Momota Akter is at present pursuing a funded PhD in Organic Chemistry within the Department of Chemistry at Michigan State University (MSU). She is conducting her research beneath the supervision of Professor Dr Xuefei Huang and additionally serving as a graduate educating and research assistant in the identical division.
In March 2024, Momota was awarded Emergency Fellowship Funding in assist of a dental medical emergency. Earlier, within the 2017–2018 fiscal yr, she acquired the National Science and Technology (NST) Fellowship from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Bangladesh, in recognition of my MSc research in Organic Chemistry.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star’s Google News channel. Momota’s tutorial journey started in Mymensingh, the place she accomplished her Secondary School Certificate (SSC) at Latu Mondol High School in 2008, adopted by her Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) from Shaheed Syed Nazrul Islam College in 2010. She then accomplished her Bachelor of Science (BSc) diploma in Chemistry from Dhaka University in 2016, and went on to finish her Master of Science (MSc) in Organic Chemistry from the identical college in 2018. At current, Momota additionally serves because the General Secretary of the Bangladesh Chemical and Biochemical Association in North America (BACABANA), Michigan Chapter, a non-profit organisation devoted to supporting college students and professionals in chemical and biochemical sciences.
Campus sat down with Momota to speak about her research and life as a PhD candidate.
Campus (C): Chemistry is a tough topic, one which’s feared by many, particularly at school. What made you pursue this topic for your increased research?
Momota Akter (M): I come from a rural village in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, the place finishing even major schooling was thought-about practically not possible, particularly for women. Like many others, I confronted formidable challenges in my early instructional journey. Chemistry, particularly, usually appeared intimidating—its equations and formulation appeared advanced and overwhelming. Yet, that very problem drew me towards the topic and sparked my dedication to discover it deeply.
Over time, I realised that chemistry is just not confined to textbooks; it’s intricately related to on a regular basis life. I’ve at all times been interested by how medicines are developed, how supplies are created, and how small scientific adjustments can have a profound affect on the world round us. From the standard of meals to the effectiveness of medicines, from environmental shifts to technological developments—chemistry influences each facet of fashionable life. This realisation impressed me to pursue chemistry in increased research, believing that if I might grasp it, I’d not solely construct my profession but in addition contribute meaningfully to society and my nation.
Even although my faculty lacked adequate assets, I nourished my curiosity by watching science programmes on tv, which deepened my fascination with the topic. That curiosity, coupled with a want to grasp the science behind on a regular basis life, drove me towards a profession in research chemistry.
My mother and father, particularly my father, performed a pivotal position in nurturing this passion. He usually shared tales of exceptional innovations and ground-breaking discoveries—many of which have been rooted in science—and these tales fueled my resolve to comply with this path.
C: What’s a typical day like as a PhD candidate whereas additionally balancing graduate educating and research assistant roles?
M: Being a PhD candidate means always balancing lab work, educating, and private life. The most attention-grabbing half is that no two days ever look the identical. Although my weekly days off are Saturday and Sunday, since becoming a member of MSU, I usually discover myself working within the lab on Saturdays. The workload might be intense, however with good time administration and a transparent sense of goal, it’s doable to keep up a wholesome steadiness and nonetheless benefit from the journey.
There are weeks when deadlines and experiments demand additional hours, however I attempt to offset that with breaks, household time, or hobbies to recharge. The reward is price it since you’re not solely doing research—you are additionally constructing resilience, self-discipline, and the power to handle a number of duties directly. I prioritise duties primarily based on urgency and affect, and I comply with a structured schedule that permits me to dedicate time to each research and educating. Importantly, I view these roles as interconnected; the teachings I be taught from every assist me develop, each as a researcher and as a disciplined human being.
C: We perceive that you’re at present engaged on a vaccine at MSU. Could you inform us what this vaccine is and what it goals to do?
M: Enterobacteriaceae is a big household of Gram-negative micro organism that at present consists of greater than 210 species and 53 genera, corresponding to Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Citrobacter, Salmonella, and Escherichia. These micro organism are related to each intestinal and extraintestinal ailments, together with urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections, pneumonia, and in some instances, diarrhoea. Alarmingly, a number of strains of Enterobacteriaceae have developed resistance to antibiotics. Of specific concern is Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), which is immune to carbapenems—usually thought-about the drug of final resort. The speedy rise of CRE highlights the pressing want for new preventive methods.
