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Full Time Faculty PhD, University of Cambridge, UK |
Dr. Rahman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology at North South University, Bangladesh. His academic and research interests focus on how brain cells such as astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and neurons utilize calcium signaling to communicate, and how disruptions in this process contribute to neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease (PD) and multiple sclerosis (MS). He is also involved in exploring and developing new drug candidates aimed at treating such conditions. Dr. Rahman is passionate about mentoring students in both the classroom and the laboratory, encouraging them to think like scientists through inquiry-based and hands-on learning. He believes that curiosity and collaboration are essential for solving complex biological questions and advancing human health.
Selected Publications:
N. Hastings, S. Rahman, P.A. Stempor, M. Wayland, W.-L. Kuan, A. Kouli, M.R.N. Kotter (2024). Connexin 43 downregulation in the cortex and basal ganglia in late-stage Parkinson’s disease correlates with non-motor symptoms. Scientific Reports, 15:10250.
N. Hastings, Y.-L. Yu, B. Huang, S. Middya, M. Inaoka, N.A. Erkamp, R.J. Mason, A. Carnicer-Lombarte, S. Rahman, T.P.J. Knowles, M. Bance, G.G. Malliaras, M.R.N. Kotter (2023). Electrophysiological in vitro study of long-range signal transmission by astrocytic networks. Advanced Science, 10(29):2301756.
K. Baranes, N. Hastings, S. Rahman, N. Poulin, J. Tavares, W.-L. Kuan, N. Syed, M. Kunz, K. Blighe, T.G. Belgard, M.R.N. Kotter (2023). Transcription factor combinations that define human astrocyte identity encode significant variation of maturity and function. Glia, 71:1870-1889.
A. Droubi, C. Wallis, K. Anderson, S. Rahman, A. De Sa, T. Rahman, L. Stephens, P. Hawkins, M. Lowe (2022). The inositol 5-phosphatase INPP5B regulates clustering and activation of the B Cell Receptor. Journal of Cell Biology, 221(9):e202112018.
V.B. Journigan*, Z. Feng*, S. Rahman*, Y. Wang, A.R.M. Amin, C. Heffner, N. Bachtel, S. Wang, S. Gonzalez-Rodriguez, A. Fernández-Carvajal, G. Fernández Ballester, J. Hilton, W. Van Horn, A. Ferrer-Montiel, X.-Q. Xie, T. Rahman (2020). Structure-based design of novel biphenyl amide antagonists of human TRPM8 channels with potential implications in the treatment of sensory neuropathies. ACS Chemical Neuroscience, 11(3):268-290. (equal contribution)
S. Rahman, T. Rahman (2017). Unveiling some FDA-approved drugs as inhibitors of the store-operated Ca2+ entry pathway. Scientific Reports, 7:12881.
G.A. Gonzalez, M.P. Hofer, Y.A. Syed, A. Amaral, J. Rundle, S. Rahman, C. Zhao, M.R. Kotter (2016). Tamoxifen accelerates the repair of demyelinated lesions in the central nervous system. Scientific Reports, 6:315992.
Awards & Recognitions
1. Cambridge Philosophical Society Research Studentship – University of Cambridge, UK (2019)
2. Yousef Jameel PhD Scholarship – Cambridge Trust, UK (2015)
3. Cambridge International PhD Scholarship – University of Cambridge, UK (Offered, 2015)
4. Wolfson Santander Scholarship – University of Cambridge, UK (2015)
5. Royal Society Grant & David James Fellowship – For M.Phil. study at the University of Cambridge, UK (2015)
6. Summer Scholarship – University of Bremen, Germany (2014)
Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Neuroscience – University of Cambridge, UK (2016–2020)
M.Phil. in Biological Science – University of Cambridge, UK (2015–2016)
M.Sc. in Neurosciences – University of Bremen, Germany (2011–2014)
M.Sc. in Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering – Islamic University, Bangladesh (2010–2011)
B.Sc. in Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering – Islamic University, Bangladesh (2005–2009)
Teaching experience, Research Supervision & Evaluation:
a. Taught Cell Signalling to Part II project students in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Cambridge, UK, for four years
b. To date, co-supervised: 2x first-year PhD students, 2x visiting PhD students, 6x Cambridge UG Biological Sciences capstone project students, and 1x visiting UG Amgen scholar
Summer 2025
Member of the British Pharmacological Society
Dr. Rahman’s research investigates the cellular and molecular basis of neurodegenerative diseases, with a focus on calcium signaling in glial cells such as astrocytes and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. He studies how disruptions in calcium homeostasis contribute to conditions like Parkinson’s disease and explores these pathways as therapeutic targets. His work integrates drug repurposing, phenotypic assay development, and disease modeling using both cell-based and animal systems.