Cultivating Bangladesh’s Synthetic Biology Ecosystem Through iGEM
Interviewee: Showmick Paul, Usrat Nubah
Interviewer: Abrar Hasan
Written By: Hassnain Q Bokhari
The iGEM Competition serves as a launchpad for students around the world to apply synthetic biology to real-world problems, figure out their own career paths and discover how to contribute to their communities. For two Bangladeshi iGEMers, Showmick Paul and Usrat Nubah, participating in iGEM was the doorway to a global scientific community and a stepping stone to imagining a synthetic biology future for their native country.
Despite participating in teams outside of Bangladesh, Showmick with iGEM Rochester 2022 and Usrat with iGEM Manchester 2024, they carry with them a vision: A future where synthetic biology takes root in their homeland. They discussed their experience, the challenges they faced and the prospects they see for the field in Bangladesh.
Navigating the SynBio Landscape in Bangladesh
Bangladesh’s synthetic biology ecosystem is still in its early stages. “We don’t have a proper ecosystem yet, but we do have the potential to create one,” says Showmick. He stresses that securing funding is the biggest challenge. “Once we get that, the opportunities are limitless, especially because of the talented and passionate young scientists in the country.”
Usrat shared a similar perspective: “Bangladesh has a lot of talent and potential in the SynBio space. We’ve already made progress in biotechnology, especially in agriculture, such as sequencing the jute genome in 2010. But we’re still facing major challenges, including public skepticism about genetic engineering, a lack of resources and the absence of a proper regulatory framework.”
Where could SynBio make the biggest impact in Bangladesh? For both Showmick and Usrat, the answer is the same: agriculture and biomanufacturing.
"Bangladesh is an agriculture-based economy," says Showmick, "and synthetic biology has the potential to revolutionize the sector, whether through biofortification of crops or decreasing dependence on chemical pesticides."
Usrat also highlighted Bangladesh’s untapped marine resources: “Our coastline is a gold mine for blue biotechnology, think algae-based biofuels or marine-derived medicines.” But she stresses the need for infrastructure: “We have the raw materials. Now we need labs, funding and policies to support innovation.”
The iGEM Experience: A Catalyst
For both students, iGEM was a major transformation personally. Showmick recalled the excitement of creating a project from scratch: “It wasn’t just following lab protocols. We brainstormed, failed and revised - real research.”
Usrat seconded this, describing iGEM as a "huge step up" that challenged her to think outside of textbooks. She explains, "It allowed me to own a project that might have real-world applications."
Although Usrat only recently completed her iGEM journey, she already sees its long-term benefits. “I have fantastic letters of recommendation from my supervisors, a network of over 80,000 iGEM alumni and hands-on research experience. And I’ve made friends I’ll probably be close to for life!”
For Showmick, the experience made it easier for him to pursue other research opportunities, whether it was wet lab work or science communication. iGEM prepared him both.
The Ripple Effect of iGEM: Why Bangladesh Needs to Compete
Participating in iGEM isn’t just about medals. It's about beginning something new for yourself and your community. Showmick believes Bangladeshi iGEM teams can kickstart the local SynBio ecosystem by encouraging their peers and attracting local stakeholders who can advocate for synthetic biology. Usrat further added that iGEM alumni tend to become mentors, thus creating a cycle of knowledge transfer: "Each student who competes can teach the next team. That's how ecosystems are built and expanded!"
“If Bangladesh wants to develop its biotech sector, it starts with participating in initiatives like the iGEM Competition.” - Showmick Paul
Showmick highlighted how iGEM teaches skills that you don’t learn in a typical classroom. "In iGEM you learn to explain science, run projects and switch gears when experiments don't work." Usrat further adds that the competition's prestige opens doors: "Grad schools and employers take notice of iGEM."
They conveyed that being an iGEMer gives you an edge, whether you’re applying for graduate programs, jobs, or scholarships. And not just for biology students. They feel chemists, computer scientists, engineers, artists, anyone interested in using biology to solve local and global problems, should give iGEM a shot. And beyond how it looks on a resume, it’s about solving homegrown problems: “Bangladesh faces floods, salinity and food insecurity,” says Usrat. She continued, “iGEM lets students design local solutions for local problems. We don’t need to wait for a solution… We can build our own!”
Their Message to Future Teams
For students hesitating about joining an iGEM Team, their advice is clear:
Start small, dream big. “You don’t need a fancy lab,” says Showmick, “just curiosity and persistence.”
Embrace the chaos. “Expect setbacks,” Usrat warns, “but every failure teaches you something.”
Connect fiercely. “Talk to everyone; judges, other teams, farmers, policymakers,” Usrat adds, “science doesn’t happen in a vacuum.”
With advocates like Showmick Paul, Usrat Nubah (a 2025 iGEM Ambassador for Asia and Oceania) and Abrar Hasan (an iGEM Promoter for the region), the push for synthetic biology in Bangladesh is gaining momentum. Through their efforts to raise awareness about iGEM and SynBio at local universities, they are paving the way for the next generation of innovators. Their journey is just beginning, but with passionate leaders and aspiring scientists, Bangladesh’s synthetic biology ecosystem is set to grow!
Do you want to compete in the world’s biggest annual synthetic biology competition? Register for the 2025 iGEM Competition.
Do you want to mentor the next generation of synthetic biologists? Apply here to become a 2025 iGEM Competition Mentor.
