Anwar Huq

Dr. Anwar Huq joined the Department of Microbiology in 1989 and currently, a Professor in the Maryland Pathogen Institute at the University of Maryland. He received BS in Zoology and MS in Marine Biology from the University of Karachi and Ph. D. in Microbiology from the University of Maryland, College Park. In his graduate study, Dr. Huq focused on the ecology of Vibrio cholerae and plankton, more specifically copepods, its host in the environment that lead to major findings in the survival, multiplication and transmission of this pathogen in the environment and also developed a method for disease prevention. Dr. Huq’s research interest includes understanding of pathogens primarily the waterborne pathogens focusing on disease prevention and or intervention. Bacterial pathogens occurring naturally in the environment cannot be eradicated. Moreover, with global climate change, a significant impact is expected to occur on many of these pathogens. His work on the ecology, survival, transmission, and detection of V. cholerae assisted in developing prediction models for cholera where conventional microbiological, immunological, and molecular methods, including bioinformatics along with oceanography, limnology, and satellite remote sensing were used. Dr. Huq has also worked extensively on drinking water. Work on sari filtration for safe drinking water has proven to save lives and reduced cases of cholera in Bangladesh. Dr. Huq has published over 260 papers in peer-reviewed journals, books, and proceedings, and travelled extensively to >60 countries presenting more than 110 invited talks around the world. Dr. Huq is an elected Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology (FAAM) in 1999. He received the 2019 Distinguished Scientist Award, University of Maryland at College Park, MD. He serves in numerous committees at universities, institutes, and professional societies, nationally and internationally and served as the Founding President (2023-2024) of the International Society of Bangladesh-Affiliated Microbiologists (ISBM).