Raihana Afroz earns Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowship from University of Minnesota Graduate School

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (1/31/2025) – Chemistry PhD candidate Raihana Afroz was recently awarded the 2025-26 Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowship from University of Minnesota Graduate School. This highly-competitive fellowship provides a unique opportunity for outstanding mid-career PhD students who are engaged in interdisciplinary research to study with faculty at one of the University’s interdisciplinary research centers or institutes during the fellowship year.

Raihana joined the Department of of Chemistry in 2022 after completing her undergraduate studies in chemistry and Master’s in organic chemistry at the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. As a member of the Gadkari Research Group, she works on developing and applying novel native mass spectrometry (MS)-based techniques to unravel the structural complexity of nucleic acids. The increasing popularity of nucleic acid biotherapeutics necessitates new analytical tools for the rapid and accurate characterization of nucleic acid molecules. “My research leverages charge detection mass spectrometry for precise mass measurements of large messenger RNAs (mRNAs), providing insights into their overall structure,” Raihana says. “To delve deeper into mRNA sequence and structure, I am collaborating with the Center for Metabolomics and Proteomics to implement tandem ultraviolet-photodissociation mass spectroscopy. This interdisciplinary approach will expand MS applications in RNA research, addressing a critical gap in the field.”

Raihana’s passion for her research inspires her to think boldly when she looks towards the future. “I aim to establish myself as a leader in nucleic acid research, pioneering advanced mass spectrometry methods to revolutionize the development of next-generation biotherapeutics,” Raihana says. “Alongside my research, I aim to foster inclusivity in science by creating mentorship programs and educational initiatives that make chemistry and STEM opportunities accessible to underrepresented communities.”

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