Bangladeshi researcher S M Ashfaqur Rahman has received the prestigious Maxwell Fellowship to pursue a PhD at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University in the United States.
The five-year doctoral programme comes with a comprehensive funding package covering tuition support, fellowship and assistantship stipends, and a health insurance subsidy. According to a report by Prothom Alo, Syracuse University will provide approximately US$80,460 annually, equivalent to around BDT 9.8 million. The total support over five years is estimated at approximately BDT 50 million.
Academic Journey
Ashfaqur Rahman completed both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Sociology at the University of Chittagong (CU). His master’s thesis examined the Rohingya crisis and modern governance.
In 2024, he moved to the United States to pursue a second master’s degree in Sociology and Leadership at Minnesota State University, Mankato, with a fully funded scholarship.
His academic achievements include several research awards. His master’s thesis paper at Minnesota State University received first prize from the State Society on Aging of New York (SSANY). In 2025, he also secured first place in the Best Graduate Student Research Paper competition organised by the Midwest Sociological Society. Additionally, he won the top position in the Caroline Rose Research Paper Competition organised by Sociologists of Minnesota.
His research examines how social structures, including surveillance, influence the safety and everyday lives of older adults during extreme winter conditions.
Research Experience and Future Goals
Ashfaqur Rahman has worked as a Graduate Research Assistant and Research Consultant at Minnesota State University’s Center for Excellence in Scholarship and Research. He has also been involved in research initiatives with international organisations, including Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Communication Programs and BBC Media Action.
At Syracuse University, he plans to advance his research on ageing, health, technology, and environmental sociology. He also hopes to contribute to international research on ageing-related healthcare, policymaking, and structural inequalities in Bangladesh.
His achievement represents an important milestone in his academic journey and highlights the contributions of Bangladeshi researchers to international scholarship.