I received a bachelor's of science in biomedical engineering with specilization in biomaterials from Amirkabir University of Technology (former Tehran's Polytechnic) in 2009. During my undergraduate studies, I was attracted by nanobioengineering and worked on nanobiomaterials for drug delivery and theranostic applications as part of my thesis project. I then joined Drexel University in USA to pursue a master's degree and later a PhD in biomedical engineering. From 2010 to 2012 I worked with Dr. Irwin Chaiken's Group at Drexel University College of Medicine, where I studied design and development of biologically-inspired gold nanodots to visualize the interactions of HIV-entry inhibitors with HIV envelope proteins. In 2012, I joined Dr. MinJun Kim's group in the mechanical engineering department at Drexel University to work on single-molecule and single-cell studies with nanopore-sensing technology, particularly for detection and analysis of single-virus HIV and single-molecule HIV proteins.

After Graduation, I joined a start-up company in bay area, CA where I work as an R&D engineer to develop novel nanopore-based biosensors for molecular detection and diagnostic applications

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EDUCATION

Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA

PhD in Biomedical Engineering, June , 2016

Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Tehran, Iran

B.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering (Biomaterials) - 2010

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Graduate Research Assisstant 2012-2016

Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics Department, Drexel University, Philadelphia

Used solid-state nanopores for single molecule detection (DNA and proteins) as well as single particle detection (liposomes, exosomes, viruses and nanoparticles). Developed nanopore-based method for morphological analysis of soft particle (virus/vesicle) deformation in nan opores. The responsibilities included:

Fabrication of solid-state nanopore devices with microfabrication (photolithography, reactive ion etching, wet chemical etching, etc.) and nanofabrication (focused ion beam as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy)

Modelling biophysics of particle translocation through nanopores in COMSOL, particularly to correlate particle shape and resistive pulse signal

Development of GUI-enabled software in MATLAB for automated batch-processing of nanopore resistive pulse signals

Development of an image-processing software in MATLAB to analyze kinetics of nanopore shrinking by scanning electron microscopy

Overseeing general upkeep of the lab, generated and documented standard operating protocols and implemented laboratory policies and safety regulations

Training undergraduate students on micro/nanofabrication techniques including photolithography, focused ion beam and electron microscopy

Graduate Research Assisstant 2011-2012

Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Drexel University School of Medicine, Philadelphia

Developed quantum dots labeled with anti-HIV peptides for analysis of drug-antigen interactions and broader theranostic applications. The responsibilities included:

Development of novel water-soluble biocompatible quantum dots (gold and CdSe dots)

Surface functionalization and bioconjugation of various quantum dots to peptides, proteins and DNA

Performing biological assays such as enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), western blot, etc. to study toxicity and binding of quantum dots to small molecules, cells and viruses

Performing microscopy (fluorescence, confocal, etc.) to image binding of quantum dots to antigens on cells

Undergraduate Research Assisstant 2007-2010

Nanobiomaterials Lab., Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

Synthesized gadolinium-containing layered nanohydroxides labeled with folic acid for theranostic applications such as drug delivery to cancer tissues. The responsibilities included:

bottom-up synthesis of nanoparticles and characterization with electron microscopy, XRD, etc.

WORKING EXPERIENCE

R&D Process Engineer, 2016-Present

Two Pore Guys Inc., Santa Cruz, CA

Responsibilities: Designing and fabricating nanopore chips using micro/nanofabrication principles and cleanroom facilities

Teaching Assistant, 2011-2015

Physics Department, Drexel University , Philadelphia, PA

Responsibility: Teaching recitation classes for different physics courses along with proctoring and grading exams as well as preparing class lists and grade sheets.

English Teacher and Web Maintenance, 2007-2010

Tehran Advanced Communication Center (TAC-C) , Tehran, Iran

Responsibility: Teaching intermediate and advance English courses as well as designing and maintaining the website of the institute. Teacher of various course levels including general everyday English, advance academic, and IELTS test preparation courses.

Associate training and education specialist, Summer 2009

Glucocard 01 , Tehran, Iran

Responsibility: Training classes for diabetes healthcare providers on glucose biosensors. Instructing training sessions for sales and customer support department.

Intern, Summer 2007

Chitotech Ltd. , Eshtehard, Karaj, Iran

Responsibility: Trained in the quality control department at Chitotech, a leading advanced wound dressing manufacturer in Iran. The training involved GMP regulations as well as European and British standards.

TECHNICAL TRAININGS

Cell culture training, July 2011, School of Biomedical Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA

Training course for official medical instrument documentaion, December 2009, Tehran, Iran

English Teachers Training Course, February - March 2007, Tehran, Iran

Programming with MATLAB, July - August 2005, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

SKILLS

Micro/Nanofabrication and characterization Techniques:

focused ion beam (>200 hours experience with FEI Strata DB235)

scanning electron microscopy (>100 hours experience with Zeiss Supra 50VP)

transmission electron microscopy (>200 hours experience with JEOL JEM210)

photolithography, reactive ion plasma etching, wet etching, etc. (processed >40 wafers)

bottom-up synthesis of nanoparticles (quantum dots, gold nanodots, layered nanohydroxides, etc.)

surface functionalization techniques (self-assembled monolayers, protein immobilization, etc.)

dynamic light scattering (>50 hours experience with Malvern Zetasizer and Delsa Nano Submicron)

plate-reader (>50 hours experience with Tecan Infinite M200 and others)

fluorescence and UV/vis spectroscopy (>50 hours experience with Perkin Elmer instruments)

atomic absorption spectroscopy (>30 hours experience with Varian AA240FS flame AAS)

Cellular and Molecular Biology:

molecular assays (ELISA, Western Blot, Biacore SPR etc.)

bioconjugation techniques (protein-protein and protein-particle conjugation)

dialysis and gel filtration

gel-electrophoresis

lyophilization and ultracentrifugation of small molecules and proteins

polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

cell culture and cell toxicity assays

aseptic and sterile technique

virus production and purification

virus infectivity assay

Computation/Programming:

MATLAB: signal processing, image processing, GUI, etc.

R programming: statistical analysis and data processing

Python: statistical analysis and data processing

COMSOL: biophysics of nanopores and nanochannels

SPSS: statistical analysis and plotting

Origin: statistical analysis and plotting

Imagej: particle size analysis, gel analysis, etc.

HTML and CSS

Linux-based operating systems

Adobe Creative Suite: photoshop, illustrator, dreamweaver, etc.

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS

A. Darvish, G. Goyal, Min Jun Kim, “Sensing, capturing, and interrogation of single virus particles with sold-state nanopores,” SPIE Sensing Technology+ Applications. International Society for Optics and Photonics, 2015.

G.Goyal, R. Mulero, J. Ali, A. Darvish, Min Jun Kim, “Low aspect ratio micropores for single-particle and single-cell analysis,” Electrophoresis, in press, 2015.

G.Goyal, A. Darvish, Min Jun Kim, “Controlled shrinking of nanopores in single layer graphene using electron beam irradiation,” 8th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences October 26-30, 2014, San Antonio, Texas, USA.

M. S. Azimi, Z. T. Birgani, A. Darvish, S. S. Shafiei, M. Solati-Hashjin, "Ca/Al Layered Double Hydroxides: An Advanced Nanoceramic for Biomaterials Applications ", European Cells and Materials Vol. 19. Suppl. 1, pp. 19, 2010