Have you previously received an FAOBMB Travel Fellowship? If yes, please indicate when.

-- No,

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Curriculum Vitae Provide a brief CV showing education and research training, including any prizes or awards: (no more than one page)
Education: PhD (Research) : 1st year, Plant Biotechnology Laboratory (http://pbtlabdu.net), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, (2012) Research Topic: Introgression of Ideal Plant Architecture (IPA) into salt tolerant rice landraces of Bangladesh to enhance their yield potential: utilizing the complex regulation by small RNA, MS (Research) : 1st Class (69%), Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Focusing genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics, immunodiagnosis and agricultural biotechnology), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2008), University of Dhaka. Thesis title: Microsatellite marker and sequence variability for determination of genetic diversity and polymorphism in the red rice population of Bangladesh. BSc (Honours): 1st class (65%), Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2007), University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh Higher Secondary Certificate: 1st class (80.5%)Science, (2001), Holycross College, Dhaka, Bangladesh Secondary School Certificate: 1st class (86.5%)Science, (1999), Holycross Girls High School, Dhaka, Bangladesh Research Training: Research Associate, (September 2008 to June 2012.): Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dhaka University (Gene Expression Analysis, have expert knowledge in regular molecular techniques, Evolutionary genetics analysis of rice landraces, Characterization of NHX and Helicase gene, Providing guidance to graduate students, Building and update of the READS promoter Database (http://pbtlabdu.net/READS Occupational Trainee, (June 2011 to November 2011): Computational proteomics Group, ANU College of medicine, Biology and Environment, Australian National University. (Worked on sequence and structure analysis of Rubisco and Rubisco Activase). Molecular Biologist and Bioinformatician, (January 2011 to May 2011): Basic and Applied Research on Jute (BARJ) project, Bangladesh Jute Research Institute. (Worked on : Functional annotation of putative genes and pathway analysis, Comparative analysis of transcriptome datasets, providing guidance and training to researchers for NGS project.) Bioinformatician (January 2010 - December 2010): Swapnajaatra Genome Sequencing project, Datasoft company, (Assembling NGS data, annotation, pathway analysis , Organeller genome analysis) Important Training Courses and workshops/ conference attended: Chemical safety, Biological safety and Gene Technology Course, 2011, JCSMR, Australian National University, Australia. Participated in Rice Annotation Project 6 (RAP6) workshop, 15th November, 2009. GCP training workshop on Marker-assisted Breeding for Bangladesh with collaboration of IRRI, BRRI, BINA and Dhaka University. held on 18th to 27th November, 2008 BioVision Alexandria Conference 2012, Alexandria, Egypt 6th International Rice Genetics Symposium and 7thInternational Symposium on Rice Functional Genomics held on 16th to 19th November, 2009 at Manila Hotel, The Philippines. Awards received: Selected as TWAS/BVA.NXT 2012 fellow, April 2012, Alexandria, Egypt Fellowship for undertaking Occupational Training, June, 2011, ANU College of Medicine and Biology, Australian National University, Australia Participation with accomodation Grant from IRRI and USDA to attend the 6th International Rice Genetics Symposium , November 2009, The Philippines. Khandakar Mukaram Hossain Research fellowship by Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), 2009 Rokeya Hall Scholarship for excellent result in BSc.

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List of Publications in International Journals* * Number all publications in international journals or book chapters, with earliest first and most recent at the end. Provide the Impact Factor (IF) of the journal and indicate your contribution the work described and the publication. Use as many pages as required. Follow the style in these examples: 1. K.Y. Soo, J.D. Atkin, M.K. Horne and P. Nagley. Recruitment of mitochondria into apoptotic signalling correlates with the presence of inclusions formed by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-associated SOD1 mutations. Journal of Neurochemistry 108, 578-590 (2009) (IF 4.337) PNs contribution to this work was...... 2. A.W. Linnane, A. Baumer, R.J. Maxwell, C. Zhang and P. Nagley. Mitochondrial DNA mutation: the ageing process and degenerative diseases. In New Horizons in Aging Science: Proceedings of the Fourth Asia/Oceania Regional Congress of Gerontology, (H. Orimo, Y. Fukuchi, K. Kuramoto and M. Iriki, eds.), University of Tokyo Press, pp. 8586 (1992)

*****************
Peer Reviewed Research Articles: 1. S.M. Touhidul Islam,Rumana S. Tammi, Richard Malo, Mahzabin Amin, M. Sazzadur Rahman, Sabrina M. Elias, Zeba I. Seraj . Constitutive expression of OsNHX1 under the promoter Actin1D can improve the salt tolerance and yield characteristics of Bangladeshi rice Binnatoa. Australian Journal of Crop Science, 329-335, November 2009. (IF: 1.63) (In the work SME helped in some graphical analyses, editing and preparing the Manuscript for submission.) 2. Saima Shahid, Sabrina M. Elias, Sudip Biswas and Zeba I. Seraj , READS- a resource for plant non-coding regulatory sequence analysis. Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology, 20 (2): 211-223, 2010 (1st two authors have equal contributions) (ISSN
1817-3721)

