should be mentioned here that until now Prof. Mamun is a first Bangladeshi scientist who got the Bessel Research Prize (prestigious honour) from such a highly reputed international organization like AvH Foundation.

Early Life and Education

A  A Mamun was born on 31 December 1966 at a very beautiful village Jalsha (Dhamrai, Dhaka, Bangladesh) which is full of green trees, ponds and canals, ^[4].  His father’s name is Md. Darbesh Ali and Mothrer’s name is Rizia Ali, ^[4].  Mamun lost his father when he was in class nine (1979), ^[4]. When he was a schoolboy, he had no attention to his study, and his attention was only to run after birds/fishes and to play football and ha-du-du (a village game) with his friends,^[4]. Playing with birds, fishes and friends, he completed his primary and secondary educations in Jalsha Primary School (1971-1975) and Khushura Abbas Ali High School (19776-1980), respectively, ^[4]. He then moved to a college hostel of Government Science College in Dhaka, and completed his higher secondary education (July 1981-June 1983) there, ^[4].   He obtained the 1^st Division in both Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations,^[4].

He completed his B. Sc. (Hons.) and M. Sc. (Thesis-Group) in Physics from Jahangirnagar University in 1989 and 1990, respectively. He secured 1^st class 1^st position in both the B. Sc. (Hons.) and M. Sc. (Thesis) examinations.^[5]. Because of his extraordinary academic results and extraordinary performances in other activities at the university, Mamun was given an opportunity to represent Jahangirnagar University and at the same time, Bangladesh in the `International Youth Village (IYV) Program held in Japan in 1989, ^[5][6].  After working approximately 2 years (May 1990-March 1993) in Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission as its scientific officer and approximately 6 months (April-September 1993) in Jahangirnagar University as its lecturer of Physics he moved to Scotland (UK) to study for the degree of Ph. D. in plasma physics at the University  University of St Andrews.^[5]  under the Commonwealth Scholarship.  His supervisor was a great plasma physicist, Prof. Robert Alan Cairns (St. Andrews) and co-supervisors were a great space physicist, Prof. Robert Bingham (Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxford) and a great modern plasma physicist, Prof.  P. K. Shukla (Bochum, Germany). He completed his Ph, D. in Plasma Physics in 1996, ^[5][6]. He returned to Bangladesh just after completing his PhD, and he continued his advanced research in Bangladesh. Three years later, in 1999, He moved to Bochum (Germany) to carry out the advanced research in dusty plasma physics under a great modern plasma physicist, Prof.  P. K. Shukla (Bochum) first by the Alexander von Humboldt Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship, and next by the Max Planck Research Fellowship, ^[5][6].

Mamun and Prince of Japan in IYV Program’89

He finally returned to Bangladesh permanently in 2004. He is now working (teaching undergraduate and post-graduate students, and supervising M. Sc., M. Phil. and Ph. D. research students) at Jahangirnagar University, and very much enjoying his time with his wife, brothers/sisters, nephew/niece and his students, ^[4]. To express his happiness, he used to say, ^[4] “I am proud of my father who was an ideal school headmaster; I am satisfied with my family and my profession; I am satisfied with who I am and with what I have; I really got more than what I wanted.”

Research Contribution

Prof. Mamun started his research work under the supervision of Prof. M. Salimullah on nonlinear wave-plasma interactions for his M. Sc. Thesis in 1990. The starting point of his research was so impressive that he was able to publish his M. Sc. Thesis works in some prestigious international journals, and he had been awarded the `Commonwealth Scholarship (open)’ to study for the degree of Ph. D. at the University of St. Andrews under the supervision of Prof. Robert Alan Cairns (one of world leading plasma physicists). Mamun’s Ph. D. thesis was mainly concerned with nonlinear structures in space plasmas. One part of his Ph. D. thesis mainly presented the theoretical prediction of the existence of density cavitons (new nonlinear phenomena) observed by the Freja Satellite and Viking Spacecraft, and the other part of it presented highly nonlinear dust-acoustic waves in dusty plasmas, which are relevant to planetary rings, cometary tails, etc.  The results of his Ph. D. research work (published in some prestigious international journals) had made Dr Mamun very well-known to the plasma physics community very quickly[Google Scholar, ^[ 7][ 8].

Dr. Mamun, for his notable contribution in complex plasma physics, was awarded a number of very prestigious post-doctoral fellowships (by international open competition), e. g. Alexander von Humboldt (AvH) Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship  (Germany), Commonwealth Post-doctoral Research Fellowship (UK), Max Planck Research Fellowship(Germany), etc. to carry out the advanced research in complex plasma physics in Germany, UK, etc.  Dr. Mamun has solved a number of challenging research problems [on nonlinear phenomena in dusty (complex) plasmas], which have addressed many open issues related to space environments and laboratory devices, [7][ 8]. Prof. Mamun had opportunity to work with great (world-leading) plasma physicists like Prof. P. K. Shukla (Germany), Prof. G. E. Morfill (Germany), Prof. D. A.  Mendis (USA), Prof. Robert  Alan Cairns (UK), Prof. Robert Bingham (UK), Prof. L. Stenflo (Sweden), Prof. T. Mendonca (Portugal), etc.