Enterobacteriaceae produce a polysaccharide referred to as the Enterobacterial Common Antigen (ECA), composed of repeating trisaccharide models. This polysaccharide helps defend the bacterial outer membrane, serving as a virulence issue that allows an infection. These distinctive options make ECA a beautiful goal for vaccine improvement. My research focuses on synthesising this antigen to develop a common vaccine in opposition to Enterobacteriaceae, with a selected emphasis on combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The discovery of penicillin (beta-lactam antibiotics) in 1928 marked a ground-breaking second in medical science, because it was the primary antibiotic discovered efficient in opposition to each gram-positive and gram-negative micro organism. Since then, important progress has been made within the improvement of antibiotics as much as 2020. However, the bulk of these developments have primarily focused Gram-positive micro organism. This leaves a substantial hole within the discovery of efficient antibiotics in opposition to Gram-negative micro organism, posing a important problem for fashionable drugs.
Antimicrobial resistance is a rising world well being disaster, growing healthcare prices, affected person morbidity, and mortality charges. In the United States (US) and worldwide, CRE represents one of essentially the most harmful examples of drug-resistant infections. My purpose is to deal with this problem by creating revolutionary, scalable, and cost-effective vaccine platforms. This work aligns with world well being priorities, together with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) name for equitable vaccine entry, and gives options for each superior healthcare methods and resource-limited settings.
Over the following three years, I plan to publish my findings in main scientific journals and current them at main conferences, fostering collaborations to maneuver this research from the laboratory into real-world purposes. My long-term imaginative and prescient is to safe a senior scientific position at establishments such because the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), or worldwide public well being organisations, the place I can lead multidisciplinary groups to develop efficient AMR methods.
For me, vaccine improvement is just not solely a scientific pursuit but in addition an ethical duty. In an period of quickly rising drug resistance, I see this work as a humanitarian mission to avoid wasting thousands and thousands of lives. Ultimately, I aspire to guide a federally funded research laboratory devoted to equitable and scalable vaccine applied sciences—advancing innovation whereas shaping well being coverage and strengthening public consciousness.
C: Do you assume it’s doable to work on comparable vaccines in Bangladesh? What is perhaps required if we have been to interact in such vaccine research?
M: I firmly consider that comparable vaccine initiatives may very well be undertaken in Bangladesh. For occasion, the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) has performed a big and well-documented position in vaccine research and infectious illness management.
Moving into glycoconjugate or bacterial vaccine research is possible, however a number of elements have to be thought-about: funding in artificial chemistry and bioconjugation services—a serious hole at present in Bangladesh—collaboration with worldwide research teams for technological assist, and assist from the federal government and non-government organisations (NGOs) for funding and regulatory steering.
C: When you have been making use of for your PhD at MSU, what have been the stuff you highlighted in your software and different obligatory essays or submissions?
M: I’ve hardly ever succeeded on my first try in life. In 2021, I utilized to a number of universities within the US however acquired a proposal letter from just one establishment. Due to private causes, I didn’t be a part of at the moment. The following yr (2022), I utilized to eight universities and acquired a number of gives. Ultimately, I accepted the PhD supply from MSU, which got here with full monetary assist, as a result of the college’s rating and the research work of Professor Dr Xuefei Huang aligned carefully with my pursuits.
After finishing my grasp’s in Organic Chemistry, I made a decision to pursue research in bio-related fields. Initially, I recognized potential research areas and supervisors by totally exploring the web sites of American universities. I despatched emails to professors outlining my research pursuits, expertise, curriculum vitae (CV), and a short proposal. Several professors expressed curiosity and carried out discussions by way of Zoom conferences, offering steering for my purposes.
I then rigorously ready the required software paperwork in response to every college’s tips, together with the Statement of Purpose (SOP), CV, research proposal, transcripts, advice letters, and take a look at scores, corresponding to GRE, TOEFL, or Duolingo English take a look at. I submitted my purposes on-line, and in some instances, the appliance charges have been waived. Following the submissions, I used to be invited for on-line interviews by a number of universities.
During these interviews, I mentioned my research plans, pursuits, and future objectives. After analysis, I acquired gives from a number of universities. After cautious consideration, I selected MSU. The supply was absolutely funded, protecting all bills, together with a tuition waiver and a month-to-month stipend.
Based on this admission supply, I utilized for a US pupil visa. Once the visa was authorized, I arrived within the US and started my PhD programme as scheduled. While necessities range throughout universities, most usually ask for language proficiency scores, a CV or resume, advice letters, writing samples, and a powerful SOP or private assertion.
In an SOP, it’s important to spotlight tutorial achievements corresponding to undergraduate efficiency, GPA, honours, awards, or scholarships. More importantly, research expertise have to be emphasised—detailing particular initiatives, technical abilities, and any convention or symposium participation. Applicants also needs to point out professors whose research aligns with their pursuits and clarify their motivation to contribute to world scientific progress whereas additionally making a significant affect in Bangladesh.
