Political Science

BIOGRAPHY

Kamrunnahar is a doctoral student and Research Assistant at Iowa State University, where she began her U.S. academic journey by earning a Master’s in Political Science with distinction in 2025. Her research interests include women’s empowerment, early childhood development, political economy, and public policy, with a focus on South Asia. At Iowa State, she has been recognized for her academic excellence through multiple awards, including the James Socknat Memorial Scholarship and the Cyclone Success Grant. She is also a member of the Phi Kappa Phi and Pi Sigma Alpha honor societies in the United States. Before coming to the U.S., Kamrunnahar completed both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Political Science at the University of Dhaka, where she graduated top of her class. In recognition of her outstanding academic performance, she received several prestigious honors, including the Mostafa Gold Medal, Dean’s Award, Shamsunnahar Mahmud Memorial Scholarship, the Fatema Iqbal Trust Fund Scholarship and so on. Professionally, she served as an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Noakhali Science and Technology University, currently on study leave. Her earlier roles include working as a Research Assistant with Bangladesh Mahila Parishad and a Microgovernance Research Initiatives. She was also recommended for the Education Cadre in the 38th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination. Kamrunnahar is committed to using evidence-based research to inform policy and contribute to inclusive development in Bangladesh and beyond.

RESEARCH INTERESTS