Salma Begum

Driven by the words "nothing is impossible," I have come this far. Born and brought up in Dhaka, Bangladesh, I was always keen to learn, and my interest in science dates back to my high school years, where I excelled in chemistry, biology, and math. Therefore, after finishing high school, I decided to pursue a career in biology. When I began my undergraduate studies, I had the opportunity to be exposed to the full range of biology courses, all of which tended to reinforce and solidify my intense interest in biological research. However, after my undergrad graduation, I got married and moved with my husband to Japan and later to Germany for his higher studies. I was preoccupied with raising our boys and taking care of my family for the following few years. Finally, we ended up moving to the USA and settled down in Madison, MS. By this time, my kids were grownups, and I decided to step out of my comfort zone and start teaching at Madison Station Elementary School. Being with the inquisitive and eager-to-learn students, I felt the joy of learning again. This experience fueled my love of studying and has contributed to my decision to enter the university and pursue my childhood dream. I then began a new chapter in my life at Jackson State University, where I carried on with my studies and completed my undergrad in Chemistry and Biochemistry; and graduate programs under the supervision of Dr. Paresh C. Ray, who is one of the pioneers of nanoscience and technology. In his lab, I had ample opportunities to prove my skill in research. I focused on developing functionalized theranostic nanomaterial-based compounds for sensing, diagnosing, detecting, and imaging cancer cells and multidrug-resistant bacteria. Every chance I get to carry out a research endeavor and share its significant findings has increased my awareness of research and its inherent difficulties. Additionally, my undergraduate and graduate academic records demonstrate my ability to devote myself to academics and dedicate the effort necessary to succeed.

After my graduation in 2020, I was awarded an extremely competitive and prestigious CRTA fellowship from the National Institutes of Health. I was employed in the radiation oncology branch in the lab of Dr. DeeDee K. Smart. She has provided invaluable assistance in teaching me biomarkers related to radiation-induced neuropsychological changes in the brain cells. Also, my goal was to understand the tumor suppressor and oncogenic roles of the SIRT2 gene.

After serving two years at the NIH, I decided to return home and be close to my family. I was fortunate to be offered a T32 postdoctoral fellowship in the group of Dr. Yann Gibert in the UMMC Department of Cell and Molecular Biology. Dr. Gibert is an expert in using zebrafish as a vertebrate model to simulate human illnesses and ailments. Since starting my position at UMMC, I have been engaged in a number of projects. My primary work is to track cancer cell progression, metastasis, and drug effects using the Zebrafish xenograft model. We are currently finishing up our work on investigating the effect of a thromboxane receptor inhibitor on TNBC metastasis in a novel zebrafish xenograft model. A couple more studies I'm working on include examining the impact of cancer treatment medications (such Cisplatin and Compound B) on solid tumors and hematologic malignancies, as well as their significance in an implanted zebrafish model of ovarian cancer. Additionally, I'm looking at the molecular mechanisms underlying hematopoiesis in zebrafish models of hematopoiesis and hematopoietic diseases.

My future aim is to seek an academic career that would allow me to combine my creative abilities in designing new methodologies with my intellectual abilities in analyzing results and communicating my discoveries with others. My goal in research is to use my substantial laboratory abilities and scientific knowledge to improve people's quality of life while also having a beneficial influence on the healthcare and research sectors. Lastly, my extensive research experiences have taught me the skills necessary to create valid and replicable designs. I look forward to using all these abilities in a career filled with the excitement of innovative research design and the joy of discovery.

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