Predictions of metal(loid) transport processes in natural system are a critical aspect of decision-making in risk assessment, and remediation strategies. I aim to advance our understanding of how physical, chemical and biological factors interact and control the mobilization of trace metals in natural environment. My research is focused on the local hydrological and geochemical controls in mobilization of heavy metals and nutrients in natural waters. Specifically, I investigate the potential role of microbes and dissolved organic matter (DOM) in mobilization of trace metals in groundwater of contaminated area. Field sampling program and laboratory measurements are combined to study behaviors of these elements in both sea and fresh water environment.

Khandaker has field and research experience in environmental geology, sedimentology,and tunnel geology. Khandaker utilizes numerous independent lines of evidence, including field and geochemical studies to characterize and interpret a variety of geological systems.  Khandaker worked as a geotechnical consultant (2001-2008) for the NYCDEP-funded project “City Water Tunnel # 3” : the largest capital construction project in NYC; accomplished soil and rock core characterization; petrographic,geochemical investigations, surface & tunnel mapping, and geotechnical reports, based on ASTM Standards. Khandaker is a Certified Professional Geologist (State of Wyoming).

My main field of research is precision muon physics. I have been involved in high precision measurements of the free muon lifetime (MuLan), as well as the capture rate of negative muons on protons (MuCap) and deuterons (MuSun). My current research projects include two precision measurements at the Fermi Accelerator Laboratory outside Chicago: a precision measurement of the muon's anomalous magnetic moment (muon g-2) and a search for muon to electron conversion (Mu2e).

My areas of technical expertise include simulation, distributed computing for data acquisition, data acquisition electronics and systems, and data analysis on large physics data sets. I have dabbled in particle physics detector development, and hope to expand my work in this area in the future.

Though I greatly enjoy branching into new areas when the opportunity arises, my main field is microwave spectroscopy of interstellar molecular clouds. I study primarily the very largest clouds in galaxies, which form the most massive stars. These stars live furiously, greatly affecting their surroundings with their winds and radiation, then die dramatically in giant explosions that enrich the interstellar medium in heavy elements. Their lives are relatively brief as well (only 10 million years or less) so their impact is not only profound but immediate. Certain galaxies known as starbursts create numerous clusters of these massive stars in their centers.

The focus of my research at York College, carried out in collaboration with the FDA, is the development of highly sensitive methods for the identification of pathogens in environmental samples Bacteria present in the environment are a source of many food-borne disease outbreaks. Detection of pathogen contamination in our food and water supply, as a result of natural events or terrorist actions, is essential to minimize morbidity and deaths. In addition, the agricultural industry benefits from improvements in the control of food processing.

My present studies seek to establish rapid real time quantitative PCR-based tests for the simultaneous determination of multiple pathogenic bacteria. Using pure preparations of bacterial DNA as templates, the first step, under progress, is the development of an extended family of primers consisting of sensitivity-matched dual primers sets for each bacterium.