This time Scientific Bangladesh has interviewed Dr. Abidur Rahman, a Bangladeshi plant molecular physiologist in Japan. He has
shared some important messages for Bangladeshi policymakers, researchers, and students. Let’s read what he says
1. Scientific Bangladesh: Would you like to tell us about your academic and research life? In other way, how would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?
Dr. Abidur Rahman: My pleasure. I am currently working at the Department of Plant Bio Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University. My group ‘s research work is focused on hormonal regulation of plant development at both optimal and stressed conditions through molecular and cellular approaches and developing abiotic stress resilient plants. We are also focusing on developing eco-friendly new herbicides and finding new transporters for heavy metals, which can be used for phytoremediation of soil. I completed my undergraduate and graduate studies from the Dept. of Biochemistry, Dhaka University. I obtained my Ph.D. from Kobe University, Japan as MEXT fellow in 2001. After completion of my Ph.D., I had a short postdoc at Japan Atomic Energy Association as JSPS fellow. After a year, I left for USA as a senior postdoctoral fellow at University of Massachusetts, USA. At the end of 2006, I joined as a faculty here at Iwate University and developed my own group. I also had visiting research professor appointments at University of Massachusetts, USA, Wake Forest University, USA, University of Saskatchewan, Canada. To know more about my lab and work, please visit http://news7a1.atm.iwate-u.ac.jp/~abidur/
2.Scientific Bangladesh: What has made you researcher and/or teacher? In other way, what is the story behind your becoming a researcher?
Dr. Abidur Rahman: For me, it is simple. My inquisitive mind and love for biology. I am always driven by two things how and why? During my early education life, I used to ask a lot of questions, which I do to myself now. In many cases, I did not get satisfying answers, which always bugged me. During my graduate studies at Dhaka University, I thought to take the things into my own hand and decided to be a researcher. I also had a passion for teaching, and I served as a part time senior teacher of Biology at an English Medium School in Dhaka, while I was doing my M.Sc. I found it very satisfying when I could see the joy in the faces of my students of understanding the complex problems after the lecture. Some of my former teachers at the Biochemistry Department, DU, and my supervisors at Kobe University had huge influence on me to become an academician.
3.Scientific Bangladesh: How do you manage fund for research? From where you get fund for research?
Dr. Abidur Rahman: My major Funds come from Japanese Government (MEXT), Japanese Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS), Iwate University, United Graduate School of Agricultural Science (UGAS), and also some international funding from Canada.
4.Scientific Bangladesh: Do you think Bangladeshi researchers apply enough for international funds?
Dr. Abidur Rahman: I am afraid not a lot. Only a few scientists in Bangladesh are capable of attracting international funding. Since these funds are competitive, it requires a very strong publication record, which is lacking in general among Bangladeshi scientists. However, I am seeing a change in this, and many of the young faculties are trying to publish in moderate impact journals, which definitely is a good sign for Bangladeshi science. I am sure in few more years; they will be more competitive for international funding.
5.Scientific Bangladesh: Inadequate fund for research is a major problem in Bangladesh. What would you say in response to pointing fingers by many to this basic problem worldwide, not only in Bangladesh?
Dr. Abidur Rahman: I am not in a position to comment on this, but from my few research collaborators in Bangladesh, I came to know that the funding situation is improving. The major problem is the review system and political connection. They do not get any detail review report explaining why the project was not funded and what should be done to improve it for the next round. This is a standard protocol for all the funding agencies world-wide. Bangladesh should follow the suit. Another huge issue is political connection. Science should be justified by the merit, not by politics. This practice also needs to be changed.
6.Scientific Bangladesh: What is your research area? What type of research facilities/ infrastructures you have or developed over years and how?
Dr. Abidur Rahman: I am a plant molecular physiologist. My lab has all the cutting-edge research equipment and facilities. The equipment was purchased through different grant money as per the requirement of the research projects. In addition, we also have access to the common facilities provided by our university free of cost.
