1. Research Assistant at Pusan National University from 1st September 2021 to February 2022.

Key Responsibilities

• Assisted in designing and conducting laboratory experiments related to immunology, molecular biology, and cell biology research projects.

• Performed cell culture experiments, including maintenance, treatment, and analysis of mammalian cell lines.

• Conducted molecular biology techniques such as RNA/DNA extraction, PCR/qPCR, protein expression analysis, and basic immunoassays.

• Supported in vitro experimental studies, data collection, and statistical analysis for research publications and reports.

• Maintained laboratory equipment, prepared reagents, and ensured compliance with biosafety and research protocols.

• Documented experimental procedures and results accurately in laboratory notebooks and digital records.

• Collaborated with graduate students and faculty members to support ongoing research activities and project timelines.

2. Researcher at Inje University from 1st September 2020 to 30th August 2021.

Key Responsibilities

• Conducted independent and collaborative research on the tumor microenvironment, focusing on interactions between cancer cells, immune cells, and stromal components.

• Established and maintained in vitro tumor models to study immune modulation, cancer progression, and therapeutic response.

• Performed cell culture experiments involving tumor cells and immune cells, including co-culture systems to mimic tumor–immune interactions.

• Applied molecular and cell biology techniques such as RNA/protein extraction, PCR/qPCR, Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and immunoassays.

• Analyzed signaling pathways and cellular responses related to inflammation, immune evasion, and tumor progression.

• Assisted in experimental design, data analysis, and interpretation of results for research manuscripts and presentations.

• Maintained detailed experimental records and ensured adherence to laboratory safety and research ethics guidelines.

• Collaborated with multidisciplinary research teams, contributing to project planning and timely completion of research objectives.

3. Officer in Quality Assurance at Incepta Pharmaceuticals Bangladesh Ltd. from 1st May 2018 to 30th July 2018.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor the dispensing of raw materials as well as manufacturing & packaging processes

• Perform IPC, BMR-BPR checking, change control activities, and batch release activities

• Prepare and control SOPs and ensure QMS-related documentation

• Handle the Market Compliance, Deviation, QIR, CAPA, NCR & rejections

• Handle the Batch document, Retention Sample, and ensure proper investigation of quality incidents

• Perform Training Needs Assessments.

1. 3D cancer biology
2. Tumor microenvironment 
3. Cancer stemness and metastasis
4. Anticancer drug resistance
5. Biomimetic scaffolds
6. Molecular oncology
7. Tumor immunology and 
8. Natural product-based drug discovery

1. Yuna Kim, Seon Yeong Hwang, Young-Jin Kwon, Ji-Eun Kim, Lata Rajbongshi, Su-Rin Lee, Seongwon Joo, Seongheum Park, Sae-Ock Oh, Byoung-Soo Kim, Dongjun Lee, Sik Yoon. CD127+ Natural Killer Cells Represent a Distinct, Interleukin-15–Independent, and Thymus-Independent Subset in Mice. Int J Mol Sci. 2026 Mar 14;27(6):2667. doi: 10.3390/ijms27062667. (Impact Factor: 4.9)

2. Won Hoon Song, Ji-Eun Kim, Lata Rajbongshi, Su-Rin Lee, Yuna Kim, Seon Yeong Hwang, Sae-Ock Oh, Byoung Soo Kim, Dongjun Lee, Sik Yoon. Polydopamine-Coated Surfaces Promote Adhesion, Migration, Proliferation, Chemoresistance, Stemness, and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Human Prostate Cancer Cell Lines In Vitro via Integrin α2β1-FAK-JNK Signaling. Int J Mol Sci. 2026 Jan 8;27(2):655. doi: 10.3390/ijms27020655. (Impact Factor: 4.9)

3. Lata Rajbongshi, Ji-Eun Kim, Jin-Eui Lee, Su-Rin Lee, Seon-Yeong Hwang, Young Mi Hong, Sae-Ock Oh, Byoung Soo Kim, Dongjun Lee, Yuna Kim, and Sik Yoon. A Robust Marine Collagen Peptide–Agarose 3D Culture System for In Vitro Modeling of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Anti-Cancer Therapeutic Development. Mar. Drugs 2025, 23(10), 386; https://doi.org/10.3390/md23100386. (Impact Factor: 5.4)

