National Postdoc Appreciation Week: Dr. Shoeib Moradi is a protein chemist who’s driven by a love of discovery

 


Dr. Shoeib Moradi

Postdoctoral Research Fellow 

Strynadka Lab

 

For National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW), we spoke with several Centre for Blood Research (CBR) Postdoctoral Fellows and Research Associates, to highlight their work, celebrate their accomplishments, and share their stories. 

  

An avid movie enthusiast, Dr. Shoeib Moradi (he/him) is studying bacterial protein secretion apparatus, the type-III secretion system (T3SS) of pathogenic bacteria at the atomic level. By structural elucidation of proteins that contribute to the formation of T3SS, he hopes to fully understand how bacterial virulence proteins are released into the cytoplasm of human host cells in order to help prevent intestinal diseases. 

 

What is your research about? 

My current research focuses on proteins that are related to pathogenic bacteria. I am a protein chemist: I study the structure of recombinantly produced proteins to understand the formation of large macromolecular assemblies at atomic resolution, using techniques like protein x-ray crystallography and single particle cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM). 

In the Strynadka Lab, I study a large needle-shape compartment which is common in many pathogenic bacteria known as T3SS. This system secretes toxins into host cells such as humans and animals. In order to prevent bacterial infection and develop effective treatments, it is required to fully understand the T3SS mode of action and its assembly to find out how bacterial virulence effectors are directly delivered into the host cell. 

  

What is your favourite thing about science? 

Science has no borders. It doesn’t have any limitations and every day you can discover something new. If this discovery takes years to be completed, there are still questions to pursue. Findings lead to more important questions, and that keeps me moving forward. 

 

Tell us what sparked your interest in science. 

A love of discovery! When you’re a kid, you want to discover new things, and this never stopped for me, especially for biology. We’ve discovered many solar systems, stars and different galaxies, but there’s so much we can still learn about our own body. 

  

What are some things you like to do outside of the lab? 

Anything social or with nature – going to cinemas, bars, restaurants, camping, photography and hiking! 

I am also a huge movie fan, especially for sci-fi and mystery. Every night I watch a few in my home, where I’ve designed my own theatre with a projector. 

  

Tell us about a few achievements and awards that you are proud of. 

The biggest achievement is that I have been able to come this far in science, regardless of all the challenges. Doing a MSc, PhD or Postdoc is very difficult, and I am proud that my work contributes to a tiny part of public health. 

For awards, I was very proud to receive the PSI-FELLOW-III-3i which is Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie COFUND Action Postdoctoral Fellowship, from the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland (PSI). 

  

Thank you for speaking with us, Shoeib! Learn more about National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW), which recognizes the significant contributions that postdoctoral scholars make to research and discovery.