Naiyyum Choudhury

Academic qualifications Choudhury held a PhD in biotechnology (1982) from University of New South Wales. He had his MSc in biochemistry (Thesis group) from Dhaka University in 1967, and had 1st Class (3rd in order of merit). He received the European Economic Community Fellowship, 1988–1989, for post-doctoral research at the University of Karlsruhe, West Germany.

Liberation War of Bangladesh Choudhury obtained the Commonwealth scholarship to attend the McGill University for his PhD degree. But as the liberation war broke out in Bangladesh in 1971, Choudhury actively protested the massacre by the Pakistani Army of the Bangladeshi people. He was the founder secretary of Bangladesh Association of Quebec, Canada, formed on 7 March 1971. On his active protest, a shipping of Sabre Jet spare parts for Chittagong, East Pakistan, was cancelled. Choudhury could not finish his PhD and returned home to Bangladesh.

Teaching career PhD, M.Phil. & M.Sc. supervisor of more than 25 students in Dhaka University and Jahangirnagar University. Professor and chairman, Department of Microbiology, Dhaka University, November 1993– July 1994; teaching, research and administration. Part-time teacher, Life Science Institute, Jahangirnagar University; teaching Advanced Microbiology at the post-graduate level, 1990–1998. Part-time teacher, Department of Chemical Engineering, B.U.E.T. teaching the course: Principles of Food Preservation and Processing in the 3rd year B.Sc. Chem. Engineering, 1986–91. Part-time teacher, Department of Microbiology, Dhaka University, January 1983 – June 1993, teaching Food Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology at the B.Sc.(Hons) and M.Sc. level. Course Coordinator, Basic Nuclear Orientation Course (six months) 1984; Organized by the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission for orientation of the fresh recruits in the commission. Course Coordinator, Radiation Biology course, 1983. Institute of Food and Radiation Biology. AERE, Savar, Dhaka. Tutor (Part-time), 1st year Biology Teaching Unit and School of Biotechnology, University of N.S.W., Australia, July 1978 to June 1982. Lecturer, Chemistry, Chaumuhani College, teaching organic chemistry and physical chemistry at the undergraduate and graduate level Noakhali, February 1968 – September 1968. Guest professor, Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, D.U., April 2004 – to date Guest professor, Department of Microbiology, D.U., 2003– to date, teaching Bioprocess Technology at M.S. level. Professor, Department of Mathematics & Natural Science, BRAC University.

Positions held Chairman, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority, 2014-2019 Chairman, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, August 2002 – September 2003 Project Director, National Institute of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Information & Communication Technology; 1999–2003 Member, Bio Science, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, March 1999 – August 2002 Project Director; Research, Development and Academic programme of BAEC; 1999–2002 Director, International Affairs, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, March 1998 – July 1999 Director, Planning & Development, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, July 1994 – Feb 1998 Chairman, Department of Microbiology, Dhaka University, November 1993 – July 1994 Director, Planning & Development, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, July 1993 – October 1993 Director, I.F.R.B., Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, Oct. 1989 – June 1993 Director, Bio-science, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, March 1988 – September 1988 Head, Microbiology Division, Institute of Food and Radiation Biology, AERE, Savar, 1982–1988

International assignments Resource Person in the Training Workshop on Project Planning, organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency at Argonne National Laboratory, Chicago, Illinois, US, 12–23 April 1999 Facilitator in the Regional Training Course (RTC) on Planning and Design of TC Projects organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency, Beijing, PRC, 28 June – 7 July 1999 National TC Liaison Officer for International Atomic Energy Agency TC projects supported every year by IAEA, 1996–1999 Project Counterpart for IAEA/ non-RCA project on Sustainability and Self-reliance of National Nuclear Research Institutions (RAS/0/032), 1999–2001 RCA Chairperson, 2000–2001, Chairing RCA National Representative Meetings (17 Member States in the East Asia and the Pacific Region) and the General Conference Meeting held in IAEA Headquarters, Vienna for formulating strategy for Regional Projects, decide on policy issues and harmonising RCA projects in line with the TC strategy of the IAEA Chairperson, RCARO Advisory Committee, 2001–2003, RCA Regional Office was opened in Republic of Korea under the aegis of the RCA and IAEA in 2001

Membership/executive of professional bodies International New York Academy of Sciences, 1993 American Society for Microbiology, 1989 British Society for Applied Bacteriology, 1989

National Fellow, Bangladesh Academy of Sciences since 2000 Elected Secretary, Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, 2004–2008, 2008–2012 President Bangladesh Atomic Energy Scientists Association, 1995–1996, 1997–1998 President Bangladesh Association of Scientists and Scientific Professions, 1997–1998, 1999–2001 President Section-II, Bangladesh Association for the Advancement of Science (BAAS) 1996–1998, 1998–2000 President Bangladesh Society of Microbiologists, 1997–1999; 1999–2001 President Bangladesh Biochemical Society, 2000–2002 President Bangladesh Tissue Banking Society 2000 to 2019 Life Member of Bangladesh Association for the Advancement of Science, Bangladesh Biochemical Society, Bangladesh Botanical Society, Bangladesh Association of Scientists and Scientific Professions, Nutrition Society of Bangladesh, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Vice President, Bangladesh Academy of Science, Council (July 2016 - June 2019)

Publications Choudhury has 31 international publications, 96 national publications and edited 5 books and proceedings, and written 18 articles.

Awards received Journalists Association Award, 2000 Zaki Memorial Gold Medal, 2002 BAS Gold Medal, 2002 Shamima and Naiyyum have two children, Dr. Sarah Nahin Choudhury, FRCP and Dr. Sajid Muhaimin Choudhury.

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