4. Yong-Jung Song, Ji-Eun Kim, Lata Rajbongshi, Ye-Seon Lim, Ye-Jin Ok, Seon-Yeong Hwang, Hye-Yun Park, Jin-Eui Lee, Sae-Ock Oh, Byoung-Soo Kim, Dongjun Lee, Hwi-Gon Kim, Sik Yoon. Silencing of Epidermal Growth Factor-like Domain 8 Promotes Proliferation and Cancer Aggressiveness in Human Ovarian Cancer Cells by Activating ERK/MAPK Signaling Cascades. Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Dec 31;26(1):274. doi: 10.3390/ijms26010274. (Impact Factor: 4.9)

5. Won Hoon Song, Ye Seon Lim, Ji-Eun Kim, Hae Yeong Kang, Changyong Lee, Lata Rajbongshi, Seon Yeong Hwang, Sae-Ock Oh, Byoung Soo Kim, Dongjun Lee, Yong Jung Song, Sik Yoon. A Marine Collagen-Based 3D Scaffold for In Vitro Modeling of Human Prostate Cancer Niche and Anti-Cancer Therapeutic Discovery. Mar Drugs. 2024 Jun 26;22(7):295. doi: 10.3390/md22070295. (Impact Factor: 4.9)

6. Do Young Lee, Won Hoon Song, Ye Seon Lim, Changyong Lee, Lata Rajbongshi, SeonYeong Hwang, Byoung Soo Kim, Dongjun Lee, Yong Jung Song, Hwi-Gon Kim, Sik Yoon. Fish Collagen Peptides Enhance Thymopoietic Gene Expression, Cell Proliferation, Thymocyte Adherence, and Cytoprotection in Thymic Epithelial Cells via Activation of the Nuclear Factor-κB Pathway, Leading to Thymus Regeneration after Cyclophosphamide-Induced Injury. Mar Drugs. 2023 Oct 12;21(10):531. doi: 10.3390/md21100531. (Impact Factor: 4.9)

7. Lata Rajbongshi, Min Hye Noh, Yeong Seok Kim, Dae Young Hur. Effects of Epstein-Barr Virus Infection on the Response of Human Breast Cancer Cells to Nicotine. Anticancer Res. 2021 Jul;41(7):3449-3458. doi: 10.21873/anticanres.15132. (Impact Factor: 2.4)

8. Minhye Noh, Eun-Yeung Gong, Temitope Michael Akinleye, Lata Rajbongshi, Yeong Seok Kim, Dae Young Hur. Peroxiredoxin 1 controls β-catenin activity and Epstein-Barr Virus-encoded MicroRNA in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma. J Immunol May 1, 2020, 204 (1 Supplement) 162.15. (conference paper)

9. Rajbongshi Lata, Rahman Azizur, Rahman Mizanur, Howlader Saurav. Extraction and In Vitro screening of potential acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase and BACE1 inhibitors from the leaves of Ocimum sanctum. Indo Am J P Sci. 2017; 4 (08); 1-8.

10. Ekramul Hasan, Rajbongshi Lata, Abdur Rouf, Howlader Saurav. In Vitro anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory activity of Heliotropium indicum leaf extract in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 Cells. Indo Am J P Sci. 2019; 06 (04); 8745-8752.

11. Ekramul Hasan, Md. Abdur Rouf, Lata Rajbongshi, Sharifa Sultana, Howlader Saurav. Anti-diabetic and antioxidant potential of Coccinia grandis leaf extracts. Indo Am J P Sci. 2019; 06 (03); 6605-6614.

12. Ekramul Hasan, Rajbongshi Lata, Abdur Rouf, Howlader Saurav. Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of ethanolic extract of Xylocarpus granatum leaves. Indo Am. J. P. Sci, 2019; 06(05):1-7.

