Program Affiliations

Biology and Pre-Health

Biography

Dr. Nurul Alam is a professor of Biology and he is currently serving as the JAMP (Join Admission Medical Program) Faculty Director (JFD), and Pre-health Advisor. Dr. Alam holds a Bachelor of Science (B. Sc. Honors) in Botany, and a Master of Science (M. Sc.) in Microbiology from the University of Dhaka (Bangladesh); Master of Science (M. S.) in Bioscience and Biotechnology from Shinshu University (Japan), and a Doctorate Degree (Ph. D.) in Bioresource Sciences from the United Graduate School Gifu University/Shinshu University (Japan). As an accomplished educator for more than two decades, Dr. Alam teaches a wide range of undergraduate classes for the biology majors as well as non-majors students. His research interests include Microbiological Water Quality and Molecular Mechanisms of Complement and Surfactant proteins. Dr. Alam authored a number of scientific papers in peer-reviewed and reputed journals. He advises pre-health student to their professional school pursuits. As a JAMP faculty Director, he helps the economically disadvantaged Texans pursuing their dreams of becoming a doctor.

Professional Experience

Dr. Alam joined the faculty at A&M-Texarkana in 2006 as an assistant Professor of Biology, promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 2009, and then to full professor in 2016. Before coming to A&M-Texarkana, he taught for four years at Jarvis Christian College. He worked as a postdoctoral researcher and later as a visiting scientist at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler for more than ten years. Before coming to Texas in 1999, he worked as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. After completion of his first master’s degree in microbiology, Dr. Alam worked as a Quality Control and Medical Services Microbiologist for about three years at Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Pharmaceuticals in Bangladesh.

Education

Ph. D., Biological Resource, Gifu University, Japan, 1998

M.S. Biotechnology, Shinshu University, Japan, 1995

M.Sc., Microbiology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, 1988

M.Sc. Honors, Botany, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, 1986

Teaching

Dr. Alam teaches a wide range of undergraduate classes for the biology majors including Cell and Molecular Biology, General Microbiology, Genetics, Botany, and Seminar in Biology; and Natural Sciences Core Curriculum (Biology) classes for the non-majors students. He occasionally teaches courses outside of his specialty including the Interdisciplinary Studies classes.

Scholarship & Creative Activity

Dr. Alam’s research interests include Microbiological Water Quality of recreational and drinking water, and Molecular Mechanisms of Human factor H protein.

Selected Publications:

