Started with Education, Expanded into Technology
The conversation with Dr. Amit Kumar Sikder began from an entirely different perspective—focused on education. He believes that education is a field that never stands still; its structure, methods, and goals change with time. The education system that existed ten or twenty years ago is no longer the same today. The world itself has changed. Today’s students are much more “global”—they are no longer limited within their own country; they think about education, technology, research, and opportunities from around the world. In this reality, he sees the concept of “global education” or international educational collaboration as extremely important.
The standard of education in any one country will not necessarily be the same as another—that is only normal. But how can various education systems across the world be brought closer together in a way that allows a student to maintain their learning continuity even when moving from one country to another? To Dr. Amit, this is a significant topic for research. In his words, education research isn’t just about changing books or curricula; it is in fact research for building the society of the future.
This point becomes even more important in the context of Bangladesh. Especially, he feels that the standard of education in government schools outside major cities is still often not up to expectations. Going beyond Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, or Khulna, you see major differences in school structures, teaching styles, and even quality control. To reduce this disparity, one needs more than just policy reforms; teacher training, education planning suited to local realities, and ongoing development of the educational system—all these need equal attention.
From this thinking, it is clear that Dr. Amit is not only a technology researcher; he is also deeply interested in the long-term development of education, society, and human resources.
Biggani Org and His Commitment to Bangladeshi Youth
The ongoing effort by Biggani Org to connect Bangladeshi students with international research, which has been going on for years, both amazed and delighted Dr. Amit. For him, this is not just a platform; rather, it is an essential initiative to directly bridge Bangladeshi undergraduates with researchers and professors in the United States.
He said that for a long time, he had a personal wish—to find ways to introduce young people in Bangladesh to the research culture, laboratory environment, opportunities, and academic realities of the United States. Every year, many Bangladeshi students go to the US for PhDs, Masters, or even Bachelors. He hopes that even more students will go in the future, study at top universities, engage in research, and lead Bangladesh forward through international collaboration.
This aspiration shows that he never sees his personal achievements as a final destination. Rather, he wants his experiences to give more young people in Bangladesh the courage to pursue their dreams.
From BUET to Cybersecurity: Changing Paths Was Not Easy
Dr. Amit Kumar Sikder’s academic journey began in the Electrical and Electronic Engineering department at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). That is where his foundation in technology was built. Today, however, he is known as a researcher focusing on cybersecurity, IoT security, malware analysis, and AI-based system security. How did this shift happen?
In his own words, the journey was far from easy.
At the undergraduate level, his main research interest was in power generation and power systems—classic engineering areas. But deep down, he was also attracted to computer science topics and always wanted to work in that field. In Bangladesh, it’s not common or simple to switch research fields, especially within engineering. So, this decision involved risk and uncertainty.
When applying for PhD programs, he first contacted a professor working on wireless communication and power systems. But that professor instead referred him to a newly joined faculty member focused on cybersecurity. At the interview at Florida International University, something significant happened.
Dr. Amit was completely honest—he admitted he did not know much about cybersecurity, but was eager to learn. That open admission became the key to his opportunity. Because sometimes, beyond qualifications, a passion for learning is a researcher’s most valuable trait. His potential supervisor did not discourage him; instead, he explained how to enter this new field and how skills are developed step by step.
Dr. Amit still gives full credit to that professor today. Because a good teacher or research mentor doesn’t just give answers; they spark questions within the student and help them overcome fear of new fields.
The First Eighteen Months: Sleepless Nights, Library Sessions, and Reinventing Oneself
Many people hear the inspiring stories of changing fields, but rarely talk about the struggles. Dr. Amit is clear about this. After entering cybersecurity, his first year to eighteen months were almost entirely devoted to learning. New topics, endless research papers, studying in the library until late at night—this was his daily routine.
It can be compared to climbing a mountain. From afar, the mountain looks beautiful, but as you ascend, you feel short of breath, fear getting lost, and sometimes just want to turn back. For Dr. Amit, it was much the same. But he did not give up.