13. Howlader Saurav, Rajbongshi Lata, Hossain Farhad. Inhibitory activities of Alkaloid from Coccinia grandis against Aldose Reductase and Generation of Advanced Glycation End Products. Indo Am J P Sci. 2017; 04 (07); 1937-1943.

14. Howlader Saurav, Rahman Azizur, Rahman Mizanur, Rajbongshi Lata, Rahman Mahfuz. Inhibitory activities of Ocimum sanctum and its flavonoid constituents on angiotensin-converting enzyme. Indo Am J P Sci. 2017; 4 (10); 1-8.

15. Lata Rajbongshi, Ji-Eun Kim, Su-Rin Lee, Seon-Yeong Hwang, Young Mi Hong, Sae-Ock Oh, Byoung Soo Kim, Dongjun Lee, and Sik Yoon. Co-culture with HSCs induces a fibrotic TME that enhances HCC organoid phenotypes and drug responses. (under preparation).

1. “3D in vitro modeling of hepatocellular carcinoma using a Marine Collagen Peptide–Agarose hydrogels for liver cancer therapeutics” in Pusan National University GRAND Convergence Medical Science Education and Research Group, Wednesday, January 28, 2026 (Poster presentation).
2. “A Biomimetic 3D In Vitro Hepatocellular Carcinoma Model Using a Marine Collagen Peptide-Agarose Scaffold for Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery” in Cancer Diversity and Molecular Control Research Center (MRC), Thursday, December 4th, 2025 (Oral presentation). 
3. “3D in vitro modeling of hepatocellular carcinoma using a Marine Collagen Peptide–Agarose hydrogels for liver cancer therapeutics” in the Korean Association of Anatomists, October 15th, 2025 (Poster presentation).
4. “Development of a biomimetic 3D in vitro prostate cancer model using a Marine Collagen Peptide–Agarose hydrogels” in the Korean Association of Anatomists October 15th, 2025 (Poster presentation).
5. “Polydopamine-Coated Surfaces Promote Adhesion, Migration, Proliferation, Chemoresistance, Stemness, and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Human Prostate Cancer Cell Lines In Vitro via Integrin α2β1-FAK-JNK Signaling” in the Korean Association of Anatomists October 15th, 2025 (Poster presentation).
6. “Silencing of Epidermal Growth Factor-like Domain 8 Promotes Proliferation and Cancer Aggressiveness in Human Ovarian Cancer Cells by Activating ERK/MAPK Signaling Cascades” in BK21 Pusan National University GRAND Convergence Medical Science Education and Research Group Academic Festival February 24th, 2025 (Oral presentation). 
7. “Hydrolyzed marine collagen protects against cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity and oxidative injury in mouse thymic epithelial cells by inhibiting MAPK signaling pathways” in Cancer Diversity and Molecular Control Research Center (MRC), June, 2024 (Poster presentation). 
8. “Nicotine receptors induce breast cancer cells proliferation through targeting EBV encoded LMP1” in American Association of Immunologists (AAI), May 08-12, 2020, Hawaii, USA.
9. “Peroxiredoxin 1 controls β-catenin activity and Epstein-Barr Virus-encoded MicroRNA in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma” in American Association of Immunologists (AAI), May 08-12, 2020, Hawaii, USA.).
10. “Nicotine receptors induce breast cancer cells proliferation through targeting EBV encoded LMP1” in the in BK21 plus symposium and seminar on December 18, 2019. Inje University, college of medicine, Busan, Korea.
11. “VSIG4 induces fibrosis of kidney cells with high-glucose” in the 69th annual meeting of the Korean Association of Anatomists October 16-18, 2019. YEOSU, The Ocean Resort, Korea. 
12. “Nicotine receptors induce breast cancer cell proliferation through targeting EBV encoded LMP1” in the 69th annual meeting of the Korean Association of Anatomists October 16-18, 2019. YEOSU, The Ocean Resort, Korea. 
13. “Peroxiredoxin 1 controls β-catenin activity and Epstein-Barr Virus-encoded MicroRNA in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma” in BK21 plus symposium and seminar December 18, 2019. Inje University, college of medicine, Busan, Korea.
14. The 27th annual meeting of the Korean College of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research & 16th Japan-Korea Joint Symposium on Helicobacter research. March 8-9, 2019. Paradise Hotel Busan, Korea.
15. “Differential cell death on 2D and 3D culture system in EGFR mutant HCC827 cell andHCC4006 cell by Elrotinib” in Asia Pacific International Congress of Anatomist (APICA), October 28-31, 2018, BEXCO, Busan, South Korea.
16. “LMP1 induces Nrf2-mediated Akt expression in Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B cells” in Asia Pacific International Congress of Anatomist (APICA), October 28-31, 2018, BEXCO, Busan, South Korea. 
17. “Nicotine receptors induce breast cancer cells proliferation through targeting EBV encoded LMP1” in The BK21 Plus Symposium, College of Medicine, Inje University, December 18, 2019, Busan, South Korea.
18. Peroxiredoxin 1 controls β-catenin activity and Epstein-Barr Virus encoded MicroRNA in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma” in The BK21 Plus Symposium, College of Medicine, Inje University, December 18, 2019, Busan, South Korea.

