What I work on
Air quality over Dhaka, molecules on a screen, and a laboratory’s twenty years of output. Four projects, the figures behind them, and what has been published so far.
Atmospheric and Environmental Chemistry Projects
Dhaka’s yearly average PM2.5 climbed from 83 to 103 µg m⁻³ between 2018 and 2024. PAHs in soil around the Rooppur nuclear plant already exceed permissible limits at every site sampled.
Biochemistry Projects
Toward the first molecular glue degrader for ROS1 in non-small-cell lung cancer, plus nine novel DPP4 and SARS-CoV-2 inhibitor candidates now in molecular dynamics.
Prospective Projects
Where I want to go next: gene expression, rare disease genetics and cancer biology.
Building the AECRL Archive
Twenty years of a laboratory’s people, projects and publications, scattered across formats and author lists, reconciled into one archive of 131 publications, 43 theses and 29 instruments.
Naphthalene, 36 metres down
A pre-operational baseline for the soil around the Rooppur nuclear power plant. Priority PAHs came in between 0.81 and 130 ppb, over the permissible limits at every site, and the pattern points at regional industry and traffic rather than the plant itself. Naphthalene turned up 36 metres down. Free to read.
Publications
- K. M. Fayek Itteshaf Rownok, Abdus Salam, Md. Safiqul Islam. Deep Learning-Based Retrospective Analysis and Forecasting Models for Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Levels in Dhaka. Manuscript under review, 2026.
- K. M. Fayek Itteshaf Rownok, Md Shohel Rana, Masfika Jemin Kaeya. A Critical Study on Phenol and Phenolic Derivatives in Shitalakshya River Water and in Portable Water System at Dhaka City, Bangladesh. Asian Journal of Environment & Ecology, 2026, 25(5), 23-37. doi:10.9734/ajee/2026/v25i5929
- K. M. Fayek Itteshaf Rownok, Md. Shohel Rana, Samira Sultana. Baseline Assessment of Priority Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Soils Surrounding the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Bangladesh. Asian Journal of Environment & Ecology, 2026, 25(1), 309-325. doi:10.9734/ajee/2026/v25i1877
Mentors and collaborators
Discover a detailed overview of the wonderful people who supervised me, guided me to my current research expertise.
Professor Dr. Abdus Salam
Pro-Vice Chancellor & Professor
Dept. of Chemistry
University of Dhaka
A pioneer of atmospheric chemistry research in Bangladesh and head of the Atmospheric Chemistry and Environmental Science Lab (AECRL) at the University of Dhaka, where he is also Pro-Vice Chancellor. His published work spans carbonaceous aerosols, particulate matter across the Greater Dhaka region, and biomass-burning tracers. He supervised my PM2.5 forecasting study.
Dr. Safiqul Islam
Professor
Dept. of Chemistry
University of Dhaka
Outstanding scholar, researcher, and supervisor; physical and analytical chemistry instructor at the University of Dhaka, contributing to atmospheric research and mentoring students in physical and analytical chemistry. He supervised my MS thesis on PM2.5 forecasting and is its corresponding author.
Dr. KM Tahsin Hassan Rahit
Post-doctoral Associate & Scientist
Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute
Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
A multidisciplinary researcher at the Bose Laboratory, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, University of Calgary, working on how AI can be put to use in the life sciences: bioinformatics, rare disease genetics, and cancer research. He is my co-author on the ROS1 molecular glue degrader review.
Dr. Sohel Rana
Scientist
Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC)
Scientist at the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, working on environmental analysis and biochemical sciences. Co-author on two of my published papers: the phenol study on the Shitalakshya River and the PAH baseline around the Rooppur nuclear plant.