He believes that to succeed in research, you must follow your instinct. If you have true interest in a topic, you have to be prepared to give more than a hundred percent effort. Progress may not be visible at first, but eventually the subject starts to reveal itself. That is what happened for him—after about eighteen months, he began to understand the language, trends, challenges, and potential of cybersecurity. Then, it became his own field.
One of his professors once told him, “Cybersecurity will be the world’s next big field.” Looking at the world today, that prediction seems to have come true.
In the Age of AI, Knowing How to Use It Isn’t Enough—You Need to Understand It
Today, AI seems to be everywhere. Students use it to prepare notes, job seekers for writing CVs, software companies for code generation, and even social media is filled with AI-driven content. Many people think that knowing how to use AI is the main skill. But, Dr. Amit sees it differently.
He believes it is vital to learn how to use AI, but even more important to understand how AI is created, how it works inside, how models make decisions, how they can be changed, and whether they are secure.
Especially in the US job market, tech companies and the software industry now value not just “AI tool users” but “AI builders.” Who can create or modify models, who understands their behavior, who can spot security risks—those are the skills that matter now.
Dr. Amit observes that most of us use AI blindly. Many people use ChatGPT without thinking—what is this system doing with my information, is my input safe, how true are its answers, how are its decisions formed? This blind dependence brings major future questions about privacy and security.
In short, as AI grows, privacy and security concerns will also grow.
Sensors: The Most Neglected Doorway in Smart Devices
One central topic of Dr. Amit’s PhD research was sensor security in smart devices and applications. It might sound complex, but he explains it in a straightforward way.
Think of a smart device as working in three major parts. The first is the sensor—which gathers information from the environment or people (like a phone’s camera, microphone, temperature sensor, motion detector, etc.). The second is the processing unit—which analyzes that data. The third is the actuator—which acts on that analysis or makes decisions.
Traditional cybersecurity research has focused mainly on the processing part—the “brain” of the machine. But whether the information entering through the “eyes and ears,” i.e., the sensors, is safe was often overlooked.
This is where Dr. Amit spotted a big gap. If false or manipulated information is sent from the sensors, then all following decisions can be wrong. Like putting spoiled ingredients in a recipe—the end result will rarely be good, no matter the skill of the chef. He brought this simple logic to the heart of his technology research.
In his first research paper, he showed that with the correct type of external stimulation, sensor data can be altered. In other words, a smart device can be hacked not only through software but by manipulating what the sensors perceive. This formed the basis of his work on hacking smart devices.
He later worked on security frameworks to protect the sensor part, safeguard internal decision-making, and secure data communication between people and devices.
Cybersecurity: Not Just Theory, but Solving Real-Life Problems
One important statement from Dr. Amit is that cybersecurity is primarily an “application field.” In many areas, research starts with theory and only later leads to real-world applications. In AI as well, many theories existed years before practical uses. With cybersecurity, it’s often the opposite.
When a new technology enters the market, attackers immediately notice it. Whether smartphones, Android OS, or smart home devices—each time, weaknesses are targeted soon after launching. So, research interest isn’t enough in cybersecurity; the ability to identify real-world problems is also essential.
He says that the best research questions often arise from being able to anticipate future technologies. What technology is coming in six months or two years? How will people use it? Where could things go wrong? Where are attack points? These questions generate research problems.
That’s why he advises students to always stay updated with technology trends, cyberattack news, and new device patterns.
Georgia Tech: The School of Becoming an Independent Researcher
After his PhD at Florida International University, Dr. Amit joined the Georgia Institute of Technology. He considers this a key time for transforming his research mindset. Here, he wasn’t just a “student researcher,” but began developing as an “independent researcher.”
Georgia Tech taught him that not all ideas are equal. In research, many ideas arise, but it is essential to know which are realistic, which matter for society, and which can have a big impact. At the PhD level, students often focus on getting published in good journals or conferences. But an independent researcher must look further. Will this work attract investment from government or industry? Is it socially needed? Can it bring real benefit within two years?
