PhD | Pharmacology
Education
MS | Pharmacology
BS | Biology
Academic Services
Panelist — "A Respected Graduate Student is a Productive Graduate Student"
- Presented to 8–12 graders the drive behind my passion to science, and how it started when I was at their age.
- Offered my perspective on how an interest in science transcends nationality with scientists from countries including India, Portugal, and Rwanda in a group discussion.
Host — Dr. Ehsan Sarafraz-Yazdi
- Ehsan Sarafraz-Yazdi, Ph.D., M.P.H., is the Founder and CEO of NomoCan Pharmaceuticals, LLC.
- Dr. Yazdi spent a day at URMC, connected with faculty and students, and presented a seminar at the Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology (CMPP) highlighting a new microfluidic system to study anti-cancer drug responses ex-vivo.
- Dr. Yazdi also shared his vision and inspiration to start his own pharmaceutical company at a URBEST Career Story organized by Dr. Tracey Baas.
Trainee — URBEST
- Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training (URBEST) is an NIH funded program that focuses on enhancing training opportunities for early career scientists and prepare them for a variety of career options in the dynamic biomedical workforce landscape.
- I received URBEST certification in January 2020 for participating in career activities such as workshops, retreats, and courses focused on leadership, team management, and career development during the period of my training.
Trainee — Project for Vice Dean
- Worked with Vice Dean for Research at the School of Medicine and Dentistry (Dr. Stephen Dewhurst) on a Mental Health project for the Psychiatric Department at the URMC.
- Refined my leadership and management skills by assisting in project execution.
Volunteer — STEM Around the World
- Presented to 8–12 graders the drive behind my passion to science, and how it started when I was at their age.
- Offered my perspective on how an interest in science transcends nationality with scientists from countries including India, Portugal, and Rwanda in a group discussion.
Instructor — PHP100 Medical Pharmacology
- Facilitated small group sessions for first-year University of Rochester medical students.
- Carried two group discussions titled: (1) Factors Affecting Drug Dose, and (2) Drug metabolism and drug interactions (Clinical Case).
Poster Judge
- Attended a set of poster presentations, and reviewed the students' performances.
- Judged posters based on format, introduction, abstract, methods, results, conclusions, and the ability of the students to discuss their work.
- Recorded and submitted feedback that helped along with other judges' feedback in determining the winners of the contest.
Tutor — IND409 Cell Biology
- Helped struggling grad-students taking IND409 Cell Biology.
- Assisted students by carrying series of one-on-one weekly sessions that focuses on improving their performance in class.
Teacher Assistant — PHP447 Signal Transduction
- Assisted students with the course material, answered their questions, and addressed their course-related concerns.
- Conducted review sessions prior to each exam in coordination with other teacher assistants.
Freelance Tutor
- Provided adults with one-on-one tutoring in math and sciences.
Journal Clubs
Chromatin & Epigenetics Journal Club
Signal Transduction Journal Club
Workshops
Mentoring Up Workshop
- Tracey Baas talked about how to be an active participant in the mentoring relationships by shifting the emphasis from the mentors' responsibilities to equal emphasis on the contributions of the mentee.
- URBEST Mentoring Up is led by Dr. Tracey Baas and is part of Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training (URBEST).
Presentation Skills Workshop
- Dr. Alan Grossfield explained how to give effective scientific talks.
Genomic Data Analysis Workshop
- Focused on performing analyses on RNA-Seq data using the R language and R Studio.
- Described the importance of experimental design as it relates to RNA-Seq.
Work Experience
Traffic Data Analyzer (Part Time)
- Imported and studied data for traffic and bikes movements in various locations.
- Generated traffic analysis reports using TRAXPro and Centurion Gold approved and used by various clients including MTA.
Professional Photographer (Part Time)
- Took promotional pictures of finished tile projects using professional camera and retouched images using Adobe Photoshop.
Field Surveyor (Part Time)
- Recorded traffic and bikes movements during different periods of the day and in various locations.
Laboratory Skills
- ATAC-seq data analysis
- Complete blood count (Heska HemaTrue, Scil Vet abc Plus)
- Cell culture
- Confocal microscopy
- CyTOF
- Flow cytometry — Designing flow panels
- Flow cytometry — BD LSR II, BD Accuri C6
- Genomic Data Analysis using R Studio
- Immunofluorescence
- Immunohistochemistry
- In-vivo and in-vitro tissue fixation
- Isolation of DNA from blood/tissue
- Lab safety training (Biological/Chemical/Physical/Animal)
- Microtome to prepare tissue sections
- Mutagenesis
- Polymerase chain reaction
- Protein purification
- Quantitative PCR
- Radioactive material handling
- Radionuclide labeling
- Reverse transcription reaction
- Southern blotting
- Western blotting
- Whole tissue staining
Computer Skills
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Photoshop
- Autodesk 3ds Max
- DNASTAR SeqBuilder
- FlowJo
- Microsoft Office Suite
- R Studio
- UCSF Chimera
- Web Design
Languages
- English — Fluent
- Arabic — Fluent
- French — Basic conversational