C: Your current research article was revealed in The Journal of Pathology – Research and Practice beneath Elsevier’s ScienceDirect platform. Can you briefly clarify the important thing findings of your research and their significance within the discipline of most cancers research?
M: I’ve co-authored a big research article revealed in The Journal of Pathology – Research and Practice, titled “Mechanistic role of stromal cancer-associated fibroblasts in tumorigenesis and brain metastasis: Highlighting drug resistance and targeted therapy”. The research explores the important position of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in mind metastases. My co-authors—Md Rashedunnabi Akanda, Umme Lubaba, Md Khalesur Rahman, Anowarul Islam, Md Sadikul Islam, Md Nazim Uddin, and Byung-Yong Park—and I spotlight how CAFs, essentially the most considerable mobile element within the tumour microenvironment, drive metastasis, immune evasion, and drug resistance.
Analysing 99 research, the research identifies key biomarkers corresponding to PDGFR-β, α-SMA, and collagen I, linking CAFs to poor prognosis and most cancers recurrence. The research additional particulars how CAFs contribute to remedy resistance by modifying the extracellular matrix, secreting progress elements, suppressing immune responses, and inducing metabolic reprogramming.
Experts recommend that focusing on CAFs via depletion methods, paracrine signalling blockers, metabolic inhibitors, and immunotherapies might improve therapy efficacy. However, the research emphasises that additional research is required to completely perceive CAFs’ position in metastatic mind tumours and develop more practical therapy methods. I consider this research will function worthwhile proof supporting the necessity for superior therapeutic approaches in combating mind metastases.
C: You have expertise as a lecturer in Chemistry. What educating methodologies do you discover simplest?
M: My tutorial journey has been considerably formed by educating and research roles at a number of prestigious establishments in Bangladesh. I served as a part-time trainer within the Department of Chemistry at Bangladesh University of Textiles (BUTEX) from October 2021 to December 2021, the place my key duties included taking lessons and grading examination papers.
Prior to that, I labored as a part-time lecturer in Chemistry beneath the Faculty of Sciences at BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology (BUFT) from September 2019 to August 2020. During this time, my duties included delivering lectures, proctoring examinations, grading examination papers, evaluating college students’ efficiency, and contributing to college students’ foundational understanding of chemistry and serving to to domesticate their curiosity in scientific inquiry.
Every pupil learns in a different way, so I exploit a mixture of lectures, interactive discussions, and hands-on actions to accommodate numerous studying kinds. I additionally encourage college students to hunt one-on-one mentoring once they want further assist. By integrating energetic studying, expertise, and hands-on classroom experiences, I try to create an attractive and efficient studying surroundings for my college students. I constantly refine my educating strategies primarily based on pupil suggestions and new instructional developments to make sure the absolute best studying expertise.
C: How do you prefer to spend your leisure time outdoors of your tutorial and research work?
M: Outside of my tutorial and research commitments, I get pleasure from participating in actions that refresh each my thoughts and spirit. I really like travelling and exploring new locations, because it permits me to expertise totally different cultures and discover recent motivation for my work. I additionally get pleasure from watching Bangla dramas, which offer a soothing escape.
Cooking is one other passion of mine—it permits me to precise creativity whereas nurturing myself and others. Above all, I deeply worth sleep, recognising it as important for sustaining a wholesome steadiness and staying mentally and bodily recharged.
These hobbies are greater than easy pastimes; they’re integral to my well-being. They assist me chill out, gas my creativity, and maintain my passion for lifelong studying.
C: What recommendation would you give to aspiring PhD candidates from Bangladesh?
M: My recommendation is to stay persistent and devoted whereas constructing a powerful basis in core topics corresponding to arithmetic, physics, chemistry, and programming. Engage in research initiatives, internships, and scientific competitions early to achieve real-world publicity and sharpen problem-solving abilities.
For Chemistry college students, transcend memorisation—give attention to understanding the ideas behind reactions, growing hands-on laboratory experience, and cultivating important considering. Stay curious, sustain with the newest scientific developments, and strengthen your skill to speak research clearly via writing and shows. Most importantly, embrace each successes and setbacks as half of the journey, keep resilient, and by no means lose your passion for discovery.
Beyond teachers and purposes, pursuing a PhD is a lifelong journey, not a dash. It calls for persistence and persistence, as significant outcomes usually come solely after repeated failures. My recommendation to aspiring candidates is to keep away from spreading themselves too skinny. Instead of making an attempt to do every part directly, give attention to mastering one space deeply. This strategy not solely strengthens experience but in addition builds resilience—qualities important for success in research and past.