This change in perspective helped Dr. Amit mature as a researcher. He has learned not just to seek publishable ideas, but identify future problems and create solutions for them.
AI-Driven Healthcare: Where Are the Biggest Risks?
Healthcare is rapidly moving towards AI-based and connected technology. Medical devices, image analysis software, diagnostic tools, and remote monitoring—all are getting smarter. Dr. Amit sees the promise of this, but also recognizes its risks.
He says AI-driven healthcare has at least two major sides. One is the patient or end-user, concerned about whether their personal health information is safe and private. The other is the doctor or practitioner, who wants to know how accurate and reliable the AI’s reports are—and if they can trust them.
These two trust questions—about data leaks and diagnostic credibility—are becoming central in healthcare cybersecurity.
There is another complexity. Healthcare technology directly affects lives, so even a small vulnerability, hack, or error can have real impact on patients. In other technologies, mistakes may mean financial or time loss; in healthcare, errors can be life-threatening.
He also highlights that not all AI models work the same across regions. The patient profiles, disease types, age patterns, and social or biological trends in the US are not the same as in Bangladesh. So, simply importing US-based AI healthcare solutions won’t work. This issue of “interoperability” or adaptation to local regions is a major future challenge.
Beyond the Cloud, Inside the Device: Is On-Device AI Really Secure?
Many people think, if AI runs on the device instead of the cloud—“on-device AI”—then security risks are reduced. Dr. Amit agrees that some risks decrease, but new ones appear.
With cloud-based systems, the main fear is data leaving the device, where third parties could steal or misuse it. With on-device AI, much is processed locally. But the problem is not gone.
Now, a device can have multiple AI models running at once. For example, various smartphone apps may each use their own AI systems. One AI model might affect another, extract its data, or analyze its functions. So “data won’t leave the device” does not make everything safe; data can leak between apps on the same device.
There are also “side-channel attacks,” where direct access isn’t needed—instead, fluctuations in power usage or electromagnetic fields can reveal sensitive information, like guessing what’s happening in a closed room by listening at the door.
So, on-device AI requires new security structures. Researchers are now exploring how to sandbox these models so they can’t access each other’s data.
Where Are Bangladeshi Students Falling Behind, and How Can They Advance?
Dr. Amit, being a university admissions committee member reviewing many CVs, has practical insight into Bangladeshi students’ preparation. He feels that many undergraduates in Bangladesh are two to three years behind US standards—not due to a lack of talent, but due to a “knowledge gap” regarding trends and research directions.
He sees that many students remain preoccupied with “machine learning” as if it is still the most advanced field, while the world has moved to diffusion models, generative AI, and more sophisticated methods. To bridge this gap, students must look beyond local ideas and find out what kind of research is happening at the world’s top universities.
His advice: choose your area of interest by your third undergraduate year. Then reach out to professors, especially Bangladeshi academics abroad. Do not wait till your PhD application; start making contact at least a year before graduation. Reading their research, seeking their advice, even sharing your own research ideas can be very effective.
By connecting to international research early on, Bangladeshi students can gradually bring their work to global standards.
CGPA Matters, But Don’t Turn It Into an Idol
The immense pressure and social stigma around CGPA in Bangladesh is something Dr. Amit understands well. He does not claim CGPA is unimportant. In fact, he says that when applying for higher studies abroad, professors first review your CGPA. It is a key metric.
But he emphasizes “consistency.” One or two bad semesters may happen due to personal or family reasons. But if there is low performance throughout, that is a concern. He suggests that a consistent CGPA above 3.5—or ideally 3.6 and higher—signals a strong profile, especially when combined with research experience.
At the same time, he insists—CGPA does not define a researcher. It cannot fully capture a person’s critical thinking, curiosity, or problem-solving ability.
Not 100 Papers—But Two Strong Works
Among Bangladeshi students, the pursuit of publication numbers has become a competition. Who can publish the most? Dr. Amit takes a clear stance—quality always matters over quantity.
