Born and raised in Bangladesh, Mainul is a Ph.D. candidate within the School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability. He conducts research in Dr. Susan Meerdink’s lab for Observing and Quantifying Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems (LOQATE). His master's thesis on the mangrove ecosystem motivated him to explore other cross-scale plant ecosystems using geospatial techniques. In his PhD dissertation, he is quantifying and mapping the severity and extent of Bur Oak Blight (BOB), a leaf fungal disease in Bur Oak plants, across selected study sites in North Iowa using both imaging and non-imaging hyperspectral remote sensing technologies. He is primarily analyzing the photosynthetic ability and spectral variability of blighted leaves using leaf hyperspectral and gas exchange data.  Additionally, he is classifying and mapping the severity and extent of BOB using multi-source remote sensing imagery. His study will provide a prototype for accurately detecting leaf fungal diseases using non-destructive methods at different severity levels. Beyond academic routines, Mainul enjoys spending time with his wife Setu, hiking in nature, and playing soccer.