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Biography
Professor Tofazzal Islam is a distinguished academic leader and Founding Director of the Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (IBGE) at Gazipur Agricultural University (GAU), where he also serves as Dean of Graduate Studies. A pioneer in climate-smart agrobiotechnology, genomics, and genome editing, he has secured over $20 million in competitive research grants from institutions like the World Bank and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, while mentoring over 100 scholars. Globally recognized for leading the open-science response to the 2016 wheat blast epidemic, Professor Islam engineered a world-first CRISPR-Cas point-of-care diagnostic tool. His landmark research includes decoding the complete genomes of year-round jackfruit, Dhakai muslin cotton, and the Hilsa gut microbiome, alongside discovering over 50 novel bioactive metabolites. Educated at Hokkaido University with elite Humboldt, Fulbright, Commonwealth, and JSPS fellowships, he is a prolific scholar with an h-index of 64, 16,800+ citations, and serves as Chief Editor of CRISPR-Cas Methods. He is an elected Fellow of TWAS, APS, and BAS, and recipient of the Commonwealth Innovation Award and IsDB Prize.
Affiliations
Gazipur Agricultural University
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (IBGE)
Honors and Awards
Gold Medal (Senior Group in Biological Sciences)
Bangladesh Academy of Sciences (BAS)
The highest recognition in Bangladesh for outstanding contributions to fundamental research in the field of biotechnology and genetic engineering.
UGC Research Award 2004
University Grants Commission of Bangladesh
It is recognition for outstanding fundamental research contribution to agricultural sciences.
UGC Research Award 2008
University Grants Commission of Bangladesh
The highest recognition of the UGC, Bangladesh for outstanding fundamental research accomplishments.
Fulbright Visiting Scholar Fellowship 2017
State Department of the United States of America
This ward allowed me to work with Prof. Daniel Panaccione of West Virginia University, the USA for 9 months of molecular detection of anthracnose disease in strawberry, and also visit many universities in 17 states of the USA for delivering outreach lectures.
Elected Fellow
Bangladesh Academy of Sciences
In recognition of my outstanding fundamental and applied research contribution to agricultural sciences, the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences elected me as a Fellow of BAS (FBAS) in 2016.
Islamic Development Bank Transformer Road Show Innovation Award 2018
Islamic Development Bank (IsDB)
This award was given by the IsDB for winning a competition of innovative research idea which is potential to transform the society.
BAS Gold Medal Award
Bangladesh Academy of Sciences (BAS), Bangladesh
This is the highest recognition in Bangladesh for fundamental research accomplishments in the field of biological sciences. I received this award in 2011 (delivered in 2014) from the HE Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as a Senior Researcher.
Commonwealth Innovation Award 2019
Commonwealth Secretariat in the United Kingdom
This award was given for the innovative solution of a newly emerged devastating fungal disease in wheat blast in 2016. In collaboration with international researchers from 4 continents, I rapidly determined the genetic identity and origin of the first emergence of wheat blast disease in Bangladesh within weeks. The epidemic outbreak of wheat blast destroyed 15,000 hectares of wheat with yield losses up to 100%. This discovery helped manage the disease in Bangladesh.
Experience
Institute, Department or Faculty Head
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University
01 Jul 2010 - present