Istiaq Ahmad Chowdhury has been working as a Lecturer at the Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Chittagong, since 2023. He is a forward-thinking marine scientist and aquaculture specialist continues to inspire the next generation of marine scientists while driving forward his mission of sustainable aquaculture practices through his groundbreaking research and strategic leadership. His research interest on the sustainable development of coastal and marine aquaculture through technological improvement and biological oceanography, address critical challenges in the industry with a focus on aquatic health management, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in aquaculture, innovative farming practices, and the complex interactions between marine microbes, the environment, and aquatic species. His current research aimed at improving operational efficiency in land-based IMTA, refining feeding strategies in RAS for different species, and advancing the domestication of commercially valuable species.
Mr. Chowdhury holds a diverse and prestigious academic portfolio began with a BSc (Honors) in Marine Science and an MSc in Marine Science from the
University of Chittagong.
He later enhanced his expertise with an MS in Aquatic Resource Development from the University of Stirling, UK and an M. Phil in Marine Science. His global learning experiences were supported by prestigious scholarships, such as the Commonwealth Scholarship, SAARC Fisheries Training Scholarship, Dutch-Bangla Fellowship.
Mr. Chowdhury’s career has spanned continents and industries, making him a sought-after expert in aquaculture. His professional development is marked by international exposure, including training programs in China, India, Thailand, and Ghana. He also worked in State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science (MEL), Xiamen, China and Fujian Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding of Marine Organisms, Xiamen. His role as a Tilapia Breeding Specialist at the WorldFish Center, South Asia demonstrates his expertise in breeding technology and sustainable fish farming practices. His participation in workshops on marine debris, microplastics management, and mariculture technologies highlights his commitment to tackling pressing environmental issues in the aquaculture sector. Focusing on technological sustainable development of coastal and marine aquaculture Mr. Chowdhury involved in different project as principle investigator (PI) and co-principle investigator (Co-PI) funded by national and international donor like UGC and World Bank.
His key research publications focused on environmental stressors affect shellfish aquaculture, sustainability by improved technology of prawn aquaculture, operational innovative technology of fish and shellfish hatchery system, sustainable broodstock management etc.