About
Professional Background
Executive Member | Bangladesh Nature Foundation
Dr. Md Khurshid Alam Bhuiyan is a marine and coastal ecologist specializing in ocean acidification, marine biodiversity, coastal ecosystem resilience, blue carbon, estuarine ecology, and climate-driven environmental change. He currently works as an Engineer for Zooplankton Aquaculture at the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), Germany. His research integrates experimental and field ecology, marine organismal biology, ecological synthesis, statistical analysis, and conservation-oriented approaches to understand and address environmental change in marine and coastal ecosystems.
Academic and Professional Qualifications
Dr. Bhuiyan holds a Ph.D. in Marine and Coastal Management from the University of Cádiz, Spain, and the University of Aveiro, Portugal, completed through the Erasmus Mundus MACOMA programme with an excellent result. He also holds an M.Sc. in Water and Coastal Management from the University of Cádiz, Spain, and the University of Plymouth, UK, through the Erasmus Mundus WACOMA programme. In Bangladesh, he completed an M.S. in Marine Science (Oceanography) and a B.Sc. (Hons) in Marine Science from the Institute of Marine Sciences and Fisheries, University of Chittagong, achieving First Class First in both degrees.
Professional Experience
Dr. Bhuiyan currently serves at the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Germany, where he contributes to research and development related to zooplankton aquaculture and sustainable marine resources. Previously, he worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute of Marine Research, University of Cádiz, Spain, focusing on estuarine food webs, coastal ecosystems, invasive species, and environmental change. He also conducted doctoral research at the University of Cádiz and has earlier professional experience as a Research Associate and Program Officer with the Bangladesh Nature Foundation, Research Assistant at Universiti Putra Malaysia, and National Project Team Member at the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission.
Areas of Expertise
His major areas of expertise include ocean acidification, marine global change, marine and invertebrate ecology, coastal ecosystem functioning and resilience, blue carbon, salt-marsh and estuarine ecology, marine biodiversity, ecosystem processes, marine pollution, microplastics, fisheries, invasive species, restoration ecology, conservation, and adaptive coastal management.
Research and Scientific Contributions
Dr. Bhuiyan has authored 45 peer-reviewed scientific publications covering ocean acidification, marine pollution, blue carbon, biodiversity, estuarine ecology, mangrove and salt-marsh ecosystems, microplastics, fisheries, invasive species, and climate resilience. His recent lead-author research includes studies on Atlantic blue crab invasion dynamics in European salt marshes and the functions and ecosystem services of salt-marsh macrofauna. His research experience spans Europe and South and Southeast Asia, combining experimental ecology, field-based research, organismal studies, and ecological synthesis to investigate environmental change and ecosystem resilience.
Research Projects and Leadership
Dr. Bhuiyan has participated in and contributed to multidisciplinary research involving marine global change, coastal ecosystem processes, environmental stressors, biodiversity, invasive species, and sustainable marine resources. His research has included experimental and mesocosm studies, field investigations, carbonate chemistry, organismal physiology and biochemistry, and quantitative ecological analysis. His international research experience across academic and research institutions in Europe and Asia provides a strong foundation for collaborative marine and coastal research initiatives.
Conservation and Environmental Engagement
His scientific work has a strong conservation and sustainability dimension, particularly in relation to coastal ecosystem resilience, blue carbon, biodiversity conservation, restoration, and climate adaptation. His research on estuaries, salt marshes, mangroves, marine biodiversity, invasive species, and multiple environmental stressors contributes to improved understanding of coastal ecosystem functioning and supports evidence-based approaches to conservation and adaptive coastal management.
Scientific and Technical Skills
Dr. Bhuiyan has expertise in experimental and field ecology, mesocosm studies, carbonate chemistry, marine organism physiology and biochemistry, ecological synthesis, multivariate statistics, R-based statistical analysis, data visualization, scientific writing, and publication-quality scientific graphics. His multidisciplinary technical background enables him to integrate experimental observations, field data, ecological theory, and quantitative methods in marine and coastal research.
Professional Recognition
Dr. Bhuiyan has received several competitive international fellowships, travel grants, and academic distinctions. These include the Erasmus+ Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate Fellowship from the European Commission, valued at €129,900, and the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Fellowship, valued at €45,000. He has also received travel grants from the Ocean Carbon and Biogeochemistry (OCB) Summer Workshops, NEOBIOTA, and the SETAC Young Environmental Scientists Meeting. He was awarded University of Chittagong Merit Scholarships for achieving First Class First in both his B.Sc. and M.S. degrees. As of September 2026, his Google Scholar profile records 1,260 citations, an h-index of 19, and an i10-index of 34.
Professional Memberships and Scholarly Service
Dr. Bhuiyan contributes actively to the international scientific community through editorial and peer-review activities. He serves as an Associate Editor for Frontiers in Marine Science in Marine Biology and for Climate Resilience and Sustainability. He has also served as a Guest Editor for Water and has reviewed manuscripts for numerous international journals covering environmental science, marine ecology, aquatic toxicology, coastal management, biodiversity, pollution, and related fields. His scholarly service reflects active engagement with the international marine and environmental research community.
Role at Bangladesh Nature Foundation
As an Executive Member of the Bangladesh Nature Foundation, Dr. Bhuiyan contributes expertise in marine and coastal ecology, biodiversity conservation, blue carbon, ecosystem resilience, ocean acidification, climate-driven environmental change, and sustainable coastal management. His international research experience and interdisciplinary expertise strengthen the Foundation’s scientific capacity for coastal ecosystem assessment, conservation research, climate resilience, restoration, and evidence-based management of marine and coastal natural resources.