(SME performed the

database construction part and implemented the web interface for public access as well as helped in manuscript writing, editing, reviewers response rebutting etc.) 3. Laisa A. Lisa, Sabrina M. Elias, M. Sazzadur Rahman, Saima Shahid, Tetsushi Iwasaki, A. K. M.Mahbub Hasan, Keiko Kosuge, Yasuo Fukami and Zeba I. Seraj. Physiology and Gene Expression of the Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Landrace Horkuch under Salt Stress, Functional Plant Biology, 38: 282-292, 2011. (1st two authors have equal contributions) (IF: 2.929) (SME performed the statistical analyses of the physiological study, the gene expression study and has a major contribution in drafting, editing and generating conclusions for the manuscript as well as in responding to the reviewers queries) 4. Sabrina M. Elias, A.K.M. Mahbub Hasan, Zeba I. Seraj, Microsatellite marker diversity and sequence polymorphism in the red gene locus of indigenous rice populations of Bangladesh, Plant Systematics and Evolution, DOI: 10.1007/s00606-011-0482-7, July, 2011 (IF:1.335) (SME has done the experimental work as a part of her MS thesis and has also presented the work in an international conference on Rice. The experimental work, analyses, writing and editing of the manuscript, as well as responding to the reviewers queries were entirely done by SME with guidance from co-supervisor (AKM MH) and supervisor (ZIS)).

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5.

Mahzabin Amin, Sabrina M. Elias, Alamgeer Hossain, Aliya Ferdousi, , Md. Sazzadur Rahman, Narendra Tuteja, Zeba I. Seraj.. Overexpression of a DEAD box helicase, PDH45, confers salinity tolerance to rice. Molecular Breeding, Volume 30, Issue 1 (2012), Page 345-354, DOI 10.1007/s11032-011-9625-3 . (IF :2.852) (SME performed the experimental work for gene expression analysis and statistical analyses of the physiological screenings of transgenic lines, have major contribution in writing and editing the manuscript as well as in rebutting the reviewers criticisms.)

Books 1. Ahmad Shamsul Islam (Editor), Sabrina M. Elias, Mustak Ibne Ayub, Sumaya Farah Khan (Subeditors), Bongshogotibidyar mulkotha o gene prokoushol (The title can be translated as: Principles of heredity and genetic engineering A text book written in Bangla Language for undergraduate plant science students), September, 2011, Scholars Publication, Bangladesh. (SME contributed in chapters on genomics , proteomics as well as in current scenario of biotechnology in Bangladesh related chapters) Conference abstracts: 1. Overexpression of a DEAD box helicase, PDH45 confers salinity tolerance in genetic background of farmer popular rice varieties. Mahzabin Amin, Sabrina M. Elias, Alamgeer Hossain, Tasnim Ahmed, Taslima Haque, Aliya Ferdousi, Md. Sazzadur Rahman, Narendra Tuteza, Zeba I. Seraj, Abstract Book, Biovision Alexandria Conference 2012, Alexandria, Egypt, April, 2012. 2. Computational Identification of stress inducible promoter Saima Shahid, Taslima Haque, Saddam Raj , Sabrina M. Elias, Zohirul A. Tiemoon, Shabnam Zaman, Farjana Khatun, Fokhruz Zaman, Zeba I. Seraj Abstract Book, 3rd Congress of Young Bangladeshi Biotechnologists, Technology, Sylhet, March, 2012. 3. Microsatellite Marker And Sequence Variability For determination Of Genetic Diversity And Polymorphism In The Red Rice Populations Of Bangladesh. Sabrina M. Elias, Mahbub Hasan, Zeba I. Seraj , Poster No. P8-16, pg 207, 6th rice genetics symposium proceeding abstract book, The Philippines, November 2009 Manuscript submitted 1. Sabrina M. Elias, Rokeya Begum, Md. Sazzadur Rahman, Md. Muntasir Ali and Zeba I. Seraj. Possible relationship of highly polymorphic SSR loci with the phenotype of a farmer-developed variant within a field of high-yielding rice (Oryza sativa L.) , Submitted to Rice , July, 2012 2. Tasnim Ahmed, S.M. Ashiqul Islam, Kashfia Faruque, Md. Sazzadur Rahman, Sabrina M. Elias and Zeba I. Seraj. Suitability of the In Planta transformation method for tissue culture unresponsive indica rice Shahjalal University of Science and

