By Ben Donohue & Olivia Ortegon

Now working as an Assistant Professor at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dr. Uddin is enthusiastic about working in-person with his students where he teaches mechanical engineering and thermodynamics. However, due to Bangladesh’s low vaccination rate, research and classes continue to remain online. He looks forward to interacting with his students once the vaccine becomes more readily available and it is safe to return to campus.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, classes and work at BUET were conducted online which limited research opportunities. This prompted Dr. Uddin to return to UConn, his self-deemed “second home”, where he knows the area and the people, and has many opportunities to continue his research.

When asked about how UConn prepared him for his career as a professor at BUET, Dr. Uddin highlighted the opportunities the university provides and the courses in chemical engineering, material science, along with mechanical engineering which helped broadened his knowledge in the field of engineering. UConn’s cutting-edge research opportunities were a big contributor toward preparing him as a researcher. UConn, as well as the other destinations along his journey, increased his knowledge and made him a well-rounded person for his next steps in his career.

While Dr. Uddin plans to return home to Bangladesh, he will continue to collaborate with the University of Connecticut to connect both his home in Bangladesh and his home in Storrs.