7.Scientific Bangladesh: Tell us about your publications and patent, if any. Tell more about your most loved publication/s and/or patents.
Dr. Abidur Rahman: For my publication list, please visit Google scholar or Research gate. You will get all the information. All my publications are very dear to me as we had to spend lots of time and resources to publish in high impact journals. It is difficult to choose a particular one.
8.Scientific Bangladesh: Would you like to share your google scholar, LinkedIn, or any other profile?
Dr. Abidur Rahman: Sure.
Google scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=RJR7SCEAAAAJ;
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Abidur_Rahman;
Research Map: https://researchmap.jp/abidur/;
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/abidur-rahman-51ba6224/
9.Scientific Bangladesh: Tells us about research grants and awards you have obtained till now.
Dr. Abidur Rahman: There is a long list of grants, which is difficult to put here. But I can tell the total sum of the grants that I received till today, which is around 7 million$.
10.Scientific Bangladesh: How important are the experience of working as journal editor and peer-reviewed? How is your experience in those cases?
Dr. Abidur Rahman: To enhance your scientific carrier, this is one of the most important things. I am currently serving as Associate editor in Frontiers in Plant Science (Cell biology section), editor for PLOSONE, and Journal of Plant Growth Regulation. I am also ad-hoc reviewer of many high impact journals. I can tell that this editorial and reviewing experiences continuously improve my understanding of science. Particularly, as an editor I have to handle manuscripts from diverse fields of plant science, which really help me to understand the broader perspective of plant science. I love editing and reviewing the manuscripts.
11. Scientific Bangladesh: How many researchers (PhDs and Masters) have you developed by this time? In other words, share your supervising story.
Dr. Abidur Rahman: 4 Ph.D. and 13 Masters student.
12. Scientific Bangladesh: What 1. qualities and 2. skills you expect in prospective researchers?
Dr. Abidur Rahman: I always look for a researcher who has 1) Observation power; 2) Ask questions and 3) try to think logically to solve the problem. In addition, the person has to have high ethical standard.
13.Scientific Bangladesh: What are the professional organizations of researchers you involved with? How important it is for researchers to join such professional bodies?
Dr. Abidur Rahman: Numerous. I am a member of most of the professional organizations linked to my research field. I attend the annual meetings, present my research, look for potential collaborators through these organizations. Actually, participation in professional organizations is very important to build and spread your network.
14.Scientific Bangladesh: Do you think different professional bodies of scientists playing their due role in Bangladesh? What are your suggestions for the leading professional organizations of scientists?
Dr. Abidur Rahman: I believe it is getting better. In recent years, few very good organizations developed such as GNOBB, National Young Academy of Bangladesh(NYAB), Bangladesh Biosafety Association. Scientific Bangladesh is also a very good platform for science promotion. They all are really working hard to reach international standard for conferences and other science aspects. I hope other professional bodies will also follow the suit sooner or later.
15.Scientific Bangladesh: How important is leadership ability to become a great researcher? Should researchers take leadership training? Did you ever get training on Leadership?
Dr. Abidur Rahman: That’s a very good question. First of all, many of us are by born leaders. They do not need an institutional training. Unfortunately, this is not the case for all. If someone wants to be PI and run his/her own lab, and if he/she is not a born leader, they must go through leadership training. Yes, I participated in few seminars and classes for leadership while I was in USA.
16.Scientific Bangladesh: If asked what will be your three suggestions for the Science Ministry of Bangladesh?
Dr. Abidur Rahman:
1) Improve the research infrastructure;
2) Allocate more money for research and
3) Develop a fair review system where the grant proposals will be funded on the basis of the merit of the project.
17.Scientific Bangladesh? Would you like to add any more point for our readers?
Dr. Abidur Rahman: Doing Science is a challenge anywhere in the world. Focus, dedication, and high ethical standard are required to be a successful researcher. I hope our new upcoming scientists will follow these basics of science culture while doing science in Bangladesh.