Physical Chemist, Single-Molecule Spectroscopist & Fluorescence Researcher
Mostofa Ataur Rohman is a Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellow at the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Technical University of Dortmund, Germany, working with Prof. Thorben Cordes. His research focuses on the frontier of single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy — specifically the development of self-healing fluorophores, copper-free click chemistry biolabeling, and advanced super-resolution imaging using DNA origami platforms.
He holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Meghalaya, India (2014–2020), where his doctoral thesis explored spectroscopic studies of fluorescent organic molecules and their complexes with supramolecular hosts. Prior to his Humboldt appointment, he completed two postdoctoral fellowships — most recently as a Visiting Fellow and Postdoctoral Fellow at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, working with Prof. Sobhan Sen on G-quadruplex DNA dynamics and ligand interactions in cell-like crowded environments.
Mostofa has authored 23 peer-reviewed publications in journals including J. Phys. Chem. A/B, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., ChemPhysChem, and New J. Chem., along with a book chapter. His research bridges physical chemistry, biophysics, and chemical biology — applying techniques such as smFRET, FCS, TIRF microscopy, TCSPC, molecular dynamics simulation, and click chemistry to understand molecular interactions at the single-molecule level. He maintains active collaborations with institutions across Germany, the UK, Ukraine, and India.
Areas of Expertise
Peer-Reviewed Research Publications
Single-Molecule FRET with a Minimalistic 3D-Printed Setup and Dyes in the Blue-Green Spectral Region
This work introduces a minimalistic 3D-printed smFRET platform paired with blue-green spectral dyes — directly addressing long-standing accessibility barriers in single-molecule imaging. A key output of the Humboldt fellowship research at TU Dortmund with Prof. Cordes.
How Do Molecular Crowders Influence Ligand Binding Kinetics with G-Quadruplex DNA? The Role of Bound Water
Alam, P.; Chand, A. K.; Sahu, H.; Rohman, M. A.; Clovis, N. S.; Sardana, D.; Puri, S.; Sen, S. — Vol. 129, pp 2958–2970.
Deciphering Spectroscopic and Structural Insights into the Photophysical Behavior of 2,2′-Dipyridylamine: An Efficient Environment Sensitive Fluorescence Probe
Rohman, M. A.; Phanrang, P. T.; Chamlagai, D.; Mitra, S. — Vol. 125, pp 6964–6975.
Visible Light-Promoted Synthesis of Pyrrolidinone Derivatives via Rose Bengal as a Photoredox Catalyst and Their Photophysical Studies
Dutta, A.; Rohman, M. A.; Nongrum, R.; Thongni, A.; Mitra, S.; Nongkhlaw, R. — Vol. 45, pp 8136–8148.
Exploring the Interaction of Bioactive Kaempferol with Serum Albumin, Lysozyme, and Hemoglobin: A Biophysical Investigation
Das, S.; Hazarika, Z.; Sarmah, S.; Baruah, K.; Rohman, M. A.; Paul, D.; Jha, A. N.; Roy, A. R. — Vol. 205, 111825.
Targeting the Heme Protein Hemoglobin by (−)-Epigallocatechin Gallate: Polyphenol–Protein Association Using Multi-Spectroscopic and Molecular Docking Methods
Das, S.; Sarmah, S.; Hazarika, Z.; Rohman, M. A.; Sarkhel, P.; Jha, A. N.; Roy, A. R. — Vol. 22, pp 2212–2228.
Fluorescence Solvatochromism and Modulated Anticholinergic Activity of Novel Coumarin Compounds in Human Serum Albumin Matrix
Rohman, M. A.; Baruah, P.; Bhattacharjee, D.; Myrboh, B.; Mitra, S. — Vol. 43, pp 18713–18725.
Fluorescence Modulation of ESIPT Probe 3-Formyl-4-Hydroxy Benzoic Acid Encapsulated in the Protein Binding Domain of Serum Albumins
Rohman, M. A.; Saha, K.; Mitra, S. — Vol. 37, pp 4737–4746.
Additional 16 publications in Appl. Organometal. Chem., Chem. Phys., J. Mol. Liq., ChemistrySelect, Spectrochim. Acta, Colloids Surf. B, Org. Biomol. Chem., BioImpacts, and more. View full list on Google Scholar →
Application of Luminol as Solvatochromic Probe and Fluorescent Biomarker for Heterogeneous Media
Moyon, N. S.; Singh, I. R.; Rohman, M. A.; Baruah, P.; Sonu, V. K.; Mitra, S. — In: Advances in Chemistry Research, Vol. 54, pp 177–245. Nova Science Publishers, New York.
Professional & Research Experience
Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellow — Physical Chemistry
Technical University of Dortmund, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Germany · Supervisor: Prof. Thorben Cordes
December 2024 — Present · Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Fellowship
- Linker molecules convert commercial fluorophores into tailored functional probes during biolabeling: Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and biophysical applications.
- Modular Copper-Free Click Chemistry Enables Self-Healing Fluorophores for Single-Molecule Studies.
- Self-Blinking Fluorophore Conjugation on DNA Origami for Super-Resolution Calibration.
- Photoresponsive Dye–Caged Imager Strands Enable Controlled Super-Resolution Imaging in DNA-PAINT.
