Meet the team
Sabina Faiz Rashid
Professor, Mushtaque Chowdhury, Chair in Poverty and Health at BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, Project Director for ACCESS4ALL.
With a background in Medical Anthropology, Dr. Rashid has earned her BA, Master’s, and PhD degrees from the Australian National University. She has over twenty years of experience in ethnographic and qualitative research, teaching, capacity building, and training. Dr. Rashid mainly focuses on the country's urban informal settlement communities, adolescents, and disadvantaged populations. She is particularly interested in the connection between gender, health, and poverty, as well as the influence of structural and intersectional factors on the ability of disadvantaged populations to attain good health. She has established partnerships with universities and research institutions worldwide and has led several research and capacity-building grants with international partners. Dr. Rashid has been teaching in the MPH program at JPGSPH for 18 years and is responsible for overseeing three courses. She has also been the Project Director for the former Erasmus+ CBHE project 'Transformative Competency-Based Public Health Education for Professional Employability in Bangladesh's Health Sector (Trans4m-PH)'.
Ishrat Jahan
Research Fellow, Co-ordinating team for ACCESS4ALL.
Ishrat Jahan has a strong academic background in Cultural Anthropology and Climate Change Development. In her current role, as a Research Fellow in the ACCESS4ALL project, Jahan supports the overall coordination and management of the ACCESS4ALL consortium. She is well-versed in conducting and coordinating qualitative research projects focusing on gender politics, women's health and well-being in urban slums, and climate change developmental issues in coastal rural communities. Further, Jahan holds a master's degree in Climate Change and Development from Independent University, Bangladesh, and a bachelor's degree in Economics and Anthropology from BRAC University. Ishrat Jahan further actively contributes to facilitating courses in the international Masters of Public Health program at the school, and she has recently expanded her teaching responsibilities to include a bachelor's course at BRAC University.
Selima Sara Kabir
Selima is a Senior Research Associate at the BRAC James P. Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, and holds a Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology, with a minor in Anthropology, from BRAC University in Bangladesh. She was actively involved in the previous Erasmus+ CBHE project titled ‘Transformative Competency-Based Public Health Education for Professional Employability in Bangladesh's Health Sector (Trans4m-PH)’ as part of the project management team. Her research expertise lies in qualitative and focused ethnographic research, specifically focusing on urban slum communities, adolescents, and marginalized groups. Furthermore, she is keen to understand the role and influence of technology and digital spaces on the health and identity of adolescents, youth, and minorities. Selima completed a project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which involved a gender analysis of COVID-19 dynamics and identified gaps in preparedness and response across multiple countries. Currently, she also actively contributes to teaching the international Masters of Public Health program at the school and has recently expanded her teaching responsibilities to include a bachelor's course at BRAC University.
Mesbah Kamal
Mesbah Kamal is a Senior Research Assistant at BRAC JPG School of Public Health, actively contributing to the Adapting Climate Change Education, Skills and Sustainability for Advancing Locally-Led Solutions (ACCESS4ALL) project. He holds a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Anthropology from Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh. Mesbah's academic background has equipped him with a profound understanding of socio-cultural dynamics and their impact on public health. With extensive academic training and practical experience, he plays a significant role in research initiatives to enhance community health outcomes. Beyond his academic pursuits, Mesbah Kamal is a poet who uses creative writing to engage with various social phenomena. His poetry explores identity, resilience, and societal change, offering a unique perspective that enriches his approach to public health research.
Devjani Chowdhury
Devjani currently serves as a Research Associate at the BRAC James P. Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University. She possesses a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from the same institution and holds an MBBS qualification earned at Chattogram Maa-O-Shishu Hospital Medical College. Within the ACCESS4ALL project, Devjani contributes to the management and coordination efforts that focus on advancing climate change education, fostering sustainability practices, and developing locally-driven solutions to address environmental challenges. Devjani's prior contributions include frontline medical service during the COVID-19 outbreak in Chattogram. Additionally, her experience as a Medical Officer involved extensive work with mothers and newborns. Devjani's master's thesis dissertation explored the impact of digital health platforms on the sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) perceptions of young adults. This research focus demonstrates her interest in public health interventions that leverage technology to improve health outcomes.
