This time Scientific Bangladesh has talked with Dr. Mamun Jamal. He is an Assistant Professor of 
Chemistry. He has developed skills in Electrochemistry, Nanomaterials, Spectroscopy, Nano-particles, and Microscopy. He has shared many important and interesting insights in this interview. Let’s read what he shares.
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. Mamun Jamal: I currently work as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Chemistry in Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET). I completed my BSc and MSc from Dhaka University and PhD from Limerick University, Ireland. I returned to Bangladesh after completing postdoctoral fellowships with ITT, Dublin and Tyndall National Institute, Cork and subsequently worked for a few years in Ireland before joining as AP in KUET.
2.Scientific Bangladesh: What has made you researcher and/or teacher? In other way, what is the story behind your becoming researcher?
Dr. Mamun Jamal:I have had a dream of becoming a professor at the University. After graduating from Dhaka University, I received a full bright PhD scholarship funded by the European Union and went to Ireland. At the end, it ultimately leads me to a faculty and a researcher.
3.Scientific Bangladesh: How do you manage fund for research? From where you get fund for research?
Dr. Mamun Jamal: Efficient research cannot be done without a Research Fund. First, I focused on obtaining a research fund with the PI, then I became PI and got Enterprise Ireland Research Fund. This is where I learned to compose proposal for a grant. After joining KUET, I immediately obtained funds from the UGC, MOST and KUET to start my research in KUET. Different government agencies in Bangladesh are starting to think and spend money on science, but not enough to do good research, but it is nice to start anyway.
4.Scientific Bangladesh: Do you think Bangladeshi researchers apply enough for international funds?
Dr. Mamun Jamal: I think Bangladeshi researcher is doing very little to obtain Foreign Funds. You have to have your own strong research team, successful international collaboration, to obtain international fund. First phase in obtaining a national research fund and building a solid foundation will enable you to obtain a foreign fund. However, we should keep applying for an international funds, in that case Bangladeshi researchers who work abroad can be a good contact point for making the connection.
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. Mamun Jamal: It would boost scientific research in Bangladesh if UGC, Ministry and university authorities encourage researcher by providing credit for their research along with research fund. At the same time appropriate collaboration would facilitate our research within the budget.
6.Scientific Bangladesh: What is your research area? What type of research facilities/ infrastructures you have or developed over years and how?
Dr. Mamun Jamal: I synthesize different metals and polymer-based materials and use them to develop sensors, biosensors, and energy storage devices. We have two high configured electrochemical potentiostats, FTIR, UV-Vis, an elemental analyzer, a glove box and other related installations. Our department recently received a large research grant in order to improve the facilities to the state of the art. KUET has also begun building a center of excellence, where state-of-the-art technologies such as SEM-EDX, TEM , XRD, Raman, XPS and ICP-MS will soon be housed.
7.Scientific Bangladesh: Tell us about your publications and patent, if any. Tell more about your most loved publication/s and/or patents.
Dr. Mamun Jamal: As a faculty and researcher, publications are part of our academic life. It is a continuous process. I love my articles which I have published in Biosensors & Bio-electronics and in Nature Scientific Research.
8.Scientific Bangladesh: Would you like to share your google scholar, LinkedIn or any other profile?
Dr. Mamun Jamal: Please find it in the link below
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=FlIfLEkAAAAJ&hl=en
http://www.kuet.ac.bd/chem/mamunjamal/index.php?pg=publication
9. Scientific Bangladesh: Tells us about research grants and awards you have obtained till now.
Dr. Mamun Jamal: I have obtained research grants from Enterprise Ireland, Abbott Diabetes Care, Ireland, Ministry of Science & Technology of Bangladesh, University Grant Commission of Bangladesh and KUET.
10. Scientific Bangladesh: How many researchers (PhDs and Masters) have you developed by this time? In other words, share your supervising story.
Dr. Mamun Jamal: I have developed 11 MSc graduates. Currently I have 1 PhD, 7 MSc and 4 final year (Engineering) students working with me.
11. Scientific Bangladesh: What 1. qualities and 2. skills you expect in prospective researchers?
Dr. Mamun Jamal: A strong desire to solve problems is important along with hardworking and time management skills.
12.Scientific Bangladesh: What are the professional organizations of researchers you involved with? How important it for researchers to join such professional bodies?
Dr. Mamun Jamal: I am a member of Royal Society of Chemistry, UK and Bangladesh Chemical Society. Definitely it would help keeping you update on the state-of-the-art research and also would help you linking up with the experts in your research area.
13.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. Mamun Jamal: I believe a lot to do with our professional bodies. Working with relevant government bodies in particular and taking active steps to establish research infrastructure in Bangladesh. For example, our neighboring countries, such as China, India, even Pakistan are hiring their own nationals working abroad and gained international recognition in their respective area of research, bringing them back in the country as Principal Investigator, with a reasonable amount of research funds, so that they can set up their own research within the country at the respective Universities. It does not even cost that much but can provide a big boost to the country’s scientific research. In my knowledge, the Bangladeshi researchers who work abroad and have developed themselves as International researcher will certainly think of coming home and contribute to our national economy if the Government takes such initiatives.
14. 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. Mamun Jamal: Definitely, training would always help. PhD and Postdocs is also a good training to take the lead in your field of study.
15. Scientific Bangladesh: If asked what will be your three advice for Science Ministry of Bangladesh?
Dr. Mamun Jamal:
(i) Increasing the research fund per researchers in Bangladesh,
(ii) taking initiatives bringing Bangladeshi researchers working abroad and established themselves as international researcher and
(iii) making a platform to facilitate research commercialization, filing for international patents.
