Research

What I work on

Air quality over Dhaka, and molecules on a screen. Three projects, the figures behind them, and what has been published so far.

  • Interpolated methane and ozone concentration surfaces across Dhaka, with sampling points marked
  • An Agilent 7890A gas chromatograph with 5975C mass spectrometer, labelled
  • Yearly average PM2.5 rising alongside Dhaka population from 2018-19 to 2023-24
  • Radar charts comparing R squared, MAE, RMSE, MAPE and MSE across 24 model configurations
  • A small molecule inside a protein binding pocket with contact residues picked out
  • Protein surface rendering, hydrophobic regions in magenta and hydrophilic in cyan
  • A protein inside a box of explicit water molecules, prepared for molecular dynamics
  • Ribbon rendering of a protein dimer coloured blue through red across the chain
Interpolated methane concentration surface across Dhaka, warm colours marking higher concentrations, with sampling points overlaid

Atmospheric and Environmental Chemistry Projects

Dhaka’s yearly average PM2.5 climbed from 83 to 103 µg m⁻³ between 2018 and 2024 — and PAHs in soil around the Rooppur nuclear plant already exceed permissible limits at every site sampled.

Read More about the atmospheric and environmental chemistry work
A small molecule inside a protein binding pocket, the pocket surface in purple with contact residues and interaction lines picked out

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.

Read More about the biochemistry work
A protein rendered inside a box of explicit water molecules, prepared for molecular dynamics simulation

Prospective Projects

Where I want to go next: gene expression, rare disease genetics and cancer biology.

Read More about where the work is heading

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.

Read the paper in Asian Journal of Environment and Ecology

Publications

ORCID · Google Scholar

  • 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
An Agilent 7890A gas chromatograph with 5975C mass spectrometer, autosampler, injector port and column oven labelled
The Agilent 7890A GC with 5975C mass spectrometer, used for both the river-water and the soil analyses.

Mentors and collaborators

Discover a detailed overview of the wonderful people who supervised me, guided me to my current research expertise.

Portrait of Dr. Abdus Salam

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.

Portrait of Dr. Safiqul Islam

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.

Portrait of Dr. KM Tahsin Hassan Rahit

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.

Portrait of Dr. Sohel Rana

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.