Designing and synthesizing self-healing fluorophores via linker-based intramolecular photostabilizer attachment to reduce photobleaching. Developing copper-free click chemistry biolabeling workflows for biomolecules. Performing smFRET, ALEX, FCS, TIRF microscopy, and TCSPC measurements on MicroTime 200. Purifying DNA conjugates using ÄKTA reverse-phase chromatography. Addressing blue-green smFRET spectral limitations with energy-matched photostabilizers.
Visiting Fellow — School of Physical Sciences
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, India · Lab of Prof. Sobhan Sen
February 2024 — September 2024
Continued research on G-quadruplex DNA dynamics and ligand interaction kinetics in cell-like crowded conditions. Extended smFRET and FCS studies and collaborated on large-scale MD simulation publications post-fellowship.
Postdoctoral Fellow — School of Physical Sciences
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, India · Supervisor: Prof. Sobhan Sen
February 2022 — February 2024
- Insights into Conformational Heterogeneity and Ligand Interaction Kinetics of Nucleic Acid Structures in Cell-like Crowded Conditions.
Investigated conformational heterogeneity and kinetics of G-quadruplex (GqDNA) and i-motif DNA folding/unfolding using home-built smFRET and dual-channel FCS setups. Performed large-scale all-atom MD simulations including well-tempered metadynamics on ligand-DNA interactions. Constructed and modified the dual-channel FCS setup for smFRET experiments. Used Circular Dichroism (CD), UV-vis spectroscopy, and AutoDock Vina for structural characterization.
Teaching Assistant — School of Physical Sciences
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, India
July 2023 — December 2023 (concurrent with postdoc)
Delivered tutorial and laboratory instruction support to postgraduate students in physical chemistry courses. Mentored students in spectroscopic methods and data analysis.
Lecturer — Chemistry
Ajmal College of Arts, Commerce, and Science, Hojai, Assam, India
September 2020 — February 2022
Taught undergraduate chemistry courses and mentored a cohort of 30 students throughout their academic journeys. Provided guidance on research fundamentals, career aspirations, and scientific writing during this postdoctoral interim period between doctoral and postdoctoral appointments.
Doctoral Research — NEHU Meghalaya
Thesis: Spectroscopic studies on some fluorescent organic molecules and their complexes with supramolecular hosts
Investigated excited-state and ground-state solvatochromic behaviour of organic drug molecules and dyes using UV absorption, steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy.
Studied probe interactions within cyclodextrin, macrocyclic hosts, and protein environments — revealing encapsulation dynamics and fluorescence modulation mechanisms.
Used steady-state, nanosecond TCSPC, and femtosecond transient absorption experiments to investigate excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) dynamics and multiple emissive species in protein nano-cavities.
Characterised drug–protein binding using CD spectroscopy (helical structure monitoring), AutoDock Vina molecular docking, and combined spectroscopic titration approaches.
Academic Qualifications
Ph.D. — Chemistry
North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Meghalaya, India
M.Sc. — Chemistry
North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Meghalaya, India
B.Sc. — Chemistry
Gauhati University, Assam, India
Conference Presentations & Invited Talks
Tunable Linker Molecules to Establish New Self-Healing Dyes for Single-Molecule Imaging
Rohman, M. A.; Lantzius-Beninga, M.; Köhler, J.; Lu, S.; Otavio-Peulen, T.; Herrmann, A.; Cordes, T.
Understanding the Kinetics of Rhodamine 6G and G-Quadruplex DNA Interaction: An Experimental and Simulation Study
Rohman, M. A.; Alam, P.; Sahu, H.; Chand, A. K.; Sen, S.
Understanding the Kinetics of Ligand Interaction with G-Quadruplex DNA Using FCS and MD Simulation
Rohman, M. A.; Alam, P.; Sahu, H.; Chand, A. K.; Sen, S.
Effect of Dehydrating Agent on the Kinetics of Ligand/G-Quadruplex DNA Interaction
Rohman, M. A.; Alam, P.; Chand, A. K.; Sahu, H.; Sen, S.
Spectroscopic Studies of Substituted Coumarin Derivatives Possessing Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition Activity in Human Serum Albumin Matrix
Rohman, M. A. — Oral Presentation
Intramolecular Proton Transfer in 3-Formyl-4-Hydroxy Benzoic Acid: Formation and Tuning of Multiple Emissive Species in Protein Nano-Cavities
Rohman, M. A. — Short Invited Talk
+ 6 additional poster presentations at FCS-2018 (JNU), TSRP-2018 (BARC), FICS-2018 (IIT Guwahati), NSC3-2018 (NEHU), ETC-2016 (NEHU), and ISRAC-2015 (NEHU).
International & National Research Collaborations
University of Bristol, UK
School of Chemistry · Prof. M. Carmen Galan
RWTH Aachen University, Germany
Institute of Technical & Macromolecular Chemistry · Prof. Dr. Andreas Herrmann
Institute of Physics, National Academy of Ukraine
Kyiv · Prof. Dr. Semen O. Yesylevskyy · Co-authored 1 publication
CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology
Hyderabad, India · Dr. Prakriti Ranjan Bangal · Co-authored 1 publication
BITS Pilani, India
Rajasthan · Prof. Dr. Dalip Kumar · Co-authored 1 publication
NIT Shillong, India
Meghalaya · Dr. Atanu Singha Roy · Co-authored 8 publications