Prof. Mamun presented invited talks, chaired scientific sessions in many international conferences on plasma physics held in different western countries (viz. Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland, Sweden, Greece, Portugal, etc.), ^[5][6]. Recognizing his scientific excellence, Prof. Mamun was appointed the regular reviewer of many prestigious international journals [e. g. Physical Review Letters (USA), Geophysical Research Letters (US), IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science(USA), Physics of Plasmas (USA), Journal of Plasma Physics (UK), Physics Letters A (Netherlands), Physica Scripta(Sweden), etc.] as well as the Guest Editor of a special issue of the Journal of Plasma Physics published by the Cambridge University Press (UK).^[5][6].

It is very interesting that with the help of some international organizations, viz. AvH foundation (Bonn, Germany), ICTP(Trieste, Italy), TWAS (Trieste, Italy), etc. Prof. Mamun has already built up a plasma physics laboratory where the world-class research is being carried out by an active research group in Bangladesh ^[5]. Prof. Mamun is not only performing world the class research in Bangladesh ^[ 7][ 8], but he is also mentoring many young researchers who are now doing Ph. D. research in many western countries like UK, Australia, Italy, etc. ^[ 7][ 8].  Prof. Mamun had already supervised 25 research students for M. Sc./M. Phil (Thesis) degree and 4 research students for Ph. D. degree, and are supervising a large number of M. Sc./M. Phil./Ph.D. research students, ^[5].  Prof. Mamun has direct collaboration with plasma physicists from both developed and developing countries, viz. Germany, UK, USA,  Sweden, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, Venezuela, Iran, Egypt, India, etc. ^[ 7][ 8].

Prof. Mamun has really made a substantial contribution towards the published literature of nonlinear plasma physics and has published more than 200 research articles in many prestigious international journals. He has co-authored a textbook (published by the Institute of Physics, Bristol), which is being used not only as one of the most important reference books but also it is being used as a textbook for a post-graduate course in many western universities. The output of the `Google Scholar Citations’ indicates that Prof. Mamun’s research works have received  4932 citations with 30 h-index and 80 i10-index, <sup>[ 7][ 8]</sup>.  This `citation index’ is recorded on 08 April 2013. However, to see the updated citation index, please click `updated citation index of Prof. A A Mamun’.

Awards and Honors

Prof. A A Mamun, in recognition of his pioneering/notable contribution plasma physics, has been awarded a number of national and international awards/prizes/honours. The most important of these awards/prizes/honours are as follows,^[5][6]:

National:   

• • • Awarded the `Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC) Prize-2008‘ in Physical Sciences by the UGC, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
    • Awarded the `Bangladesh Academy of Science (BAS) Gold Medal-2004‘ in Physical Sciences by the BAS, Dhaka, BangladeshAwarded `Razzak-Shamsun Prize-2004’ by the University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
    • Awarded the `Best young Scientist Prize-1992‘ by the Bangladesh Association for the Advancement of Science (BAAS), Dhaka, Bangladesh.
    • Awarded the `Talent-Pool Scholarship‘ for an extraordinary result in B. Sc. (Hons.) Examination of 1986 by the University Grants Commission, Bangladesh.
    • Awarded the `Best Student of Jahangirnagar University (on the basis of all academic records)’, and given the opportunity to represent Bangladesh at the International Youth Village Programme-1989 held in Japan

                                           Prof. Mamun awarded BAS Gold Medal by PM Begum Khaleda Zia

 International:    

Prof. Mamun was awarded the Bessel Research Prize-2009

• • • Awarded the `The Bessel Research Prize-2009‘ by the Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung, Bonn, Germany.
    • Awarded the `Third World Academy of Science (TWAS) Prize in 2006′ for Young Scientists in the field of Physics by the TWAS, Trieste, Italy. ^[5].
    • Awarded the `Young Physicist Medal and Certificate’ by the International Topical Conference on Plasma Physics, 3-7 July 2000,  International Center for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy,<sup>[6]</sup>.
    • Awarded the `Commonwealth Scholarship‘ by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in London to study for the degree of Ph. D. at the University of St Andrews, UK ^[5][6] .
    • Awarded the `ORSAS Scholarship’ by Committee of the Vice-Chancellors of UK Universities to study for the degree of Ph. D. at the University of Oxford, UK, <sup>[5][6]</sup>.  
    • Awarded the `Alexander von Humboldt Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship‘ to carry out the advanced research in Plasma Physics at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany, ^[5][6].
    • Awarded the `Alexander von Humboldt Long-Term Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship‘ to conduct the innovative research in Plasma Physics at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany, <sup>[5][6]</sup>.
    • Awarded the `Senior Post-doctoral Fellowship‘ by the Academic Authorities of Katholieke Universitaet Leuven to conduct the advanced research on Plasma Astrophysics at Katholieke Universitaet Leuven, Leuven, Belgium, ^[5][6].
    • Awarded the `Commonwealth Post-doctoral Fellowship‘ by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in London to conduct the advanced research at the University of St Andrews, UK, ^[5][6].