He believes that, for undergraduates, two solid, internationally recognized journal or strong conference publications are far more valuable than 100 mediocre ones. Admissions committees do not simply count papers; they look for the student’s actual involvement, understanding, and original contribution.
He is especially cautious about “predatory journals.” Publishing in such outlets can be a major “red flag” in PhD admissions. Having “publications” is not enough; you must consider where, in what quality, and for what purpose you published.
What Does He Look For in a Student?
As an assistant professor at Iowa State University, Dr. Amit is a mentor as well as a researcher. His approach to evaluating students is especially meaningful.
He first assesses how much effort the student puts in. Not just talent, but effort matters most. But working “for a long time” is not enough; the work must be smart, goal-oriented, and focused. Someone coding for ten days with little result is less impressive than someone working five focused hours per day and making real progress.
He also places strong emphasis on reading research papers. AI tools can summarize much now, but he believes to become a strong researcher, you need to read at least two papers per day, carefully and undistracted. Research is not just about results; it’s about understanding how others ask questions, design methods, and think—AI cannot train those deep skills yet.
AI Will Make Life Easier—But It Won’t Replace Humans
Optimism and fear about AI are both strong right now. Some believe AI will change everything; others fear that humans will soon be obsolete. Dr. Amit takes a balanced view.
He acknowledges that AI makes our work easier. What once took hours of reading can now be summarized quickly; data analysis, organization, and processing are all faster. AI helps in many ways.
But, he says, AI still cannot fully capture “human reasoning.” Humans do not just process information—they understand context, emotions, uncertainty, ethics, and subtleties. That’s why, in his view, courts and legal systems cannot rely solely on AI, and even in research, human faculties of questioning, curiosity, and creativity remain essential.
He warns that if we remove the “human touch” by using AI everywhere, a major void will form in the future. Technology will remain, but loss of human insight can make its use dangerous.
What Would He Tell His Younger Self?
At one point in the interview, he was asked—if he could talk to his undergraduate self, what advice would he give?
His answer was beautifully simple. He would say: Don’t just chase CGPA—learn new things. Study not for the grade, but to understand.
Yet, he immediately clarifies, CGPA isn’t unimportant—but it isn’t everything either. To be a researcher, curiosity, deep learning, and patience for long-term work are vital.
He also said something especially important: as undergraduates, we often feel social pressure to follow the crowd. But neither research nor life works that way. You must follow what attracts and inspires you. Finding your own voice, valuing your interests—that is a core lesson for any future researcher.
Final Thoughts: A Journey That Lights the Way for Youth
The story of Dr. Amit Kumar Sikder is not just one of a successful researcher. It is also the story of a student who dared to step outside his comfort zone; a teacher who wants to guide the next generation; a scientist who, while exploring technology, never forgets the human element.
From BUET’s Electrical and Electronic Engineering, to PhD at Florida International University, research at Georgia Tech, and teaching at Iowa State University—on this long journey, he has repeatedly shown that the real strength of research lies not only in talent, but in honesty, perseverance, deep learning, and the ability to ask the right questions at the right time.
For the youth of Bangladesh, his journey carries a powerful message: limitations may exist, but curiosity keeps the path open. To reach world-class research, it’s not enough to just dream—you must learn, read, ask questions, do quality work, and constantly reinvent yourself.
As a nation, we have plenty to be proud of when we see a Bangladeshi scientist working in global technology, cybersecurity, AI, and healthcare—and at the same time, trying to keep doors open for students at home. His journey is not just personal achievement; it is a bright reflection of Bangladesh’s potential.
For the young person today standing in a university corridor wondering, “Can I do it?”—the story of Dr. Amit Kumar Sikder leaves a clear answer: Yes, you can—if you have the courage to learn, the courage to change paths, and can keep your curiosity alive.
Watch Dr. Amit Kumar Sikder’s interview video on YouTube at the link below: 👇👇👇
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