Bangladeshi researcher Sumaiya Samaji, an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Kansas (KU), has received the prestigious US ‘Career Award’.
The US National Science Federation (NSF) gives ‘Career’ awards to young researchers. It is one of the country’s highest awards for young people. As a result of receiving this award, Sumaiya Samaji will receive about half a million dollars for research over the next five years.
Sumaiya Samaji’s father, Ehsanul Haque Samaji, is a renowned lawyer in Bangladesh. A Supreme Court lawyer, Ehsanul Haque Samaji has served as the National Consultant of UNDP-Bangladesh (CRPC), Special Prosecutorial Advisor to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Metropolitan Public Prosecutor of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court, and Public Prosecutor of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Sumaiya Samaj’s research topic is ‘Supply Chain Security’. In today’s world, important products like computer chips, medicines, and daily necessities reach consumers through multiple channels. The supply chain is so complex that it is often difficult to verify the origin of the products and whether they are genuine. Counterfeit products not only pose a health risk, but also pose a major threat to public safety and national security.
Sumaiya’s research aims to create a secure and advanced digital system that can easily verify the authenticity of products and individuals. This technology will help organizations quickly identify counterfeit products, thereby increasing public trust in places that require large supply chains and high security.
Along with Sumaiya Samaj, two other assistant professors from the University of Kansas have received the ‘Career’ Award. Among them, Anna Morais from the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering is working on plastics (polypropylene) that are not easily recyclable (reusable). On the other hand, Jijun Yao from the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science is researching to ensure the safe and risk-free use of artificial intelligence (AI) in long-term healthcare.
Currently, 11 of the 20 assistant professors in the Department of Engineering at the University of Kansas have received this prestigious award at various times.
