SOHEIL
AGHAMOHAMMADZADEH,
PhD
Phone:
5875;
Email:
******.*****@*****.***
Street
A pt#2,
Boston,
MA,
02115,
USA
SUMMARY
STATEMENT
• Independent
and
proactive
cell-
biologist
with
3
years
of
postdoctoral
research
experience
in
neurodegenerative
diseases.
Extensive
experience
in
drug
discovery
research
at
Pfizer.
•
Expert
in
Rare
Diseases
with
a
focus
on
lysosomal
storage
disorders.
•
Established
proof
of
concept
studies
using
in
vitro
and
in
vivo
models
of
diseases.
•
Led
the
imaging
core
at
the
University
of
Sheffield
(UK).
•
Top-
tier
publications
including
first
author
publication
in
Nature
Cell
Biology.
•
WORK
EXPERIENCE
Postdoctoral
fellow,
Ehlers
lab
Jan
2012-
Present
Pfizer
Neuroscience,
Cambridge,
MA
• Conceived
and
lead
a
novel
collaborative
project
investigating
the
functionality
of
the
degradation
pathway
in
Frontotemporal
dementia
(FTD)
and
Parkinson’s
disease.
• Developed
in
vitro
assays
to
identify
a
novel
target
for
enhancing
lysosomal
degradation
as
a
therapeutic
strategy
for
treating
aggregate
bearing
neurodegenerative
disorders.
• Characterized
the
molecular
mechanism
of
the
prion-
like
spread
of
protein
aggregates
in
tauopathies
including
Alzheimer’s
disease
(AD).
• Established
in
vitro
assays
to
support
validation
studies
for
Pfizer
lead
compounds
and
antibodies
for
CNS
diseases
using
primary
neurons
and
mammalian
cell
lines.
• Developed
biochemical
and
imaging
assays
to
analyse
post-
mortem
human
samples
to
corroborate
non-
human
study
data
in
collaboration
with
Harvard
medical
school.
• Conducted
in
vivo
and
ex
vivo
gene
therapy
studies
in
a
mouse
model
of
dementia.
• Supervised
research
associates
in
conducting
cellular
assays
for
target
validation
studies.
• Active
member
of
the
Pfizer
“compound
transfer
program”
and
the
neurodegenerative
disease
portfolio
project.
Head
of
imaging
core
Sept
2009-
May
2011
University
of
Sheffield,
Sheffield,
UK
• Actively
contributed
to
multiple
ongoing
research
areas
and
publications.
• Redefined
the
existing
role
of
the
core
with
the
help
of
the
management
team
to
become
more
integral
and
accessible
to
additional
departments.
• Trained
users
on
a
range
of
imaging
systems
and
advised
on
experimental
design.
• Strategic
planning
and
execution
of
the
expansion
of
the
core
in
accordance
to
departmental
goals
and
budgets.
• Co-
hosted
the
2009
EMBO
practical
course
at
the
imaging
core
that
focused
on
the
effective
use
of
different
imaging
systems
for
different
model
organisms.
• Pioneered
an
outreach
program
to
introduce
concepts
of
imaging
to
young
students.
1
SOHEIL
AGHAMOHAMMADZADEH,
PhD
EDUCATION
University
of
Sheffield,
Sheffield,
UK
• PhD
in
Cell
Biology
and
Genetics,
Ayscough
lab
2006-
2011
Ø Spearheaded
multiple
projects
investigating
the
assembly
and
disassembly
of
protein
complexes
during
endocytosis
in
S.
Cerevisiae.
Ø Published
multiple
papers
including
a
first
author
paper
in
Nature
Cell
Biology
(featured
in
F1000).
Ø Trained
PhD
students
and
postdoctoral
fellows
in
endocytosis
assays,
live-
cell
and
quantitative
imaging
techniques
and
image
analysis.
• Master
of
Biomedical
Science
2002-
2006
Master’s
degree
project
focused
on
investigating
the
role
of
the
neuronal
adhesion
molecule
TAG-
1,
and
how
it
is
implicated
in
the
growth
and
collapse
of
sensory
neurons
in
response
to
diffusible
guidance
signals
(Furley
lab).
TECHNICAL
SKILLS
In
vivo:
Adult
mouse:
animal
care
and
handling,
viral
stereotactic
injection,
intraperitoneal
injection,
anaesthesia,
euthanasia,
perfusion,
brain
isolation
and
cryo-
preservation,
hippocampus
isolation
and
harvest.
