Shariful makes Ivy League history

Shariful Islam, from Boroil village in Rajshahi’s Durgapur, has achieved a remarkable milestone by earning a master’s degree from Dartmouth College, one of the world’s prestigious Ivy League universities.

He is the first student from the International University of Business, Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT) to graduate from an Ivy League institution and the first Bangladeshi to complete a master’s degree in Energy Transition.

Shariful grew up in a village without electricity. His father, a farmer who never attended school, passed away when Shariful was just 10 months old. Raised by his illiterate mother, he overcame financial hardship through determination and a strong commitment to education.

After completing his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at IUBAT, Shariful worked at a fossil-fuel power plant. Witnessing the environmental impact of conventional energy inspired him to pursue cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions. While working full-time, he prepared for the GRE, IELTS, research publications, and university applications.

His dedication earned him a fully funded scholarship to Dartmouth College, where he completed the Master of Energy Transition program under the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies. He also served as a Teaching Assistant at the Thayer School of Engineering.

During his studies, Shariful worked with leading professors, industry experts, and energy policymakers, gaining practical experience in Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and data center energy management.

His work focused on systems modeling, energy economics, analytics, finance, and policy-skills he believes can help Bangladesh develop cleaner, affordable, and more reliable energy solutions.

Shariful plans to contribute to Bangladesh’s energy transition by supporting renewable energy planning, expanding battery storage, and developing solar technologies suited to the country’s climate and growing energy needs.

He will begin a fully funded PhD in Solar Technology Characterization in Fall 2026, with research aimed at adapting solar technology to Bangladesh’s environmental conditions.

Shariful credits his success to his mother, along with Dr. Monowara Begum, Dr. Donna Halper, and his maternal uncle Faruk Ahmed, whose guidance and encouragement shaped his journey.

His story is a powerful reminder that humble beginnings do not define one’s future.

From a village once without electricity to the halls of an Ivy League university, Shariful Islam now hopes to help build a more sustainable energy future for Bangladesh while inspiring the next generation of researchers and dreamers.