1. 2025-2026 Medical Research Center Fellowship (Research Grant for PhD Thesis)

2. 2022-2024 Brain Korea 21 (BK21) Fellowship (Research Grant for PhD Thesis)

3. September 2021 - February 2022 National Research Foundation (NRF) Fellowship (Research grant for Research Associate)

4. 2020 - 2021 National Research Foundation (NRF) Fellowship (Research grant for Research Associate)

5. 2018-2020 Brain Korea 21 (BK21) Fellowship (Research grant for MS Thesis)

1. 2025-2026, Scholarship from Pusan National University, College of Medicine (Research-based full funded scholarship).

2. 2022-2024, Scholarship from Pusan National University, College of Medicine (Research-based full funded scholarship).

3. September 2021 - February 2022, Scholarship from Pusan National University, College of Medicine (Research-based full funded scholarship).

4. 2020 – 2021, Scholarship from Inje University, College of Medicine (Research-based full funded scholarship).

5. 2018-2020, Scholarship from Inje University, College of Medicine (Research-based full funded scholarship).

1. Best Poster Award, Annual Meeting of the Korean Medical Research Center (MRC), Busan, South Korea, 2026.
2. Best Poster Award, Annual Meeting of the Korean Medical Research Center (MRC), Busan, South Korea, 2025.
3. Best Poster Award, 69th Annual Meeting of the Korean Association of Anatomists, Yeosu, South Korea, October 16–18, 2019.
4. Recognized by the Government of Bangladesh for outstanding achievement in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) Examination, 2009.
5. Honored with the Compliment Award by The Daily Prothom Alo, Bangladesh, for excellent performance in the SSC Examination, 2009.
6. Recognized by World Vision Bangladesh for excellent results in the SSC Examination, 2009.
7. Honored by the Government of Bangladesh for outstanding achievement in the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) Examination, 2011.
8. Excellence in Undergraduate Studies Award, Daffodil International University, for outstanding academic performance during undergraduate studies, 2013–2017.
9. Music Excellence Award, Sur Lohori Music Academy, for outstanding achievement and performance in music, 2009–2012.
10. Excellence in Classical and Modern Music Award, Bangladesh Shishu Academy, for outstanding performance in music training, 2003.
    
    Honors
11. Excellence in Graduate Studies, awarded for achieving a CGPA of 4.33 out of 4.50 at the College of Medicine, Pusan National University.
12. Excellence in Graduate Studies, awarded for achieving a CGPA of 4.32 out of 4.50 at the College of Medicine, Inje University.
13. Excellence in Undergraduate Studies, awarded for achieving a CGPA of 3.80 out of 4.00 in the Department of Pharmacy at Daffodil International University.

1. Member, American Association of Immunologists (AAI)
2. Member, Korean Association of Immunologists (KAI)
3. Brain Korea 21 (BK21)
4. Asia Pacific International Congress of Anatomists (APlCA)