About Arash Kazemi
B.Sc. in Pure Chemistry · Medicinal & Computational Chemistry
Arash Kazemi is an aspiring medicinal and computational chemist with a strong interdisciplinary background in organic synthesis, drug design, and molecular modeling. His research motivation is deeply personal—rooted in witnessing the limitations of cancer treatment within Iran’s healthcare system—and has grown into a scientific commitment to develop accessible therapeutic solutions for underserved communities. He combines hands-on laboratory skills with computational expertise to investigate reaction mechanisms, design bioactive molecules, and explore new strategies in pharmaceutical chemistry.
Academic Background
Arash holds a B.Sc. in Pure Chemistry from Isfahan University of Technology (IUT), graduating with a grade of 17.06/20 and ranking 1st among more than 100 students in his department. His undergraduate thesis focused on DFT-based mechanistic analysis of α-cyanophosphonate synthesis (graded 19.5/20), supervised by Prof. Hossein Tavakol.
He was awarded direct admission to the Master’s program at IUT based on academic excellence, though he chose to postpone graduate studies temporarily to strengthen his foundations in biochemistry, pharmacology, molecular modeling, and advanced analytical methods.
Research Focus
Arash’s scientific interests lie at the intersection of chemistry and pharmaceutical innovation. His main research areas include:
- Medicinal chemistry, SAR analysis, bioisosteric design, and lead optimization
- Computational chemistry, including molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations (GROMACS), DFT calculations, and mechanistic simulations
- Organic and heterocyclic synthesis of biologically active molecules
- Forensic chemistry, toxicological analysis, and trace-level detection of controlled substances
- Spectroscopic and analytical characterization (UV-Vis, IR, NMR, GC, HPLC)
- Integrated in-silico + synthetic approaches for therapeutic and forensic-relevant molecule design
Technical Skills
Laboratory Techniques
- Crystallization
- Distillation
- Titration
- TLC
- Extractions
- Column chromatography
- Electrochemical methods
- UV-Vis
- IR
- NMR
- MS
- GC
- HPLC
- Cyclic voltammetry
Computational & Analytical Tools
- Gaussian (DFT & mechanism analysis)
- GROMACS (Molecular Dynamics)
- AutoDock/Vina (docking)
- Molegro
- ChemDraw
- PyMOL
- OriginPro
- Excel
- Python (basic).
Safety & Lab Management
- MSDS handling
- Chemical waste management
- Risk assessment
- Safety documentation
- Inventory management.
Research Experience
Arash has contributed to two peer-reviewed publications:
- Diastereoselective Electrochemical Coupling of β-Nitrostyrenes Under Constant-Current Conditions — where he assisted with spectral interpretation, electrochemical analysis, and manuscript preparation.
- DFT Study of the Mechanistic Pathways for Synthesizing α-Cyanophosphonates — where he conducted DFT simulations and mechanistic modeling using Gaussian.
These projects strengthened his expertise in mechanistic chemistry, computational analysis, and scientific writing.
Teaching & Leadership
Arash has a strong record as both an educator and mentor.
He has taught IELTS Speaking, created educational video content, and instructed advanced high-school students for Chemistry Olympiad training.
At IUT, he served as:
- Editor-in-Chief of Erlen-e-Khakestari scientific journal
- Secretary of the Chemistry Students’ Scientific Association
His editorial leadership earned the CRISPR-Cas9 special issue recognition as the Best Student Science Publication of the year.
Service & Volunteer Work
Arash’s values are reflected in his volunteer efforts. He has supported children with cancer through charity fundraising, served as a peer mentor for first-year university students, provided remote mental-health support, and worked as a youth swimming instructor and lifeguard.
These experiences highlight his empathy, patience, and dedication to community well-being.
Future Goals
Arash aims to pursue advanced graduate studies in medicinal or pharmaceutical chemistry, integrating computational tools with synthetic techniques to design new therapeutic molecules. His long-term vision is to contribute to drug discovery research and ultimately establish a startup focused on affordable treatments for underserved populations—a mission shaped by both personal experience and scientific curiosity.