The Shiddiky Laboratory is pleased to welcome Omar Hamza Bin Manjur as a new PhD student. Omar is a talented biochemist with bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Dhaka (Bangladesh), where he built a strong foundation in omics sciences, particularly genomics. His research journey began with his master’s thesis, which investigated the neurotoxic interactions between ciprofloxacin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in rodents using computational, biochemical, and behavioural analyses.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Omar worked as a Research Officer at the Institute for Developing Science and Health Initiatives, contributing to Oxford Nanopore MinION sequencing under projects supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Mérieux Foundation, and the Wellcome Trust. He developed mutation-based RT-PCR screening methods, trained sequencing teams across Bangladesh, and analysed more than a thousand viral genomes, leading to the first local identification of the Delta and Omicron variants. He later optimised the DEVYSER BRCA kit for next-generation sequencing-based breast cancer diagnostics, refining DNA extraction and pre-screening protocols.
Omar’s experience also includes work at the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and the Bangladesh Reference Institute for Chemical Measurements, where he contributed to analytical method development, including LC-MS/MS-based pesticide residue analysis, and to molecular diagnostic kit development, particularly an RT-PCR assay for hepatitis B virus detection. These experiences strengthened his expertise in molecular biology, next-generation sequencing, and bioinformatics, and shaped his focus on practical molecular diagnostics.
At the Shiddiky Laboratory, Omar’s doctoral research will focus on developing rapid, affordable, and field-deployable screening methods and point-of-care (POC) diagnostic devices for infectious diseases of global concern. His motivation stems from experience with RT-PCR and next-generation sequencing projects, where he saw how cost and infrastructure can delay timely diagnosis. This insight drives his goal of developing sensitive, amplification-free, and accessible diagnostic platforms that combine molecular precision with practicality.
The Shiddiky Laboratory offers an ideal environment for Omar’s research. Our projects focus on the development of a range of nanobiosensors and POC devices for applications in healthcare, agriculture, and biosecurity. Omar will contribute to advancing amplification-free detection methods and isothermal amplification-based handheld devices. His work will help design low-cost, rapid, and sensitive POC diagnostic tests for diseases such as HBV, HIV, dengue, and HPV. By bringing molecular-level precision to regions with limited access to healthcare, Omar’s research aims to bridge the gap between laboratory innovation and real-world application.
We are delighted to have Omar join the Shiddiky Laboratory and look forward to his contributions to advancing diagnostic science and improving global health outcomes.
Welcome Omar.