In a special interview series for Biggani.org, I spoke with Dr. Mahbubur Rahman. He completed his undergraduate studies at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). In Bangladesh, he worked at Robi Telecom. During his studies at BUET, he co-founded 3SM Systems with three other friends and, for the first time in 2005, developed a Bengali SMS system on mobile phones for Nokia devices. In 2009, he went to the United States for higher studies and research. He completed his Master’s degree at the University of Memphis, Tennessee, and earned his Ph.D. from the same institution. He has conducted research at the NIH Research Center and at Nokia. Currently, he works at Samsung Research America on digital health.
What challenges did he face after moving to America? He shared that academically, he did not encounter major difficulties, but he did experience a bit of a cultural shock. In particular, American English pronunciation is often quite different, which can be difficult for us to understand at times.
Next, we discussed his current research on “Digital Healthcare.” He explained that we can benefit from digital healthcare in various ways. In particular, Dr. Mahbubur Rahman is working on leveraging sensors already present in mobile devices to help diagnose a range of health conditions. For example, he mentioned that the built-in microphone in a mobile phone can collect everyday sounds, and this data can be used to detect respiratory illnesses. Artificial intelligence can be used to assess people’s stress levels. Currently, the FDA in the United States is working to standardize these technologies. However, since these involve personal information, Dr. Mahbubur Rahman emphasizes the importance of safeguarding against any misuse of data.
What advice would he give to the young generation in Bangladesh who aspire to become scientists? On this topic, he said it is very important for students to understand what they are interested in and what they want to become in the future. Maintaining a positive mindset is key. He also stressed the importance of setting clear goals. Finally, he encouraged aspiring scientists to focus on how science can be used for the welfare of humanity.
Interview taken by: Dr. Mashiur Rahman, Editor – Biggani.org
Recorded interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nylX-NAb48Y
Date: November 19, 2022
For more details, contact Dr. Mahbubur Rahman at the links below:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahbubur2000/
Email: [email protected]
Personal website:https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=6u7-eGUAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
Dr. Mahbubur Rahman’s Story: From Bangladesh to America, the Path to Research in Digital Health
who earned his undergraduate degree from Bangladesh University of Technology and Engineering (BUET). During his time at BUET, he founded 3SM System Company with three friends and developed the first Bengali SMS system for Nokia phones in 2005. After completing his undergraduate degree, he went to the United States in 2009 for further education and research. He received his Master’s degree from the University of Memphis, Tennessee and his Ph.D., worked at the NIH Research Center, and also at Nokia. Currently, he is working at Samsung Laboratory in the United States on digital health.
When asked about the difficulties he faced after moving to the United States, Dr. Mahbubur explained that discussing academic issues was not a problem, but he did experience cultural shock due to the differences in local customs.
Dr. Mahbubur is currently researching digital healthcare and believes that it can be beneficial in many ways. He is particularly focused on using sensors on devices to eliminate various diseases. For example, simple sounds picked up by the microphone in a mobile phone can be used to identify a patient’s condition. Additionally, artificial intelligence can be used to diagnose stress. The US Food and Drug Administration is working to standardize these methods. Dr. Mahbubur emphasizes the importance of personal privacy in this process.
When asked for advice for young people who want to pursue a career in science, Dr. Mahbubur stressed the importance of pursuing one’s interests and maintaining a positive attitude. He also emphasized the importance of remembering one’s goals and using science for the benefit of humanity.
This interview was conducted by Dr. Mashiur Rahman and can be found on YouTube https://youtu.be/nylX-NAb48Y . The interview was recorded on November 19, 2022.
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