Research Scientist | Drug Discovery & Development Expert
Los Angeles, US.
About
Highly accomplished Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with over a decade of experience in structural, cell, and molecular biology, specializing in drug discovery and development for cancer, neurological disorders, and diabetes. Expert in protein engineering, high-throughput assays, and analytical characterization, with a proven track record of advancing targeted therapies from lab to clinical application and authoring over 10 peer-reviewed publications.
Work
City of Hope
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Research Scientist in Biomedical Research Center
Los Angeles, CA, US
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Summary
Leading drug discovery and development initiatives, leveraging expertise in structural, cell, and molecular biology to advance oncology and metabolic disorder therapies from preclinical stages to clinical application.
Highlights
Spearhead drug discovery and development efforts for diverse diseases, including cancer and diabetes, integrating structural, cell, and molecular biology approaches.
Evaluated novel small molecules as oncology drug candidates, targeting cancer-related pathways to advance therapeutic pipelines.
Applied advanced protein engineering and a wide variety of biophysics methods, including Biacore SPR, ITC, Fluorescence Polarization, TSA, and NanoBRET, to characterize drug-target interactions.
Utilized cellular and animal model approaches for investigating cancer targets, driving translational development from lab to clinical application.
University of Southern California
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Postdoctoral Researcher
Los Angeles, CA, US
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Summary
Identified and functionally characterized cancer targets, driving preclinical and clinical development of potential targeted therapeutic approaches with a focus on acute myeloid leukemia.
Highlights
Identified and functionally characterized novel cancer targets, contributing to preclinical and clinical development of targeted therapeutic approaches for acute myeloid leukemia.
Conducted comprehensive cell biology and animal model studies to investigate cancer targets and disease mechanisms.
Performed advanced data analysis to identify key cancer genes, informing therapeutic strategy and target validation.
Max Planck Institute (MPI)
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Postdoctoral in Chemical Biology
Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
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Summary
Investigated novel bioactive small molecule compounds, identifying their molecular targets and mechanisms of action through diverse molecular, cell, biochemical, and biophysical methods.
Highlights
Investigated novel bioactive small molecule compounds, successfully identifying molecular targets and modes of action for drug discovery.
Utilized a wide array of molecular biological, cell biology, high-throughput assays (including cell painting), biochemical, and biophysical methods to characterize compounds.
Managed multiple projects, demonstrating strong self-organization and time management in complex research environments.
Designed and executed experiments on novel cluster investigation using cell painting high-throughput assays, validating findings with diverse cellular and molecular biology methods.
Collaborated effectively within interdisciplinary and multicultural teams to investigate new PROTACs binding to DCAF11.
Mentored and led trainees, PhD, and master students, fostering scientific development and project success.
Presented scientific results internally and externally, contributing to knowledge dissemination and collaborative efforts.
Heinrich-Heine University of Düsseldorf
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Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
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Summary
Investigated molecular mechanisms and structural properties of signaling pathways relevant to Noonan Syndrome and other diseases, utilizing independent experimental design and advanced biophysical techniques.
Highlights
Investigated molecular mechanisms and structural properties of signaling pathways relevant to Noonan Syndrome and other diseases.
Independently planned, executed, and evaluated complex molecular biological, biochemical, and biophysical experiments (ITC, fluorescence polarization, SPR, stopped-flow).
Designed and conducted Ras GTPase-effector activation mechanism studies, from cloning and purification to biophysical assays and computational analysis.
Purified Kinase proteins from Baculovirus insect cells and performed various biophysical assays including enzymatic assay, ITC, Biacore SPR, and Cryo EM.
Clemson University
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M.Sc. in Biophysics, Physics and Astronomy department
Clemson, SC, US
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Summary
Investigated molecular mechanisms and structural properties of proteins using advanced fluorescence techniques, including single molecule FRET, in collaboration with international laboratories.
Highlights
Investigated molecular mechanisms and structural properties of proteins using advanced fluorescence techniques.
Conducted a benchmark study and collaborated with 20 international labs using Single molecule FRET to understand structural properties.
Designed and independently conducted experiments to elucidate the structural properties of diverse biological systems.
Education
Heinrich-Heine University of Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
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Ph.D.Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyGrade:
Clemson University
Clemson, SC, United States of America
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M.S.Biophysics, Physics and AstronomyGrade:
Sharif University of Technology
Tehran, Tehran, Iran (Islamic Republic of)
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M.S.Biochemistry and ChemistryGrade:
Isfahan University of Technology
Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran (Islamic Republic of)
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B.S.ChemistryGrade:
Awards
Best Poster Presenter
6th International Congress of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Awarded for outstanding poster presentation at the 6th International Congress of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in Isfahan, Iran.
Scholarship from European Rare Disease
NRW Research School
Received a prestigious scholarship from the European Rare Disease, NRW Research School in Germany.
Honor Student
Clemson University
Recognized as an honor student for academic excellence at Clemson University.
Scholarship from Clemson University
Clemson University
Awarded a scholarship for academic achievement at Clemson University.
Ranked #1 among Organic Chemistry Students
Sharif University of Technology
Achieved the top rank among organic chemistry students at Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, Iran.