Profession (Teaching & Research)

Prof Mamun had the opportunity to work in different national and international institutes which are pointed as follows,^[5],[6]: 

National Institutes:

• • • Scientific Officer: 02 May 1991 – 04 April 1993: Institute of Nuclear Science & Technology,Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, Dhaka, Bangladesh, ^[5], [6].
    • Lecturer: 05 April 1993 – 18 October 1996: Department of Physics, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh, ^[5], [6]. 
    • Assistant Professor: 19 October 1996 – 29 May 1998: Department of Physics, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh, ^[5], [6].
    • Associate Professor: 30 May 1998 – 17 April 2004: Department of Physics, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh, ^[5], [6].
    • Professor: 18 April 2004 – to date: Department of Physics, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh,^[5],.

International Institutes:

• • • Commonwealth Scholar: 01 October 1993 – 30 September 1996:  University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland, UK, ^[5], [6]
    • Junior Associate: 01 January 1994 – 31 December 1997 [3 visits: each of 90 days]: TheAbdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (AS-ICTP), Trieste, Italy, ^[5], [6].
    • Regular Associate I: 01 January 1998 – 31 December 2005 [3 visits: each of 90 days]: TheAbdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (AS-ICTP), Trieste, Italy, ^[5], [6].
    • Regular Associate II: 01 January 2009 – 31 December 2013 [3 visits: each of 90 days]: The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (AS-ICTP), Trieste, Italy, ^[5], [6].
    • Alexander von Humboldt Post-Doctoral Research Fellow-I (under research fellowship program): 01 December 1999 – 2001: Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany, ^[5], [6].
    • Alexander von Humboldt Post-Doctoral Research Fellow-II (under long-term co-operation program): 01 June 2001 – 31 May 2002 & 01 January 2003 – 31 December 2003: Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany,^[6].
    • Max-Planck Research Fellow (under the financial support of the Max Planck Institute, MPE, Garching): 01 January 2004 – 31 March 2004: Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany, ^[5],[6].
    • Commonwealth Post-Doctoral Fellow: 23 February 2009 – 31 March 2009: University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland, UK, ^[5], [6].
    • Alexander von Humboldt Research Awardee: 01 June 2009 – 28 August 2009 & 01 June 2010 – 18 August 2010: Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany, ^[5], [6].

Conclusion

Prof. Mamun, because of his excellent academic background and extraordinary research/teaching experiences, was offered many attractive permanent positions by many research institutes/universities of western countries like Germany, UK, US, etc. But, without any hesitation, he declined to have those permanent positions because of his firm commitment or strong determination to serve his own country (Bangladesh), and because of his love for his own country and own University (Jahangirnagar University), where he was grown up. When Prof. Mamun is asked by his students: Did he ever repent of his decision for not settling down in Europe or America? Prof. Mamun immediately (without hesitation) replies to his students, “I am proud of my father who was an ideal (honest) school headmaster; I am satisfied with my family and with my teaching/research at my beloved Jahangirnagar University Campus; I am fully satisfied with where I am, with who I am, and with what I have; I really got much more than what I wanted in my life.”

References

1. “JU Faculty selected as the recipient of Bessel Research Award”, The Daily Star (Bangladesh), May 31 , 2009.
2.  Academy Gold Medal Award, Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, retrieved 25 July.
3. “ICTP Associate and Federation Scheme Portal”, ICTP, retrieved 31 January 2013.
4.  A A Mamun (private communication), 30 January 2013.
5.  “JU People Portal”, Jahangirnagar University, Retrieved 25 July 2012.
6. “Rub People Portal“,  Ruhr Universitaet Bochum, Retrieved 31 January 2013.
7. “Google Scholar: Citations”, Retrieved 08 April 2013.
8. “The SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)”, retrieved 31 January 2013.
9. “JU teacher awarded best young scientist medal”, The Daily Star (Bangladesh),   20 July  2000.
10.  “JU prof obtains gold medal“, The Bangladesh Observer  (Bangladesh),   29 April  2006.