Sadia earned her Master of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Dhaka. Following graduation, she was offered a research officer position at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b). In 2016, she received a research fellowship to conduct collaborative research work between Washington University in St. Louis and the University of California, Irvine (UCI). Sadia is currently enrolled as a PhD candidate in Immunology at Washington University in St. Louis. As a Biochemist with a strong interest in cancer immunotherapy, she is passionate about developing new and advanced cancer therapeutics.

Before arriving at WashU, she worked at Wugen, Inc.’s biotech company to develop NK cell therapies targeting solid tumor and hematological malignancies.

Sadia loves to cook, play with her kids, socialize, and go sightseeing during her leisure time.

Scholar Voices

Enriching Scientific Perspective and Collaboration: My Experience at the AAI 2025 Conference in Honolulu

By Sadia Afrin | Summer 2025

I had the incredible opportunity to attend the American Association of Immunologists (AAI) 2025 Conference in Honolulu, where I presented my research titled “Defining the mechanisms of NK cell dysfunction in the multiple myeloma tumor microenvironment.” The conference brought together leading immunologists and provided a vibrant platform for scientific exchange and collaboration.

I participated in sessions focused on cancer immunotherapy and immune metabolism, which were particularly inspiring and relevant to my work. During the poster session, I received valuable feedback from attendees, including a sticker comment from the chief editor of the Journal of Immunology encouraging me to submit my work for publication, a gesture that was both unexpected and highly motivating.

While exploring other posters, I found another sticker on my poster from a biotech (situated in Boston) scientist expressing interest in a collaboration. We connected afterward, and I’m currently in the process of establishing a collaborative effort with her team. I also had the pleasure of meeting several fellow immunologists from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, now conducting impactful research across the U.S., which was both uplifting and encouraging.

Overall, this experience significantly enriched my scientific perspective, improved my presentation and networking skills, and opened new doors for future collaboration. I’m deeply grateful to the McDonnell International Scholars Academy and Washington University in St. Louis for making this opportunity possible.