Amir H. Faraji

faraji.amir@medstudent.pitt.edu

 

Education

B.S., Chemistry, University of Florida, 2005.

                Research Advisor: Kirk Schanze, Ph.D.

M.D., Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, In Progress.

                Clinical Advisors: L. Dade Lunsford, M.D., Robert Friedlander, M.D., Johnathan Engh, M.D.

Ph.D., Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, In Progress.

                Research Advisors: Stephen Weber, Ph.D., Peter Wipf, Ph.D., Valerian Kagan, Ph.D.

 

Honors & Activities

Undergraduate:

UF College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Valedictorian (Spring 2005); Summa Cum Laude (Spring 2005); University Scholars Program (2004-2005); Anderson Scholar (Fall 2002); UF Presidential Service Award (Spring 2005); Dean's List (2001-2005).

 

Graduate:

School of Medicine Honor Council (2005-Present); School of Medicine Interviewer (2005-2006); School of Medicine Anatomy Teaching Assistant (Fall 2006); MSTP Retreat Committee (2005-2006); MSTP Physical Sciences Interviewer (2007, 2009); MSTP Student Advisory Committee (2008-2009); Graduate Student Researcher, Wipf Research Group (2007-2008); Graduate Student Researcher, Weber Research Group (2008-Present); Coordinator & President, Neurosurgery and Neurology Interest Group (2007-Present); AAAS/Science Program for Excellence in Science (2008-2009); Predoctoral Fellowship in Clinical & Translational Research (2009-2010); University of Pittsburgh Graduate and Professional Student Travel Grant Award (2009); Young Researcher, Nobel Laureate Meetings at Lindau, Lindau, Germany (2010), Graduate Excellence Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh Department of Chemistry (2010).

 

Professional Societies & Memberships

American Chemical Society (ACS); American Medical Association (AMA); American Medial Student Association (AMSA); Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society; Golden Key International Honor Society; Allegheny County Medical Society (ACMS); American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS); Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS); American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

 

Funding & Grant Support

NIH - University of Pittsburgh Institutional MSTP Training Grant, NIGMS T32 GM08208-17, PI: C. Wiley (2005-2006); NIH - University of Pittsburgh Center for Medical Countermeasures Against Radiation, NIAID CMCR U19 AI068021, PI: J. Greenberger (2007-2008); NIH - Sensitive & Selective Detection of Peptides, NIGMS R01 GM044842-17, PI: S. Weber (2009); Predoctoral Fellowship in Clinical & Translational Research, Institute of Clinical Research Education, University of Pittsburgh (2009-2010); Graduate Excellence Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh Department of Chemistry (2010).

 

Publications

 

Scientific Articles

  1. Faraji, A. H. The Design and Synthesis of a Tetrahedral Platinum-Acetylide Oligomer. J. Undergrad. Research, University of Florida, 2006, Feb; 7(2). Epub.

  2. Faraji, A. H., Wipf, P. Nanoparticles in Cellular Drug Delivery. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2009, 17(8), 2950-62.

 

Abstract, Poster, and Oral Presentations

  1. Faraji, A. H., Hoye, A. T., Wipf, P. The Synthesis of a Superoxide Dismutase Mimic and Electron Scavenger. Abstract and Poster Presentation: Science 2006 Symposium – Drug Discovery & Development, Pittsburgh, PA, 10/06/06.

  2. Faraji, A. H., Feng, W. H., Konduru, N. V., Vlasova, I. I., Kagan, V. E., Wipf, P. Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Nanoparticle Drug Delivery Systems. Abstract and Poster Presentation: Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD, 03/15/09-03/19/09.

  3. Faraji, A. H., Feng, W. H., Konduru, N. V., Vlasova, I. I., Kagan, V. E., Wipf, P. Reducing the Toxicity of Silica Nanoparticles: Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Nanoparticle Drug Delivery Systems. Abstract and Poster Presentation: Ninth Annual WPIC Research Day, Pittsburgh, PA, 06/04/09.

  4. Faraji, A. H., Feng, W. H., Konduru, N. V., Vlasova, I. I., Kagan, V. E., Wipf, P. Reducing the Toxicity of Silica Nanoparticles: Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Nanoparticle Drug Delivery Systems. Abstract and Poster Presentation: MD/PhD National Conference, Keystone, CO, 07/24/09-07/26/09.

  5. Tormenti, M. J., Faraji, A. H., Engh, J. A., Flickinger, J. C. Ki-67 Proliferation Index Changes Following Resection and/or Radiation Therapy in Intracranial Tumors. Abstract and Poster Presentation: Joint Meeting of the Society for Neuro-Oncology & AANS/CNS Section on Tumors, Congress of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, 10/22/09-10/29/09.

  6. Faraji, A. H., Guy, Y., Xu, H., Engh, J. A., Weber, S. G. Determining the Feasibility of Using Electroosmosis for Solute Transport in Brain Tissue. Abstract and Oral Presentation: Pittcon 2010, Orlando, FL, 02/28/10-03/05/10.

  7. Weber, S. G., Guy, Y., Hamsher, A., Xu, H., Faraji, A. H., Peters, K. Electrokinetic Transport in Brain Tissue. Abstract and Oral Presentation: 240th American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exposition, Boston, MA, 08/25/10.

  8. Sprachman, M. M., Faraji, A. H., Feng, W. H., Kagan, V. E., Wipf, P. Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Nitroxide-Functionalized Silica Nanoparticles. Abstract and Poster Presentation: 240th American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exposition, Boston, MA, 08/25/10.

  9. Zhang, H., Faraji, A. H., Weber, S. G. Fluorous Modified Nanosilica Enhances Solute Permeability of Teflon AF 2400 Membranes. Abstract and Oral Presentation: Pittcon 2011, Atlanta, GA, 03/13/11-03/18/11.

Patents and Disclosures

  1. Faraji, A. H., Hoye, A. T., Pierce, J. F., Wipf, P. Mitochondrial-Targeted Reactive Oxygen Scavengers and Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibitors. Patent/Invention Disclosure Filed with the University of Pittsburgh, Reference Number 01905. Provisional Patent filed with the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO), 2009.

  2. Faraji, A. H., Zhang, H., Weber, S. G. Filler-Containing Fluoropolymer. Disclosure filed to University of Pittsburgh, Reference Number 02268.

  3. Faraji, A. H., Zhang, H., Weber, S. G. Porous Material. Disclosure filed to University of Pittsburgh, Reference Number 02269.

Meeting Reports

  1. Hong, L., Faraji, A. H., Lu, D., Wu, J., Yang, Y., Zhang, H., Weber, S. G. Pittcon's Strong Program Continues to Thrive. Trends Analyt. Chem. 2010, 29(5), 369-377.