Faculty Profile

Md Asraful Jahan, PhD

Professor

Contact Information

  • Office Address: Professor Institute of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh
  • Phone: +8801911825536
  • Email: jahan-gen@sust.edu

Biography

When I was a high school student, I was fascinated by some science features on the cloning of Dolly and GMO and it created a great inspiration to study in the field of DNA Sciences. To fulfill my dream, I got admitted to the Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology of the University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. After completing my undergraduate and graduate studies with outstanding academic performances, I joined as a faculty in the Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh. Then I took study leave and joined the Kovinich Lab at West Virginia University, USA for PhD and worked on the genetic regulation of the elicitation of glyceollin biosynthesis in soybean. We aimed to understand the effect of abiotic and biotic stresses on glyceollin biosynthesis. We found GmNAC42-1 is a regulator of glyceollin conserved in Soybean and Arabidopsis and it is the first identified conserved component for phytoalexin GRNs in plants. The transcription factor GmNAC42-1 was essential for full activation of glyceollin biosynthesis but was not sufficient to activate all of the biosynthetic genes involved. Here, we showed that GmMYB29A2, an R2R3-type MYB TF is also essential for the full activation of glyceollin biosynthesis and important for providing resistance against race 1 P. sojae.

Education

  • PhD in Genetics and Developmental Biology, West Virginia University, West Virginia-26506, USA
  • Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Biological Sciences, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh.
  • Master of Science in Genetics and Breeding, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Results obtained First Class First Position.
  • Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Genetics and Breeding, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Results obtained First Class First Position.

Research Interests

  • Genetics, Molecular Biology, Metabolic Engineering, Biotechnology

Active Research Project

  • Determination of Gene Regulatory Network in Phytoalexins Biosynthesis in Plants Using the Analysis of RNA-seq Dataset.
  • Characterization of GmMYB and GmNAC Transcription Factors Regulating Glyceollins Biosynthesis in Soybean

Previous Research Project

  • Computational Based Genome Wide Identification and Characterization of MYB Transcription Factor for Developing Abiotic Stress Tolerant Soybean.
  • In silico Identification and Characterization of Transcription Factors Regulating Glyceollins Biosynthesis in Soybean.
  • Genome Wide Identification and in silico Characterization of the NAC Gene Family for Developing Abiotic Stress Tolerant Soybean.
  • Identification and Expression Analysis of CPP (Cystein-rich Polycomb-like Protein) Gene Family in wheat (Triticum aestivum)
  • Development of Effective Plant Regeneration Protocol and Agrobacterium-Mediated genetic transformation in Sticky Rice variety Berion
  • Production and optimization of extracellular amylase enzyme from newly isolated Bacillus sp. for removal of sizing materials from cotton based fabrics.

Journal Publish

  • 1. Jie Lin, D Wi, Melissa Ly, Md Asraful Jahan, S Pullano, I Martirosyan and Nik Kovinich (2023). Soybean Hairy Root Transformation for the Analysis of Gene Function. Journal of Visual Exp 2023 May 5;(195).
  • 2. A Jie Lin, Ivan Monsalvo, Melissa Ly, Md. Asraful Jahan, Dasol Wi, Izabella Martirosyan, Nik Kovinich. RNA-seq dissects incomplete activation of glyceollin biosynthesis by soybean transcription factors GmMYB29A2 and GmNAC42-1. Plants, 2023 Jan 25;12(3):545.
  • 3. Sajjad Ahmed, Xuefei Gao, Md. Asraful Jahan, Maxwell Adams, Nianqiang Wu, Nik Kovinich (2021). Nanoparticle-based genetic transformation of Cannabis sativa. Journal of Biotechnology. Volume 326, 20 January 2021, Pages 48-51
  • 4. Jahan MA, Brianna Harris, Matthew Lowery, Aniello M. Infante, Ryan J. Percifield, Nik Kovinich. Glyceollin Transcription Factor GmMYB29A2 Regulates Soybean Resistance to Phytophthora sojae. Plant Physiology®. June 2020, Volume 183, pp 430-546.
  • 5. Jahan MA, Harris B, Lowery M, Coburn K, Infante AM, Percifield RJ, Ammer AG, Kovinich N. The NAC family transcription factor GmNAC42–1 regulates biosynthesis of the anticancer and neuroprotective glyceollins in soybean. BMC Genomics. 2019; 20:149.
  • 6. Jahan MA, N Kovinich (2019). Acidity stress for the systemic elicitation of glyceollin phytoalexins in soybean plants. - Plant signaling & behavior, - Taylor & Francis.
  • 7. Saha CK, Hasan MM, Hossain MM, Jahan MA and Azad AK (2017) In Silico identification and characterization of common epitope-based peptide vaccine for Nipah and Hendra viruses. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine. 10(6): 529 –538
  • 8. Farrell KC*, Jahan MA*, Kovinich N. Distinct mechanisms of biotic and chemical elicitors enable additive elicitation of the anticancer phytoalexin glyceollin I. Molecules. 2017;22:1261–1273
  • 9. Abul kalam Azad, Abu Yousuf, Atia Ferdous, Md Mahbub Hasan, Md. Rezaul Karim and Md Asraful Jahan (2014). Production of Microbial Lipids from Rice Straw Hydrolysates by Lipomyces starkeyi for Biodiesel Synthesis. J of Microb & Biochem Technol, S8:008. doi: 10.4172/1948-5948.S8-008.
  • 10. MA Jahan, MK Saifullah, MR Chowdhury, S Begom, and MS Hossain (2012). In vitro Propagation of Embryonic Explants of Satkara (Citrus macroptera Montrouz). Int. J. of Sustain. Crop Prod. (IJSCP.), 7(1): 19-24 February 2012.
  • 11. Abul Kalam Azad, Md Asraful Jahan, Md. Mahbub Hasan, Takahiro Ishikawa, Yoshihiro Sawa, and Hitoshi Shibata (2011). Molecular Cloning and Sequence and 3D models Analysis of the Sec61α Subunit of protein translocation Complex of Penicillium ochrochloron. Biocmemistry and Molecular Biology Reports. 2011.11.30; Vol. 44 (11): pp719-724.

