Zahra Farahbakhsh MSc

Zahra is currently working as research assistant at the Endocrine Oncology Research group. Her current research focuses on developing a patient-derived 3D bioprinting model to dissect the impact of androgen excess on skeletal muscle energy metabolism in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).

She received her master’s in biomedical engineering from the University of Groningen, in the Netherlands in 2021. As part of her project she worked under supervision of Dr Anika Nagelkerke on the engineering of the endothelial monolayer of the blood-brain barrier using meltelectrowritten scaffolds at the University Medical Centre Groningen (UMCG). Simultaneously, she worked in a team of nine under supervision of Dr Sonja Billerbeck on a project called Bye-Monia that focused on reducing the ammonia emissions in the Netherlands. The project won a gold medal in iGEM 2021-the International Genetically Engineered Machine competition.

Recently she graduated with a master’s and honours degree in biomedical engineering-tissue engineering from Trinity College Dublin. From 2021-2022 she worked under supervision of Dr. Adrian Dervan and Prof. Fergal O’Brien in the Tissue Engineering Research Group (TERG), in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Her research focused on optimizing the electroconductive and mechanical properties of PEDOT: PSS as an electroconductive interface material for neuronal medical device applications.

Before starting her new journey as a biomedical engineer, she completed her undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Naval Architecture at Sharif University of Technology, Iran. With the spread of the coronavirus in 2020, she decided to leave naval architecture and explore a field that makes a positive impact on other people’s lives. ‘’My transition involved a lot of fear that got replaced by a lot of excitement. I am happy to be in a field that gives me much more goosebumps,’’ she said.

She is a sleep enthusiast and in her free time, she enjoys cooking, painting, swimming and playing piano!