Tissue
culture:
Maintenance
of
cell
lines
and
mouse
primary
neuronal
cultures
including
hippocampal,
cortical
and
dorsal
root
ganglion
neurons.
Adult
mouse
organotypic
brain
slice
cultures:
long
and
short
term.
Embryonic
mouse:
dorsal
root
ganglion
microdissection.
Protein
expression
via
transient
transfection,
electroporation
and
viral
transduction.
Cell-
based
assays:
Endocytic
assays,
TUNEL
assay,
lysosome
activity
and
pH
assays,
radioactive
protein
degradation
assays.
Post-
mortem
human
samples:
Frozen
brain,
paraffin
embedded
sections
and
CSF
handling
and
analysis.
Histochemistry:
Immunohistochemistry
of
fixed
and
frozen
brain
sections:
mouse
and
human.
Thioflavin-
S,
Thioflavin-
T
and
Methoxy
X-
34
aggregation
stains.
Microscopy:
multi-
slide
Axio
scanner/
virtual
imaging,
confocal
microscopy,
spinning
disc,
live-
cell
imaging,
TIRF,
FRET,
FRAP,
Structured
Illumination
Microscopy
(SIM),
3D
reconstruction,
Array
scanner:
96
well
format
and
Delta-
vision
deconvolution
microscopy.
Biochemistry:
Protein
extraction,
alphaLISA
Tau,
BCA
assays,
Western
blotting,
protein
aggregation/
fibrillization,
sub-
cellular
fractionation.
Molecular
biology:
Cloning,
mutagenesis,
plasmid
DNA
purification,
DNA
electrophoresis,
colony
PCR,
Real-
Time
PCR/
genotyping,
lentiviral
particle
production,
concentration
and
packaging,
si/shRNA
gene
silencing.
Yeast
Genetics/
techniques:
Crossing,
spheroplasting,
protein
extraction,
growth-
rate
analysis,
viability
assays
and
endocytosis
assays.
Instrumentation:
Flow
cytometer,
cryostat,
vibratome,
microtome,
plate
reader.
2
SOHEIL
AGHAMOHAMMADZADEH,
PhD
In
Silico:
Microsoft
Word,
Excel
and
Powerpoint,
Imaris,
Zen,
Metamorph,
Velocity,
Image
J,
Photoshop,
Flow
Jo,
Graphpad
Prism,
Vector
NTI,
Fireworks.
POSTERS
AND
PRESENTATIONS
“Trans-
cellular
spread
and
clearance
of
aggregates
in
a
model
of
Tauopathy”
Aghamohammadzadeh
S,
Helton
D
T,
Ehlers
D
M.
Pfizer
departmental
Seminar;
Cambridge,
MA
Oral
presentation,
2013
“Trans-
cellular
spread
and
clearance
of
aggregates
in
a
model
of
tauopathy”
Aghamohammadzadeh
S,
Helton
D
T,
Ehlers
D
M.
Pfizer
postdoctoral
poster
presentation
day:
Cambridge,
MA
Poster,
2012
“The
use
of
fluorescence
microscopy
in
studying
cellular
trafficking;
seeing
is
believing”
Aghamohammadzadeh
S.
Krebs
and
Kroto
research
institute
symposium;
Sheffield,
UK
Oral
Presentation,
2009
“Turgor
pressure
is
a
key
factor
in
the
differential
requirements
for
actin
during
yeast
and
mammalian
endocytosis”
Aghamohammadzadeh
S
and
Ayscough
R
K:
Edinburgh,
UK
(2009),
Bristol,
UK
Poster,
2009
“The
requirement
of
actin
in
endocytosis”
Aghamohammadzadeh
S
and
Ayscough
R
K:
Toronto,
CAN
and
Leeds,
UK Poster, 2008
OUTREACH
&
TEACHING
EXPERIENCE
Cambridge
science
festival
(Cambridge,
MA)
Mar
2013
Organized
and
participated
in
an
annual
event
to
engage
young
minds
in
science.
EMBO
practical
course
(University
of
Sheffield)
Aug
2010
Co-
hosted
a
two-
day,
hand-
on
course
with
a
group
of
principal
investigators
to
introduce
students
to
various
advanced
microscopy
techniques.
