Doctoral Student Honored with Scholarship from Leading Neurology Research Group

Md Mostafizur Rahman, M.D. ’23M.S., a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Biological Sciences at St. John’s University, earned international recognition recently at a conference presented by the American Academy of Neurology (AAN). 

Dr. Rahman received the 2026 Futures in Neurologic Research (FiNR) Scholarship Award during the 2026 AAN annual meeting in Chicago, Il, a major global conference dedicated to neurology and neuroscience. 

The AAN is the world’s largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals, with more than 44,000 members. Established in 1948, it supports research, education, and brain health initiatives. 

The FiNR scholarship supports medical students and residents interested in neurological research by providing opportunities to engage with leading researchers, clinicians, and scientific programming at the organization’s annual meeting. Only 35 scholarships are awarded each year, with no more than one recipient selected per institution. 

“This recognition is a tremendous honor,” Dr. Rahman said. “It reflects not only our team’s efforts, but also the support and mentorship I have received from my advisor—Matteo Ruggiu, Ph.D.; my collaborator and co-advisor, Yong Yu, Ph.D.; my lab members; and St. John’s University.”

In addition to the international scholarship award, Dr. Rahman and his research team earned second place among graduate poster presentations at the 2026 Student Research Conference at St. John’s University, held in April. The team also earned first place among graduate poster presentations at the 2022 Student Research Conference. 

Dr. Rahman conducts his doctoral research under the mentorship of Dr. Ruggiu in the Laboratory of RNA Biology and Molecular Neuroscience within the Department of Biological Sciences. His research seeks to understand the molecular mechanisms that regulate protein-RNA networks and how these processes contribute to neuronal biology and neurological diseases, including seizure disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. 

His work specifically investigates the molecular regulation of alternative splicing in ion channels such as CaV1.3, Kv7.2, and Kv3.3, aiming to identify pathways that could lead to improved therapies for patients with neurological disorders. 

As part of the AAN annual meeting, Dr. Rahman presented his research during a poster session attended by neuroscientists, neurologists, and physicians from institutions around the world. He also presented research posters at the AAN annual meeting in 2025 in San Diego, CA; and at the American Neurological Association (ANA) annual meeting 2025 in Baltimore, Md. 

Dr. Rahman hopes to continue building a career as a physician-researcher in translational neuroscience. His recent accomplishments reflect the growing global impact of emerging researchers at the intersection of molecular biology, neuroscience, and medicine.

“I had the opportunity to meet neurologists, neuroscience researchers, and scientists from the NIH, NINDS, and other leading institutions,” Dr. Rahman said. “This experience was incredibly valuable for me as a Ph.D. student and aspiring neuroscience researcher. I felt deeply proud to represent St. John’s University as the university’s only award recipient.”