About Me
I am a PhD Student at Washington State University in the Islam lab. We are currently researching the prevalence of anti-microbial resistant Escherichia coli among Children in Bangladesh.
I have lived in the Pacific Northwest most of my life. I love research and everything about science. My primary intrests are molecular pharmacology and experimental theraputics. That’s just a fancy way of saying that I am interested in discovering biological mechanisms and applying those toward clinical applications. Whenever I come across something during my research I often wonder how we can apply these natural mechanisms to better our health treatments and lives in general.
I’m also interested in science education and the active learning method for teaching. This is a teaching method that focuses on student engagement and interaction. As a student I have had both standard lecture and active learning based classes. Active learning has, by far, been a better environment for me.
Experience
Education
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Washington State University
Pullman, WA
2020 – Present
PhD – Immunolgy and Infectious
Disease
Research Assistant
Teaching Assistant
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Eastern Washington University
Cheney, Washington
2018 – 2020
Master of Science – Biology
Graduate Teaching Assistant
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Gonzaga University
Spokane, Washington
2013 – 2015
Bachelor’s of Arts – Biology
Dussault Scholar for distinguished academic achievement_________________________________________________________________
Spokane Community College
Spokane, Washington
2011 – 2013
Assciote of Arts
Member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor SocietyMember of the National Society of Leadership and Success
Presidents List
Work
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Washington State University
Pullman, WA
2020 – Present
Research Assistant
Teaching Assistant
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Eastern Washington University
Cheney, WA
2019 – Present
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Graduate Student Assistant – McNair Program
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Fresenuis Kidney Care
Spokane, WA
2010 – 2019
Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician
Regulatory and Compliance Technician
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PCO Inc.
Liberty Lake, Washington
2007 – 2010
DVR/RMA Technician
IT
2018 – 2020
One Health Bangladesh
The One Health approach is vital in understanding and combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Bangladesh. By examining the connections between human health, animal health, and the environment, we can uncover how antibiotic-resistant bacteria spread across these sectors. This holistic perspective is essential for developing effective strategies to address AMR, protecting public health, and ensuring a sustainable future.
Past Research
Master’s Research
For my Master’s work I analyzed small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) in the genome of the stomach bacteria Helicobacter pylori. These sRNA molecules are post-transcriptional regulators found in all kingdoms of life. They are short transcripts roughly 50-300 nucleotides in length and act independently on expressed targets. These interactions serve to regulate and fine-tune gene expression by interacting with target messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules to inhibit or accelerate translation or function of their translated products.
A previous study located 3 sRNAs located in H. pylori’s cytotoxin associated pathogenicity island (Ta et. al 2012). This project was a great mix of microbiology, molecular biology, and bioinformatics.
Undergraduate Research
As an undergraduate at Gonzaga University I was introduced to the wonderful world of phages! I was able to participate in novel phage research and discovery.
We obtained phages, extracted DNA, and annotated then compared these their genomes. For our work we earned co-authorships in the Science Education Alliance Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science group. I worked on the mycobacteriophage “Taquito”. Our work was eventually published in eLIFE.
I also designed a novel experiment that looked at temperature gradient growth patterns of different titers of mycobacteriophage. This was an advanced phage lab under the guidance of Dr. Kirk Anders.
Publications
Flatgard BM, Williams AD, Amin MB, Hobman JL, Stekel DJ, Rousham EK, Islam MA.2024.Tracking antimicrobial resistance transmission in urban and rural communities in Bangladesh: a One Health study of genomic diversity of ESBL-producing and carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli. Microbiol Spectr12:e03956-23.
doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.03956-23
Effects of chronic exposure to arsenic on the fecal carriage of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli among people in rural Bangladesh
Amin MB, Talukdar PK, Asaduzzaman M, Roy S, Flatgard BM, et al. (2022) Effects of chronic exposure to arsenic on the fecal carriage of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli among people in rural Bangladesh. PLOS Pathogens 18(12): e1010952.
doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1010952
Pope, W., Bowman, C., Russell, D., Jacobs-Sera, D., Asai, D., Cresawn, S., Jacobs, W., Hendrix, R., Lawrence, J. and Hatfull, G. (2015). Whole genome comparison of a large collection of mycobacteriophages reveals a continuum of phage genetic diversity. eLife, 4.
(I am a co-author in the Science Education Alliance Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science group. I worked on the Taquito phage.)