Course
title:
animal
models
for
development,
physiology
and
disease.
Charles
Darwin
exhibition
facilitator
(Sheffield,
UK)
Jun
2009
Public
awareness
of
how
natural
selection
impacts
our
daily
lives
at
the
200th
anniversary
of
the
birth
of
Charles
Darwin
and
150th
anniversary
of
the
publication
of
his
“origin
of
species”
work.
Science,
Technology,
Engineering
and
Mathematics
Ambassador
(Sheffield,
UK)
2008-
2011
Organized
and
participated
in
numerous
projects
at
schools
as
part
of
a
program
to
interact
with
young
minds
to
inspire
them
to
embrace
science.
Postgraduate
student
representative
(University
of
Sheffield)
2005-
2006
Liaison
between
the
staff
and
students.
Conveyed
the
views
and
concerns
of
fellow
students
to
the
committee
and
the
Students’
Union
and
helped
streamline
the
Master’s
degree
program.
LEADERSHIP
AND
MANAGEMENT
Team
captain
of
soccer
team.
Two
time
champions
(Sheffield
University)
2008-
2010
Won
the
regional
Bioscience
Young
Entrepreneurs
Scheme
competition
and
came
3rd
at
the
national
level.
2009
3
SOHEIL
AGHAMOHAMMADZADEH,
PhD
Completed
a
course
on
“Developing
the
postgraduate
manager”
designed
by
the
UK
GRAD
program®.
2008
PUBLICATIONS
1.
Aghamohammadzadeh
S,
Thomas
Helton,
Michael
D
Ehlers.
Lysosome
dysfunction
downstream
of
TFEB
is
compromised
in
Alzheimer’s
disease.
Manuscript
in
preparation.
2.
Aghamohammadzadeh
S,
Iwona
I.
Smaczynska-
de
Rooij,
Kathryn
R.
Ayscough.
An
Abp1-
dependent
route
of
endocytosis
functions
when
the
classical
endocytic
pathway
in
yeast
is
inhibited
(2014).
PLoS
One;
9(7):e103311.
doi:10.1371.
3.
Smaczynska-
de
Rooij
II,
E.G.
Allwood,
R.
Mishra,
W.I.
Booth,
Aghamohammadzadeh
S,
M.W.
Goldberg,
K.R.
Ayscough.
Yeast
dynamin
Vps1
and
amphiphysin
Rvs167
function
together
during
endocytosis
(2012).
Traffic;
13(2):
317-
328.
4.
Pearson,
C.A,
Ohyama
K,
Manning
L.,
Aghamohammadzadeh
S,
Sang
H
and
Placzek
M.
FGF-
dependent
midline-
derived
progenitor
cells
in
hypothalamic
infundibular
development
(2011).
Development.
138:
2613-
2624.
5.
Smaczynska-
de
Rooij
II,
Allwood
EG,
Aghamohammadzadeh
S,
Hettema
E,
Goldberg
MW,
Ayscough
KR.
A
role
for
the
dynamin-
like
protein
Vps1
during
endocytosis
in
yeast
(2010).
Journal
of
Cell
Science.
123:
3496-
3506.
6.
Aghamohammadzadeh
S,
Ayscough
KR.
The
yeast
actin
cytoskeleton
and
its
function
in
endocytosis
(2010).
Fungal
Biology
Reviews.
24:
37-
46.
7.
Aghamohammadzadeh
S,
Ayscough
KR.
Differential
requirements
for
actin
during
yeast
and
mammalian
endocytosis
(2009).
Nature
Cell
Biology.
8:1039-
42.
8.
Gheorghe
DM,
Aghamohammadzadeh
S,
Smaczynska-
de
Rooij
II,
Allwood
EG,
Winder
SJ,
Ayscough
KR.
Interactions
between
the
yeast
SM22
homologue
Scp1
and
actin
demonstrate
the
importance
of
actin
bundling
in
endocytosis
(2008).
Journal
Biological
Chemisty.
283(22):15037-
46.
9.
Law
CO,
Kirby
RJ,
Aghamohammadzadeh
S,
Furley
AJ.
The
neural
adhesion
molecule
TAG-
1
modulates
responses
of
sensory
axons
to
diffusible
guidance
signals
(2008).
Development
135(14):2361-
71.
4