Balancing motherhood and microbiology: How Marjana Akter became Bangladesh’s first UN Biosecurity Fellow
Marjana has been selected as one of just 10 young women from 193 UN member countries. The main objective of this fellowship is to turn them into biosafety and biosecurity experts
Soon after beginning her master's in Microbiology at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) in 2024, Marjana Akter became pregnant with her first child.
Balancing pregnancy and postgraduate studies was anything but easy for her; she had to attend classes in the morning, work in the lab in the afternoon, and write her thesis at night — all while enduring physical discomfort.
Yet, Marjana not only successfully passed that challenging period, but also made a name for herself through her research work.
She was recently selected as the first Bangladeshi to receive the UN Biosecurity Fellowship. Among candidates from 193 UN member countries, only 10 young women were chosen.
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"That period tested every bit of my strength. In the sixth month of my pregnancy, I suddenly suffered severe respiratory distress and was admitted to the ICU for five days. Breathing was difficult, and I was unsure if I could continue my research or even return to normal life. Still, even from the hospital bed, I kept thinking about my thesis work and the unfinished experiments waiting for me," she said.
"My husband, Yusha Araf, was pursuing his PhD at the University of Auckland in New Zealand during that time. Yet he supported me constantly from afar," Marjana added.
When her daughter Anaiza was born, she became Marjana' biggest inspiration, the reason she kept going on. Just a few weeks after Anaiza's birth, Marjana successfully defended her MSc thesis. That moment symbolised not just academic success but triumph over every obstacle life had placed before her.
"It feels like a dream come true. It is one of the greatest honours of my life. This achievement is a reflection of years of hard work, sacrifice and faith. When I think about the days I spent in the ICU, struggling to breathe, and now realise that I will represent Bangladesh on a global platform, it feels deeply emotional and empowering," Marjana said.
Marjana's love for microbiology
Marjana earlier earned her BSc in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST). From the beginning, she was fascinated by how tiny, unseen organisms can have such massive effects on life, health, and the environment.
"Studying Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at SUST opened my eyes to how science can be used to solve real-world problems. Later, during my MSc at BAU, working with viruses and pathogens made me realise how powerful microbiology is; it connects human health, food systems, and global security. I fell in love with this field because every discovery, no matter how small, can save lives," she said.
Marjana's research focuses on virology and infectious diseases, combining molecular biology, genomics, and public health. During her MSc under the guidance of Professor Dr Md Golzar Hossain, she worked on Chicken Infectious Anemia Virus (CIAV) and identified Bangladesh's first Genotype IIIb strain, which was published in Microbiology Spectrum. She also helped sequence its complete genome, later published in Microbiology Resource Announcements.
Beyond CIAV, she has contributed to studies on Covid-19, dengue, Hepatitis B, and lumpy skin disease (LSD), exploring viral mutations, co-infection risks, and their public health implications. In total, she has nine international publications, including one in The Lancet Microbe, which discussed the impact of climate change on dengue outbreaks in Bangladesh.
"Through these projects, my goal has been to strengthen virological research, biosafety practices, and biosecurity awareness, linking science in the lab to real-world disease prevention and global health security," she said.
A prestigious fellowship
The Young Women for Biosecurity Fellowship is organised by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) to mark the 50th anniversary of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). It aims to promote the peaceful use of biological sciences and raise global awareness of biosecurity.
It's a three-month long fellowship. During October and November, they will receive online training, and in December, there will be a five-day-long in-person training session in Geneva, Switzerland. Foreign ministers, policymakers, and prominent political leaders from 193 countries will be present there.
"During my MSc at BAU, working with viruses and pathogens made me realise how powerful microbiology is; it connects human health, food systems, and global security. I fell in love with this field because every discovery, no matter how small, can save lives."
Marjana said that the application process was quite rigorous. It required applicants to be under 35 years old and have at least a Master's degree in a relevant field. Along with academic transcripts and a reference letter, she had to write about her motivation, research background, and how she plans to apply this experience to benefit her country.
They evaluated candidates based on published research papers, hands-on experience with pathogens, years of laboratory work, and leadership potential. They also looked at how each applicant's journey reflects commitment to responsible bioscience and the goals of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC).
"The main objective of this fellowship is to turn the 10 of us, who have been selected as young scientists, into biosafety and biosecurity experts."
"The idea is that, in the future, we will be able to represent our country in different parts of the world and train the army or naval forces of those countries on biosafety and biosecurity. For instance, if a biological weapon — or a virus — suddenly emerges, like Covid-19 did, we should know how to respond effectively.
"Our role will be to train and guide the military and administrative structures of those countries on the initial steps they should take to handle such situations. We will also share knowledge and provide guidelines on biosafety—such as how laboratories can safely work with pathogens and how to respond efficiently if a biological attack or outbreak occurs," Marjana explained.
Inspiring women scientists in Bangladesh
Marjana believes that Bangladesh has immense potential in research and innovation, but that potential often remains untapped due to the lack of opportunities and role models for women in science.
That is why her vision goes beyond personal success — it reflects a commitment to building an inclusive scientific community where women are equally represented and empowered.
"I aim to work for the advancement of women in science in Bangladesh. I want to use my experience and this fellowship to inspire and mentor young female researchers so they can pursue scientific careers with confidence," she said.
"I envision to strengthen biosafety, biosecurity, and research capacity in the country by encouraging more women to take leadership roles in laboratories and public health sectors. My long-term goal is to build a strong network for women scientists in Bangladesh where collaboration, mentorship, and innovation can thrive," Marjana added.
