From BUET to Breakthroughs: Dr. Taufiq Hasan on Engineering Healthcare for the Global South 

By Humaira Afreen | UTD ECE Alumni Spotlight Series 

Could you tell us about your current role and the organization you work for? 
Dr. Hasan currently serves as a Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), where he leads the mHealth Research Group, an interdisciplinary team focused on developing AI and machine learning-based solutions to address healthcare challenges in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). 

Beyond BUET, his work spans continents: he is an Adjunct Faculty at the Johns Hopkins Center for Bioengineering Innovation and Design (CBID), a Co-supervisor at Oxford University’s Nuffield Department of Medicine, and a Consultant at UNICEF Bangladesh. From research labs to global health impact, his journey reflects a mission-driven career built on innovation, collaboration, and purpose. 

How did your ECE background prepare you for this position? 

“Everything I do today is grounded in my ECE foundation,” he shares.  

During his PhD, he developed cutting-edge machine learning models which gave him strong mathematical intuition and hands-on coding skills. His training included signal processing, IoT, wearable sensors, and electronics, which now form the technical backbone of the solutions he develops with the mHealth Research Group. 

What challenges have you faced in your career, and how did you overcome them? 

The first big shift came when he moved from academia to industry at Bosch R&D in Silicon Valley. “I went from theoretical models to real-world implementation very fast,” he says. A quote from UTD’s Dr. M. Saquib on industry research stuck with him: “It must work.” That insight guided his pivot to industry research with a focus on impact. 

Later, returning to BUET and transitioning into biomedical engineering came with its own challenges. “I initially tried to apply my skills directly to healthcare problems, but it didn’t click,” he recalls. Then came another eye-opener, this time from UTD’s Dr. Hansen: “If you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” That sparked a shift to problem-first thinking, which ultimately led to the creation of OxyJet, a low-cost ventilator developed during the pandemic. The innovation was recognized by the WHO and the UN as a notable innovation during the crisis. Today, it’s a med-tech startup run by his students, and it’s the first Bangladeshi-designed medical device approved for clinical use. 

What made you choose UT Dallas and the ECE program? 
“Professor John Hansen’s reputation in speech signal processing drew me in,” he says. Once he received a fully funded research assistantship, the choice was easy. The active Bangladeshi student community at UTD also made him feel instantly at home. 

Did you pursue any internships, co-ops, or research opportunities while at UTD? How did those experiences shape your career? 
Dr. Taufiq’s internship at Bosch Research and Technology Center in Palo Alto during summer 2011 turned out to be pivotal. He filed a U.S. patent and later landed a full-time position after completing his PhD. That industry experience taught him how to translate research into innovation. 

Are you currently involved in mentoring or initiatives that give back to the academic or tech community? 
Very much so. As the lead of BUET’s mHealth Research Group, he’s mentoring student teams working on UNICEF and World Bank-funded projects. His students regularly publish in AAAI and IEEE, win global awards, and launch impactful startups. He also advises the BUET Entrepreneurship Development Club, encouraging future founders to build for Bangladesh and the world. 

What advice would you give to current or incoming ECE students at UTD? 
“Go deep into your area of interest. Be the best in the world at it,” he advises.  

He also encourages students to resist digital distractions. “Limit smartphone time. Don’t become over-dependent on AI tools. Deep, original thinking still matters most.” 

What skills (technical or soft) do you think students should focus on developing to succeed in today’s job market? 
Dr. Taufiq emphasizes the rising value of interpersonal skills: “Work with diverse teams, resolve conflicts, have tough conversations, that’s what makes you a leader.” On the tech side, he recommends staying aware of emerging tools, but warns against offloading cognitive development. “Use AI for admin work and gathering info, sure but don’t let it think for you.” 

If you could go back in time and give your younger self one piece of advice during your UTD days, what would it be? 
He smiles. “I’d say: relax. Enjoy your time with friends. Stop stressing over every detail. Just keep going… it’ll all work out.” 

And indeed, it has.