Mutants and Motherhood

One big move, two young children and more than a decade of schooling and research later, Dr. Saida Zinnurine of the Mississippi State College of Veterinary Medicine Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences has officially earned her PhD – and what a journey it’s been. 

Zinnurine, originally from Bangladesh, earned her DVM degree from Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in 2018 before earning her Master’s. Wanting to start a new journey in higher education following the COVID-19 pandemic, she found her way to Mississippi State in 2022.

On one hand, Zinnurine was incredibly dedicated to her award-winning research, which focused on developing a live vaccine against debilitating Motile Aeromonad Septicemia caused by virulent Aeromonas hydrophila in catfish. She was so dedicated, in fact, that she spent an entire year constructing a mutant for her studies. 

“We work very hard,” Zinnurine explained. “We have to be here because we do not have any fixed clock-in, clock-out hour. Based on the bacteria – when they are growing or the experimental timeline – sometimes I came here at seven in the morning, and I had to work, because of the experiment, late at night.”

On the other hand, Zinnurine was building a life for herself. Her husband, Monzur Chowdhury, graduated with a PhD from MSU in 2024. 

“We’re just two people doing research,” Zinnurine said. “We love to travel. We love fishing and water activities.” 

In the midst of her research, the researcher learned she was pregnant with the couple’s first child. Zinnurine spent much of her pregnancy out of state on an internship before returning to the university, doing a bit of work before taking maternity leave. Her daughter, Irha, was born in October 2024. 

“If I was reading or doing something about work, she was always on my lap, even when I was going through the class notes,” Zinnurine explained as she reflected on Irha’s infancy. 

The final year of studies for any PhD candidate is difficult. For Zinnurine, it involved balancing a heavy load of research, a small child… and another on the way. The family of three was soon to become a family of four, with Zinnurine’s second pregnancy giving her new challenges. Nevertheless, she persisted in her lab work.

“It’s a lot of work,” Zinnurine said. “It’s very tiresome, but eventually you have to go through this, because you have a baby. You have to perform your best in school so that you are not lagging behind in research, being a mom.” 

Her son, Zohayr, was born in January 2026, just one week after Zinnurine delivered a successful PhD defense. 

With commencement ceremonies eminent, Zinnurine clung to a hope she’d had since Irha was born: to have her children by her side at graduation.

“I had this dream, when I finished my PhD,” Zinnurine said. “If it’s possible, I’ll take Irha to the stage with me when I’m doing the PhD hooding ceremony walk.” 

Though she was initially worried that bringing both children on stage with her would be too difficult, Zinnurine received approval to do so, since she was the final degree recipient. In May, she crossed the stage at Bettersworth Auditorium in Lee Hall, with one tiny hand in hers, an infant in her arms and a crowd of supporters cheering her on.  

“When I got to this milestone and I got the prestige of my advisor and colleagues, I felt really grateful,” Zinnurine said. “Even through all those hurdles, I got appreciated. That’s why I got the strength to go forward.”

Zinnurine’s ability to balance successful research and raising a family has garnered the praise of college leadership. She earned a well-deserved 2026 Spirit of State Award prior to her hooding ceremony, recognizing her character and commitment to Mississippi State. 

“Dr. Zinnurine makes an impact at the College of Veterinary Medicine through her research with Dr. Mark Lawrence and her dedication to the field of aquatic health, and because of her many contributions as a community member,” Dr. Nicholas Frank, Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, said. “She and her husband have been very successful with their graduate degrees, and they have also started their family during their time at Mississippi State University. Their family has been part of our CVM family, and we are so fortunate to have had them here with us.” 

Lawrence, Zinnurine’s PhD supervisor, emphasized her determination and eagerness.

“Saida is a highly inquisitive and strongly motivated PhD graduate,” Lawrence said. “In addition to the hard work and successes she had in her PhD research, she sought and completed several additional training opportunities to become a very well-rounded scientist. I know she will be highly successful in her postdoctoral training and in her career. We will miss her, and her beautiful family, in our lab.”