Briefly, tell us about your background and career up to this point?
My career path has had several twists and turns due to unexpected incidents in my personal life. At many points, I have taken a leap into unknown leading me to leave Kerman (my hometown and a small city near the largest desert in the south of Iran) and travel around the world to find many friends and colleagues and work with leading scientists in the world. I started my independent career as a fellow of the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) at the University of Oxford. I establish a research program in bioinorganic immunology. This work led to the discovery of naturally occurring antiviral lead molecules in microorganisms and an immunometabolic pathway of antiviral response in humans. These findings have implications for developing new antiviral therapeutics and understanding the links between viral infection and other human diseases like cancer. In November 2021, I joined the Institute of Pharmaceutical Science as a lecturer in immunology and drug discovery.
What is a typical day like for you?
I wake up at 4:00-4:30 am, get ready for work, have a small coffee, prepare my lunch and leave home to get the train at 6:00 am. I typically arrive home in the evening around 8:00 pm. I have a small dinner with my partner, and then we spend time chatting and watching TV. I like to have a cup of tea around 9 pm, and I sleep around 11:00 pm.
What do you think people in the School would find most surprising about you?
When I was a teenager, I did Karate and swimming. I was a member of our province swimming team and won several medals.
What do you do with your time outside academia?
I spend my time with my partner. I enjoy being in nature and I draw and paint with oil on canvas. It has been my hobby since I was 4-5 years old. While I draw and paint, I disconnect from the world. It is only me and my imagination.
Who inspires you most and why?
I have been lucky to work with many great scientists, each of whom has inspired me in various ways. My PhD supervisor, Professor Wilfred Hagen, has influenced my life the most. He has been a role model not only because he is a fantastic individual and supervisor but also because he is the person who trusted my passion and gave me the opportunity to continue my education and follow my dreams.
What is something positive that has happened to you in 2021?
I have trained myself to look at every single moment as a positive point contributing to my growth. There are moments I get happy and moments I get sad. The happiest moment of 2021 for me was when my inbox made a noise and I got an email from Professor James Mason offering me a Lectureship position in the Institute of Pharmaceutical Science.
What is your favourite thing about working at King’s?
The multinational and multicultural environment, having supportive colleagues from all over the world, and working with many good students.