Umme Abiha Saima
Umme Abiha Saima is an aspiring anthropologist and researcher, currently working as a Research Assistant at the BRAC James P. Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University. Abiha has completed her undergrad at BRAC University, majoring in anthropology, which allows her to delve into critical social phenomena and nuances. With a profound research interest in political anthropology, marginalized communities, and social inequality, Abiha intends to explore and learn with any given opportunity. As a qualitative researcher, Abiha's strength lies in thematic analysis, narrative analysis, grounded theory and research design and conduct.
Dr. Samiya Selim
Dr. Samiya A Selim is a Professor and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh. She completed her Postdoctoral Research at the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) in Germany in May 2023. Her expertise lies in interdisciplinary research of social and natural sciences and applying these in relevant conservation and development projects. She has worked in the UK and Bangladesh for the past 15 years in environment conservation, climate change, and sustainable development. She is leading the ULAB team and acting as a technical expert for the project, with extensive experience in teaching and sustainable development.
Sameera Zaman
Sameera Zaman is a Lecturer and Research Associate at the Center for Sustainable Development, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh. She is an environmental and social researcher who is passionate about finding sustainable solutions to new-age problems and understanding the intricate relationships between the environment and human societies. With a Master’s in Environmental Sciences from the University of Freiburg, Germany, she has previously worked in the private sector and NGOs on various development issues. Her current research interests are mainstreaming sustainability, sustainable development, responsible consumption and production, and sustainable education. Within this project, Sameera is the focal person for ULAB within the consortium, where she is working on curriculum development and reporting mechanisms and overseeing overall activities from the ULAB side.
Nayma Akther Jahan
Nayma Akther Jahan is a Lecturer and Research Associate at the Center for Sustainable Development, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh. Before joining ULAB, she worked as a Deputy manager at Dnet and Assistant Consultant at EQMS Consulting Ltd. Her role within the ACCESS4ALL project includes supporting the development of the course curriculum with the team. With more than six years of industry, academia, development, and consulting expertise, Nayma thrives in achieving customer success with customized, creative solutions. Along with her expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research approaches, she has a track record of leading teams and collaborating across functional boundaries to accomplish important goals. Nayma, a Lund University alumna with a background in environmental management and policy, approaches her job with an international viewpoint.
Isra Tahiya Islam
Isra Tahiya Islam is a Teaching Assistant at the Center for Sustainable Development (CSD) at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB). She is pursuing a Bachelor's Degree at ULAB, with a Major in English and Humanities and a Minor in Sustainable Development Studies. Alongside her studies, she holds a role as an English Speaking and Listening Instructor at the Center for Language Studies (CLS). Isra is also a Campus Ambassador for Teach for Bangladesh (TFB), advocating for inclusive and high-quality education for all. She is currently working as a research assistant for the ACCESS4ALL project.
Sadia Lena Alfee
Sadia Lena Alfee is working as a research associate at the Center for Sustainable Development (CSD) at ULAB. She has completed her bachelor’s from the Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka and did her Master’s from the University of Glasgow, UK in Environmental Risk Management. She is a Commonwealth Scholar with several national and international scholarships and awards. Her area of interests are climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, public perception assessments and sustainable development.
Prof Dr Anja Krumeich
Prof. Dr Anja Krumeich obtained her PhD in Medical Anthropology at the University of Amsterdam and has worked at Maastricht University for over three decades. She founded the Global Health program at Maastricht University and was the research chair of “Translational Ethnography in Global Health and Education” at Maastricht University’s Faculty of Health, Medicine and Lifesciences, Depts. of Health, Ethics, and Society and the School for Health Professions Education. Seeking to understand the co-production of historically and culturally shaped conditions in local communities, contemporary geopolitical trends, and the global economy, Anja has worked on various topics, including gender, migration, health, and gender, work, and health. She aims to develop an Anthropology of health, combining insights from Critical Medical Anthropology, Political Economy, and Science and Technology Studies with Ethnographic and participatory research methodologies. Using ethnographic methods, she focuses on making policy and intervention responsive to local contexts and how policy and intervention impact inequity. Anja’s research, therefore, often involves stakeholder participation and analysis.