Awards & Recognition

  • Research Awards: A) Travel Grant Award for Midwest Section 2018 Meeting – ASPB (American Society of Plant Biology). Midwest Meeting March 3-4, 2018, Iowa State University, USA. B) West Virginia University Graduate Research Enrichment Grant. 2018.
  • Academic Awards: 1. I have been awarded the highly prestigious national merit award called the Prime Minister Gold Medal Award’2005, conferred by Honorable Prime Minister of Bangladesh Begum Khaleda Zia for the excellent result (First Class First Position among 343 students) in the Faculty of Life and Earth Sciences, University of Rajshahi. 2. Aghrani Bank Gold Medal Award’ 2009, conferred by Professor Dr. Alauddin Ahmed, Education, Social Development and Political Affairs Advisor of the Honorable Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina for the excellent result (First Class First in Position) in the Faculty of Life and Earth Sciences. 3. Shah Makhdum Hall Gold Medal Award’ 2005, bestowed by Honorable Vice-Chancellor of the University Rajshahi for the excellent result in B.Sc. (Hon.) examination. 4. Rajshahi University Award for BSc, for securing 1st position (First class First) in Bachelor of Science (Honors) Examination of the Department of Genetics and Breeding, University of Rajshahi. 5. Rajshahi University Award for MSc, for securing 1st position (First class First) in Master of Science (Thesis) Examination of the Department of Genetics and Breeding, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh.
  • Scholarships / Fellowships: 1. Dutch-Bangla Bank M Phil Fellowship (2007-2008) - awarded by the Governor of Bangladesh Bank Dr. Saleh Uddin Ahmed Sponsored by DBBL Foundation. 2. Rajshahi University M Phil Fellowship (2006-2007) - awarded by the Institute of Biological Sciences, Rajshahi University. 3. University Grants Commission of Bangladesh (UGC) Merit Scholarship - for securing First Class First Position among 343 students in the Faculty of Life and Earth Sciences of the University of Rajshahi in B.Sc. (Honours) Examination 2002, Sponsored by University Grants Commission of Bangladesh. 4. Rajshahi University Scholarships at the undergraduate level in all the academic years. 5. Junior Scholarship in Class VIII

Teaching

  • Aug 2019 – Date (Position Held: Associate Professor then promoted to Professor): After completing PhD degree, I joined back to the Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh. Now I have been teaching Genetics branches at undergraduate level that covers Basic Genetics, Molecular Biology, Plant Biotechnology, Recombinant DNA Technology and Plant Physiology courses. At the graduate level, I also teach Advanced Molecular Biology, Advanced Plant and Agricultural Biotechnology courses.
  • Aug 2015 – Aug 2019 (Position Held: Graduate Research Assistant at Genetics and Developmental Biology PhD Program of West Virginia University): I joined to Dr. Nik Kovinich lab at West Virginia University to do my PhD. As a Teaching Assistant for Teaching Practicum course, I used to conduct Introduction to Genetics course (GEN 371) every Fall Semester from 2015 to 2019 to the undergraduate students at West Virginia University.
  • Oct 2007 – Aug 2015 (Position Held: Lecturer then promoted to Assistant Professor): I served as a lecturer then as an assistant professor at the Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh since October 28, 2007. I taught some courses at undergraduate program namely, Principles of Genetics, Molecular Biology, Genetic Engineering, Molecular Genetics, Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, Gene Cloning and GMO, Cytogenetics and Tissue Culture etc. At the graduate level, I taught Advanced Molecular Biology, Advanced Plant and Agricultural Biotechnology, Bionanotechnology courses.

Graduate Supervision

  • Graduate supervision (02) and undergraduate (10) students
  • Now, I am also serving as Students Adviser at the Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology of Shahjalal University of Science and Technolgy.