cultivars. Submitted to Biologia plantarum, July, 2012

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Abstract Indicate below the abstract that is submitted by you for presentation at the YSP and the FAOBMB Congress in Bangkok (include all authors, affiliation(s) and the text of the abstract) ***************************************************************************
Vacuolar Na+/H+ antiporter overexpression for salt tolerance: A complex regulation in rice. Sabrina M. Elias1, Richard Malo1, U. S. Mahzabin Amin1, Sudip Biswas1, Touhid Omar1, Farhana Nazneen1, Saima Shahid1, Taslima Haque1 and Zeba I. Seraj1* Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh *Corresponding author's email : zebai@univdhaka.edu Key Words: OsNHX1, antiporter, Binnatoa, Vacuolar, salt stress. Abstract The vacuolar Na+/H+ antiporter has been shown to alleviate saline stress by sequestering Na+ in both WT Arabidopsis and rice and when overexpressed in many transgenic crops. The level of salt tolerance conferred in transgenics has been substantial in dicots like tomato and Brassica but only moderate in cereals like wheat and rice. Overexpression of the Nipponbare Na+/H+ antiporter 1.9 kb cDNA (including the partial 5' UTR truncated at the 5end and without the 460 bp 3UTR) in the rice landrace Binnatoa (BA), conferred moderate salt tolerance which correlated well with the transcript levels at the seedling stage. Transformation of rice was with the cDNA corresponding to OsNHX1 transcript 2 (2394 bp), but not with transcript 1 (2265 bp) or transcript 3 (1820 bp). Transfer of the transgene into the high yielding farmer-popular background genome of BRRI dhan28 and BRRI dhan45 by cross-breeding, however lowered the level of tolerance originally obtained, despite production of comparable levels of the NHX1 protein in Western blots. In another transformation event cloning of the full cDNA of transcript2 including full 5 UTR, 3UTR and coding region in Binnatoa showed better tolerance to salt stress emphasizing the importance of the 3UTR in salt tolerance. The higher level of tolerance found in the control Pokkali, wild type BA and transgenic BA could be correlated with the levels of transcript 3 having a truncated 3 UTR sequence, which was absent in WT and transgenic BRRI dhan28 and BRRI dhan45. Transcript 3 lacks the nucleotides coding for the C-terminal regulatory domain responsible for increasing Na+/H+ antiport activity and increasing Na+ selectivity
1

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Personal Statement Indicate briefly here your Research Interests and Career Goals, why you are interested to participate in the YSP Program (including what you will bring to the YSP and what you hope to gain from it): (no more than one page) ***************************************************************************
Life science always fascinates me with its mysterious mechanisms and regulations taking place inside all living organisms. Undergraduate study in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology has given me the opportunity to understand and investigate some of these mechanisms in depth and I feel fortunate being part of the ongoing human efforts deciphering the mysteries of life. My current research of interest is in understanding the mechanism of salt tolerance of plants. Its very wonderful to note how some plants can survive the crucial environment while some others not. What if the processes conferring this mechanism of tolerance can be transferred to an important food crop that cannot survive the salty environment and dies charging a critical food crisis for human. Currently I am trying to understand this mechanism from aspects of two important genes as well as with studies from transcriptional profiling. Integrating the computational tools to understand this network is an excellent and quick way to have glimpse of the possible mechanisms. A marriage of Biology to computer science is mandatory for the future life science and I have interest on use of easy scripting languages and computational tools to understand the life.

Working on finding solution for food crops under abiotic stress has given me the opportunity to implement the knowledge I gathered which is also crucial for climatically challenged Bangladesh to ensure future food security. Besides I have worked in a national genome sequencing project which trained me novel approaches and advanced knowledge to deal with high throughput genome data. Working with the computational proteomics group at Australian National University for six months has given me an excellent opportunity to utilize modern techniques and exchanging ideas in a multinational environment. I have just started my Doctoral study in University of Dhaka, so that I can work with the natural resources of my own country. Rice is the staple of food in Bangladesh and it is important to develop rice varieties that is adaptable with this climate as well as gives better yield. Gaining the opportunity to perform world class research in a developing country like Bangladesh has increased my confidence as well as keenness to acquire more knowledge and implement that for betterment of humankind through applied research endeavours.

In the current time developing countries like mine are facing serious lacking of brain power due to brain drain. I believe it is important to work with our own resources. To develop such kind of skills and to keep pace with the current advanced scientific researches it is important to build network with the researchers in other countries. On this purpose this kind of programs specially acknowledging the role of young researchers are very useful and beneficiary. As a representative of my country and research I believe I will be able to acquire the core outcome from this kind of scientific discussion which will help me to develop new ideas, designing new schemes to implement my research for the broader community. At the same time, I believe my participation and contribution as a young researcher along with other scientists will also fulfil the goal of YSP-FAOBMB program

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Attachments: Letters of recommendation from two referees.

Submission methods: You can apply in either of two ways: by sending an email with scanned attachments to the Chair of the FAOBMB Fellowship Committee, Prof. Piamsook Pongsawasdi: piamsook.p@chula.ac.th or piamsook.p@gmail.com This is the preferred method. If using this method, please assemble the Application Form and the Attachments into a single PDF file. by sending a hard copy of the application form and supporting documents to: Professor Piamsook Pongsawasdi, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.

Closing Date: Applications must be received by 31 July, 2012 (Bangkok time, GMT + 7 Hours). Applicants will be notified by email of the decision of the Committee by no later than 15 September, 2012.

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