“Environmental health is closely connected to our own health, and AMR is a clear example of this. Protecting our environment is an important part of preventing the spread of AMR and protecting communities.”

Nazia Nawar Chowdhury is a SAAFE PhD Scholar at Adelaide University whose research focuses on the fate of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in wastewater reuse systems. Nazia’s project, in collaboration with Water Research Australia and SA Water, aims to identify the persistence, selection, and reintroduction of AMR genes and their hosts throughout water treatment, storage and distribution.

With a background in microbiology, biofilms and microbial genetics, Nazia completed a BSc in Microbiology, where her research focused on antimicrobial-resistant biofilms, before completing an MSc in Biological Sciences majoring in Genetics at Wichita State University in the USA. Her multidisciplinary training in microbiology, genetics and molecular biology underpins her interest in how microbes adapt, persist and spread resistance through environmental systems.

Nazia’s interest in AMR was shaped by her home country, Bangladesh. As an undergraduate, she regularly saw medical waste being dumped into a lake near her campus. For her thesis she collected biofilm samples from the lake and was astonished to find isolates resistant to 14 of the 15 antibiotics tested – a discovery made more concerning by the surrounding communities who relied on the lake for their daily needs. The experience showed her that AMR is not only an environmental concern but a significant human health issue, particularly for vulnerable communities.

At SAAFE CRC, Nazia is in the early stages of her PhD, immersed in the literature, identifying research gaps and shaping the direction of her project with her supervisors. She was drawn to SAAFE by the clear connection between its work in water safety, food production and public health and her own research, and by the opportunity to work alongside researchers and industry partners to turn findings into practical solutions.

Outside of research, Nazia enjoys slowing down with watercolour painting and reading fiction, and loves listening to music – especially K-pop. She counts CRISPR pioneer Jennifer Doudna among her heroes, admiring not only her scientific achievements but the curiosity, persistence and collaboration that shaped her career. Nazia also keeps a favourite line from Harry Potter close as a reminder that, even in difficult moments, there is always something to be hopeful about.

Nazia’s long-term goal is to identify the critical points where AMR may persist or re-emerge across wastewater reuse systems, supporting evidence-based water-reuse practices that minimise AMR risks and protect public and environmental health.