Source: Courtesy

A developing country like Bangladesh cannot often boast of citizens who with achievements can put us under the global limelight. Dr Mohidus Samad Khan, is one of the select few who has accomplished this feat due to his excellence in the field of Biochemical and Biotechnological Engineering and Research.
Dr Khan completed his undergraduate degree from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), and went on to do his PhD from Monash University in Australia and a Post-Doctoral research from McGill University in Canada. He is currently working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, BUET. “I aim to address different socio-economic issues through my research. My research interest encompasses Biotech, Food and Environmental Engineering. Besides, I keep keen interest in Engineering Education,” he says.

Source: Courtesy

Khan completed his PhD in “Bioactive Papers” in 2010. For his PhD research, he received the Mollie Holman Doctoral Medal for the best Monash PhD thesis and the Kenneth Hunt Medal for the best Engineering PhD thesis. He also received the 'Post-Doctoral Fellowship' from the Department of Chemistry, McGill University, to continue his work on Bioactive Papers as a part of NSERC-CRSNG's Bioactive Paper Network, the largest network in this area in the world.
During his PhD and Post-Doctoral research, he worked on the fundamental and applied issues of paper diagnostic techniques, such as instantaneous paper diagnostics for blood typing. His research work on bioactive papers is highly quoted and highlighted in various countries and several journals/organisations, including the Royal Society of Chemistry Journal “Chemistry World”, MIT Technology Review, American Chemical Society and more. For his research work in bioactive paper, he won the 'Young Innovator Award 2012' entitled from the 'MIT Technology Review Inc' to recognize the top innovators in the Asia-Pacific regions under the age of 35.
Dr Khan's research interest extends to Engineering Education. As an alumnus, he started the 'Undergraduate Thesis Competition' and 'Poster Competition' in the Department of Chemical Engineering, at BUET. He is also the founder and the Editor of 'ChE Thoughts', the first Chemical Engineering and Science Journal/Magazine in Bangladesh. In BUET, he initiated a research group: Bio- and Environmental Technology (BET) Research Group. “BET Research Group aims to address the different scientific, engineering and socio-economic issues related to Health, Food, and Waste management,” he says.
Khan has also authored/co-authored a book, several chapters of books, patents, and peer reviewed articles in reputed international journals and conferences. Two of his patents are international patents, which are copyrighted in different key countries like USA, AUS, New Zealand, China, and Europe.

“I am highly optimistic about Bangladesh's progress in the future in this field of work,” says Khan. “Over the years, Bangladeshi researchers, doctors, engineers, economists, and other professionals have proven themselves to be highly potential and successful in the global context. I believe, with proper planning and perseverance, we can achieve our goals in a bigger perspective; but that may take a while - may be a few decades. And as Bangladeshi citizens, we have to allow our nation that time.”