My name is Tabassom Rehnuma Raisa, and I am pursuing my master’s degree in Biology at Bucknell University. I grew up in Chattagram, Bangladesh, a coastal city beside the Bay of Bengal, where my surroundings first sparked my curiosity about aquatic life. I earned a B.Sc. (Honors) in Fisheries and an M.S. in Fishing and Post-Harvest Technology from Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, and later worked as a research associate on two aquatic science projects in Bangladesh.

Over time, I witnessed firsthand the growing threats of climate change and pollution to aquatic biodiversity. This experience shaped my research interests, which center on understanding how stressors such as pollution, temperature fluctuations, habitat fragmentation, and acidification impact the abundance and distribution of aquatic organisms, especially amphibians and reptiles. I am particularly eager to apply environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques as an early warning and long-term monitoring tool to support the conservation of threatened taxa.

I am deeply inspired by Dr. Mizuki Takahashi’s research on amphibian ecology, ethology, and conservation, including his work on road pollution and eDNA monitoring of giant salamanders, and I aspire to contribute to his lab’s efforts. Outside academics, I enjoy cooking, traveling, reading, and spending time with friends and family. My long-term goal is to become a researcher dedicated to advancing sustainable aquatic ecosystems and contributing to global biodiversity conservation.