Saikt Rahman
Graduate Student - Ryan Barnes Lab
Professional Background
Saikt was born in Bangladesh and earned his M.S. degree in Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology from the University of Dhaka. He joined the IGPBS program at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) in Fall 2024 and subsequently joined the Barnes Lab as a graduate student in May 2025.
Prior to joining KUMC, Saikt worked at the ideSHi Laboratory in Bangladesh, led by Dr. Firdausi Qadri. At ideSHi, under the supervision of Dr. Tanbir Habib, he utilized Oxford Nanopore sequencing technology for pathogen genome sequencing and Illumina sequencing to generate BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation profiles of high-grade epithelial ovarian cancer patients in Bangladesh.
In the Barnes lab, Saikt’s research focuses on DNA damage tolerance pathways in response to the genome wide 8-oxoGuanine stress, with particular emphasis on the role of translesion synthesis (TLS) polymerases in DNA lesion bypass. He is interested in elucidating the mechanistic impact of chromatin oxidation on DNA damage signaling and repair pathway choice.
Outside the laboratory, Saikt enjoys reading literature and writing, and has authored a storybook in his native language. Saikt also values spending time with his family.