Md. Nadiruzzaman, MRes, PhD (Dunelm)
Dr. Md. Nadiruzzaman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health, Ethics and Society at Maastricht University (UM), Netherlands. He is also affiliated with the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) (Bangladesh), Humanitarian Advisory Group (Australia), and Flowminder (Sweden). He expanded his works on migration and big data, energy and poverty, climate finance, ecosystem services and disasters, urban climate change, livelihood security, etc. He looked through the lenses of political ecology and strived to understand the politics of contesting knowledge framing. Dr. Nadir has expanded his work in the development sector and tried to bridge the gap between theory and development practices through his work. He contributed to Bangladesh's National Agricultural Policy 2018 by putting a climate change lens into it and supported the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Bangladesh in climate-sensitive budget coding for twenty ministries.
Saquib Ahmad Khan
Mr Saquib Ahmad Khan has completed his BSc. in Environmental Science and MSc. in Environment Management from Independent University, Bangladesh. He is currently serving as Lecturer A (senior lecturer) in the Department of Environmental Science and Management (DESM), under the School of Environment and Life Sciences (SELS). Since joining the Department, he has been actively engaged in teaching, research, field-based work, student counselling, advising, and various community outreach activities. His research interests further extend to the monitoring and assessment of water quality parameters of various rivers around Dhaka city. His work on the Turag River has resulted in several joint publications in peer-reviewed journals over the last few years.
Dr. Rumana Sultana
Dr. Rumana Sultana has been serving as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Management at Independent University, Bangladesh, since 2022. Before this role, she worked for over five years as an Assistant Professor and Research Associate at the Center for Sustainable Development, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh. She completed her PhD in Environment and Energy Systems from Shizuoka University, Japan. Over the last ten years, she has experienced working in different aspects of environmental sustainability ranging from community climate resilience to greening higher and secondary educational institutions and curriculum. Presently, she finds her place in sustainable human and nature relationships and transitions to a green economy.
Dr. K. A. Rabbani
Dr. K. A. Rabbani is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Management at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB). He completed his B.Sc. at the University of Toronto in Canada and his M.Sc. at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the USA. Dr. Rabbani joined IUB in 2003 and later earned his PhD from Murdoch University in Perth, Australia. With over 20 years of experience in teaching and research in the field of environment, Dr. Rabbani is passionate about innovative teaching methods related to environmental pollution and climate change. His current research interest is in the bioremediation of pollutants in different matrices and adaptation to pollution due to climate change.
Kazi Sunzida Lisa
Ms. Kazi Sunzida Lisa is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Environmental Science and Management at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB). She completed her B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Geography and Environment from the Department of Geography and Environment, University of Dhaka. Since 2006, Ms. Lisa has worked as a GIS specialist on various research projects, applying GIS techniques to disaster management and natural resource management. Her teaching career at IUB began in 2010 as a lecturer in environmental management. Currently, she teaches environmental geography, geographic information systems, and ecotourism. Her research interest lies in GIS-remote sensing applications in environmental management, focusing on natural disasters and climate change.
Dr. Kate Bärnighausen
Kate is a social scientist at Heidelberg Institute for Global Health and the University of the Witwatersrand. She received her BSc. in Geography and Politics from the University of Gloucestershire, her MSc. in Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV from UCL and her PhD is in Public Health at the University of the Witwatersrand. Kates current projects in Kenya, Tanzania, Bangladesh, Togo, Eswatini, Thailand and the Philippines involve using qualitative methods and participatory design principles to co-create tools and educational materials for multiple health interventions in resource scarce settings. Kates is leading two work packages in the access4all project, and will lead the co-creation of content and materials for MOOCs that support the ‘greening’ of graduate and post-graduate academic curriculum.