Md Abu Hasan Howlader

Md Abu Hasan Howlader will be the first person from his remote village in Bangladesh to earn a Ph.D. While the journey has been a struggle, he’s remained determined and never allowed anything stand in the way of his educational dreams. 

Md Abu Hasan first became interested in chemistry when he saw the periodic table and was amazed that everything in the world was made up of those 118 elements. Always a good student, Md Abu Hasan studied hard and was accepted into the University of Dhaka.

In 2011, he wanted to come to the U.S. to pursue his Ph.D. studies. But he couldn’t afford to cover the travel and relocation expenses. That is when he began teaching at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, saving money for the next five years. Then, in 2016, he was awarded the FIU Presidential Fellowship, and moved to Miami.

Md Abu Hasan has conducted innovative, groundbreaking research that uses the building blocks of DNA to develop new anticancer and antiviral medications. One of these new treatments is focused on slowing down the spread of COVID-19. He’s also collaborated with the FIU College of Medicine to develop a new arsenic-based antibiotic. To date, he’s published 18 scientific articles in prestigious academic journals and has been awarded two patents.  

This fall, Md Abu Hasan will take a position as a postdoctoral fellow at John Hopkins University.

By Angela Nicoletti
Account Manager
College of Arts, Sciences & Education