Scholarship from Forschungszentrum Jülich
Forschungszentrum Jülich
Awarded a scholarship as a visiting student at Forschungszentrum Jülich in Germany.
Ranked #3 among Bachelor Students in Chemistry Department
Isfahan University of Technology
Achieved the third rank among Bachelor students in the Chemistry department at Isfahan University of Technology, Iran.
Publications
Detection of a Mitochondrial Fragmentation and Integrated Stress Response Using the Cell Painting Assay
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
Soheila Rezaei Adariani, Daya Agne, Sandra Koska, Annina Burhop, Herbert Waldmann, Slava Zeigler. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 67, no. 15 (2024): 13252-13270.
Illuminating Dark Chemical Matter Using the Cell Painting Assay
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
Axel Pahl, Jie Liu, Sohan Patil, Soheila Rezaei Adariani, Slava Zeigler, Herbert Waldmann. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 67, no. 11 (2024): 8862-8876.
Discovery of a Drug-like, Natural Product-Inspired DCAF11 Ligand Chemotype
Journal of Nature Communication
Gang Xue, Jianing Xie, Matthias Hinterndorfer, Marko Cigler, Soheila Rezaei Adariani, Lara Dötsch, Petra Janning, Georg E. Winter, and Herbert Waldmann. Journal of Nature Communication, 14, no. 1 (2023): 7908.
Physical Interaction between Embryonic Stem Cell-Expressed Ras (ERas) and Arginase-1 in Quiescent Hepatic Stellate Cells
Cells
Silke Pudewell, Jana Lissy, Hossein Nakhaeizadeh, Mohamed S. Taha, Mohammad Akbarzadeh, Soheila Rezaei Adariani, Mohammad Reza Ahmadian. Cells, 11, no. 3 (2022): 508.
A comprehensive analysis of RAS-effector interactions reveals interaction hotspots and new binding partners
Journal of Biological Chemistry
Soheila Rezaei Adariani, Neda S. Kazemein Jasemi, Christoph Wittch, Ehsan Amin, Claus A.M. Seidel, Radovan Dvorsky, Mohammad R. Ahmadian. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 296 (2021).
Activating mutations of RRAS2 are a rare cause of Noonan syndrome
American Journal of Human Genetics
Capri, Y., Elisabetta Flex, Oliver H. F. Krumbach, Giovanna Carpentieri, Serena Cecchetti, Christina Lißewski, Soheila Rezaei Adariani, Martin Zenker. American Journal of Human Genetics, 104, no. 6 (2019): 1223-1232.
Precision and accuracy of single-molecule FRET measurements a multi-laboratory benchmark study
Identifying weak interdomain interactions that stabilize the supertertiary structure of the N-terminal tandem PDZ domains of PSD-95
Journal of Nature Communications
Yanez Orozco, Inna S., Frank A. Mindlin, Junyan Ma, Bo Wang, Brie Levesque, Matheu Spencer, Soheila Rezaei Adariani, George Hamilton, Feng Ding, Mark E. Bowen & Hugo Sanabria. Journal of Nature Communications, 9, no. 1 (2018): 3724.
Structural snapshots of RAF kinase interactions
Biochemical Society Transactions
Soheila Rezaei Adariani, Marcel Buchholzer, Mohammad Akbarzadeh, Saeideh Nakhaei-Rad, Radovan Dvorsky, Mohammad Reza Ahmadian. Biochemical Society Transactions, 46, no. 6 (2018): 1393-1406.
Structural fingerprints, interactions, and signaling networks of RAS family proteins beyond RAS isoforms
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Saeideh Nakhaei-Rad, Fereshteh Haghighi, Parivash Nouri, Soheila Rezaei Adariani, Jana Lissy, Neda S. Kazemein Jasemi, Radovan Dvorsky & Mohammad Reza Ahmadian. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 53, no. 2 (2018): 130-156.
Conformational selection and submillisecond dynamics of the ligand-binding domain of the N-methyl-DAspartate receptor
Journal of Biological Chemistry
Dolino, Drew M.*, Soheila Rezaei Adariani*, Sana A Shaikh, Vasanthi Jayaraman, Hugo Sanabria. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 291, no. 31 (2016): 16175-16185. *equal contribution.
Languages
English
German
Skills
Scientific Communication
Scientific Presentation, Peer-Reviewed Publications, Data Interpretation, Report Generation.
Cell Biology
Mammalian Cell Culture, Plate- and flask-based assay, Blood Sample Preparation, High Throughput Assays, Cell Painting, Transfection/Transduction, Microscopy, Immunofluorescence, Immunoprecipitation, Proteomics, Western Blot, Flow Cytometry, ELISA, Seahorse Cell Mito Stress, Reporter Gene Assay, Analysis of Membrane Potential, MitoSOX Red Assay, Drug Development (Small Molecules & Peptides), Incucyte, Plate Reader.
In Vivo Techniques
Animal Handling, Tumor Implantation, Drug Dosing (IP, IV, Oral), Tissue Harvesting, Survival Studies.