• Haque, A, Cortes C, M. Alam M. N., Sreedhar M., Ferreria V., and Pangburn M. K., Characterization of binding properties of individual functional sites of complement factor H, Frontiers in Immunology, Vol 11, article 1728, 2020.
• Pangburn, M. K., Rawal, N., Cortes, C., Alam, M. N., Ferreria, V., and Atkinson, M. L. K. Polyanion-induced Self Association of Complement Factor H. The Journal of Immunology, 182, 1061-1068, 2009.
• Alam, M. N., Haque, A., Sreedhar, M., Pangburn, M. K., A novel vector for the expression of SCR domains in insect cells, Journal of Immunological Methods, 293, 107-113, 2004.
• Alam, M. N., Berhane K., Boggaram V., Lung surfactant protein B promoter function is dependent on the helical phasing, orientation and combinatorial actions of cis-DNA elements, Gene, 282, 103-111, 2002.
• Adams, C.* Alam, M. N.* Starcher, B. and Boggaram, V. Rabbit surfactant protein B genomic regions that confer lung-cell specific and developmentally inducible expression in transgenic mice (*equally contributing authors), American Journal of Physiology: Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology, 280, L724–L731, 2001.
• Margana, R., Kiflu, B. Alam, M. N., Boggaram, V. Identification of functional TTF-1 and Sp1/Sp3 sites in the upstream promoter region of rabbit SP-B gene. American Journal of Physiology: Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology, 278, L477-L484, 2000.
• Alam, M. N., Tadasa, K., Kayahara, H. Organic solvents cause spectral changes and pKa shifts of Thermolysin in peptide synthesis in aqueous-organic one-phase reaction system. Biotechnology Techniques, 12, 115-118, 1998.
• Amar, E., Tadasa, K., Alam, M. N., Kayahara, H., Ujihara, A. Acquired Thermolysin stabilization by lowering in pH and dielectric constant resulting from temperature increase in the Z-Phe-Phe-OMe synthesis. Biotechnology Techniques, 12, 491-496, 1998.
• Tadasa, K., Alam, M. N., Kayahara, H. The effect of organic solvents on thermolysin-catalyzed peptide synthesis of Z-Phe-Phe-OMe in aqueous-organic one-phase reaction system.  Research Signpost, 1, 291-307, 1997.
• Alam, M. N., Tadasa, K., Maeda, T., Kayahara, H. Correlation of inhibition of Thermolysin by water-miscible alcoholic solvents with their physiochemical parameters and the status of monoalcoholic character of water in peptide synthesis of Z-Phe-Phe-Ome in water-organic one-phase reaction system. Biotechnology Letters, 19, 1129-1133, 1997.
• Alam, M. N., Tadasa, K., Kayahara, H. Kinetics of inhibition of Thermolysin- catalyzed peptide synthesis in aqueous-organic one-phase reaction system. Biotechnology Letters. 19, 563-568, 1997.
• Alam, M. N., Tadasa, K., Kayahara, H. Kinetic behavior of activation of Thermolysin by normal alcohols. Biotechnology Letters, 18, 45-50, 1996.

Professional Affiliations

• TAAHP (Texas Association of Advisors for the Health Professions), 2014-present.
• NAAHP (National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions), 2014-present.
• Pre-health Society, Texas A&M University-Texarkana, Sponsor and Organizer, 2016-present).
• Tri-beta National Honors Society, Faculty Advisor and Sponsor, 2019-present.
• Bangladesh Society of Microbiology (BSM, 2009-present), Life Member.

Honors/Awards

• 2022-23: : Teaching excellence Award for Mentorship, Texas A&M University-Texarkana Honors Program.
• 2019: Leadership and Success Award, National Society of Leadership and Success, Texas A&M University Chapter for Teaching.
• 2018: Teaching excellence Award for Mentorship, Texas A&M University-Texarkana Honors Program.
• 2017: Distinguished Faculty Award, Texas A&M University-Texarkana Alumni Association.
• 2012: Texas A&M University System Chancellor Student Recognition Awards for Teaching Excellence.
• Best Paper Award, Paper# 403, Global Engineering, Science and Technology Conference 2012.

Grants/Funding

• 2014-present: Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP), $12,000-$12,285, JAMP Faculty Director (JFD).
• 2009, 2010, and 2011, Texas Workforce Commission, Summer Merit Program, CSI/Biotech Camps; $48,000, $43,468, and $24,000, respectively (Principal Investigator and Project Director).
• Texas A&M University-Texarkana Robert Noyce Scholarship Program (NSF), September 1, 2004-August 31, 2009, $389,850 (Principal Investigator).
• Indicator Bacterial Source Tracking in Tankersley Creek, Texas A&M University-Texarkana, Faculty Senate Research Enhancement Grant, 2007-2008, $1,000 (Principal Investigator).
• Community Impact Program (Obesity and Nutrition), United Negro College Fund Special Programs (UNCF-SP), April 14, 2006 - March 13, 2007, $55,000 (Principal Investigator).
• Bacteriological and Chemical Aspects of Water Quality in Tankersley Creek, Texas A&M University-Texarkana, Faculty Senate Research Enhancement Grant, 2006-2007, $3,000 (Principal Investigator).
• Identifying Sources of Fecal Bacteria in Selected Bodies of Water in East Texas, UNCF College Fund/ Henry C. McBay Research Fellowship, June 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006, $12,000 (Principal Investigator).