M. Afzal Hossain

M. Afzal Hossain (born 30 November 1952) is a Bangladeshi academic and scientist in the field of agriculture and biochemistry. He has been serving as vice-chancellor of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science & Technology University, Dinajpur, since September 2008. In 1998, he was awarded an invitation fellowship from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) to serve as a visiting professor at Hokkaido University, Japan.
Biography.
Early life.
Hossain was born on 30 November 1952 in Majbari village, Shariakandi of Bogra District to Sabder Rahman and Jamila Khatoon. He obtained B.Sc. A.H. (Hons.) majoring in dairy science and M.Sc. A.H. in biochemistry from Bangladesh Agricultural University securing first class in both the cases.
Academic career.
Hossain joined as research associate in 1977 and after as lecturer of biochemistry at BAU in 1978. He was promoted to the rank of assistant professor in 1980. He obtained his PhD degree from National Dairy Research Institute, Haryana, India in 1984 and was promoted to the rank of associate professor in 1986. He was selected for a USAID fellowship and performed postdoctoral research from the Department of Food Science and Nutrition, the University of Hawaii in the United States in 1987. He was promoted to the rank of professor in 1992.
Hossain published his fundamental research papers in several peer-reviewed international and national journals and hence selected for the FAOB fellowship to participate 7th FAOB conference in Malaysia in 1987. Furthermore, he was selected for the European Economic Community postdoctoral fellowship and worked for one year in the Institute of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Brussels, Belgium in 1992.
Hossain also served as the head of the department of biochemistry for two tenures. He had an ample opportunity to interact with eminent scientists at national and international levels. He participated and presented his research findings at many forums. In this connection, he visited several leading educational and research institutes in different countries of the world. Based on his academic and research potentiality at molecular level he was honoured to avail Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research-Committee on Science and Technology in Developing Countries Fellowship in 1997 to work as a visiting scientist for three months in Central Food Technological Research Institute, India.
In 1998, Hossain was awarded an Invitation Fellowship from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) to serve as a Visiting Professor at Hokkaido University, Japan. His excellent training in and background of molecular level works combined with his aptitude for higher research imparted him necessary capability to handle several research projects efficiently. He has good number of students received their masters and Ph D degree under his supervision. He has been involved in many professional activities at home and abroad.