Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Texas Tech University, Experimental Science Building 2
Lubbock, TX, USA
Elka R. Georgieva, PhD (she/her)
Assistant Professor, PI
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at TTU
Gilead's Research Scholar in HIV
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics at TTUHSC
Member of the Center for Membrane Protein Research, TTUHSC
Office: 402F, Experimental Science Building 2
Telephone:
E-mail: elgeorgi@ttu.edu
Member of the Deputy Editorial Board of Journal of Structural Biology
(Elka Georgieva, PhD - Editorial Board - Journal of Structural Biology - Journal - Elsevier)
Member of the Editorial Board of Scientific Reports
Member of the Biophysical Society Committee on Professional Opportunities for Women (July 2024 - June 2027 term)
Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9980-5260​
MEDIA COVERAGE
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ACERT, Cornell University - Facilitating Modern Biochemistry, Biomedical and Biophysics Research (youtube.com)
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Texas Tech Researcher Looks to Unlock Fundamental Workings of HIV | February 2024 | Texas Tech Now | TTU
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Title: New Insights into the Formation of Soluble Oligomers of HIV-1 Vpu Protein (metroamericas.com)
EDUCATION
PhD in Chemistry from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences with Prof. Nicola Yordanov
POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING
(1) Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University with Prof. Astrid Gräslund; (2) Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University with Prof. Jack Freed.
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POSITIONS
2000-2001 High School Teacher in Chemistry and Physics, Bulgaria
2002-2005 Graduate Researcher, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
2006-2007 Postdoctoral Visiting Scientist, Stockholm University
2007-2010 Postdoctoral Associate, Cornell University
2010-2015 Research Associate, Cornell University
2015-2020 Senior Research Associate, Cornell University
2020- present Assistant Professor, Texas Tech University
2021-present Adjunct Assistant Professor Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics at TTUHSC
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AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS
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Gilead's Reasearch Scholar in HIV - 2023 competition winner
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Royal Society of Chemistry Research Grant (R22-2811992318) – April 2023/March 2024, Elka R. Georgieva PI
Production and reconstitution in lipid nanoparticles of the EfpA exporter
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NIAID R03 AI137735 (2018-2021) Elka R. Georgieva PI
Production and functional characterization of the L-lysine exporters from bacterial pathogens
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Young Investigator Travel Grant, The Protein Society Finn World Travel Award, 24th Annual Symposium of The Protein Society
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Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Carl Trygger Foundation with Professor Astrid Gräslund, Stockholm University, Sweden,
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Ph.D. Predoctoral Fellowship from the Marie Curie Foundation European Commission with Professor Gunnar Jeschke, Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz, Germany
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Ph.D. Predoctoral Fellowship from the Marie Curie Foundation European Commission with Professor Dante Gatteschi, University of Florence, Italy
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Protein engineering, Mechanisms of membrane proteins, Molecular mechanisms of virus-host interactions, Membrane proteins in drug development.
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SERVICE TO PROFESSION
Editorial Board Member, Scientific Reports, Nature Portfolio
Deputy Editorial Board Member, Journal of Structural Biology/Journal of Structural Biology X
Reviewer for Research grant proposal to the Royal Society of Chemistry
Reviewer for NIH
Reviewer for multiple high-impact scientific journals
Topic Board Editor for the open access journal Membranes (MDPI)
Mentoring and advising
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TEACHING/COURSES
CHEM 3310 (Molecular Biochemistry, Undergraduate course, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring/Fall 2024)
CHEM 8000 (Dissertation, Spring 2022, Summer 2022, Fall 2022, Spring /Fall/Sumer 2023, Spring/Fall/Summer 2024)
CHEM 7000 (Research, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Summer 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Summer 2022, Fall 2022, Spring/Fall/Summer 2023, Spring/Fall/Summer 2024)
CHEM 3000 (Undergraduate research, Summer 2021, Spring 2023, Fall 2024)
CHEM 5337 (Enzymes, Graduate course, Spring 2021, Spring 2023)
CHEM 5336 (Lipids, Graduate course, Fall 2021, Fall 2023)
CHEM 5101 (Seminar, Graduate course, Fall 2021)
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Research Project
Structure of membrane proteins and their complexes
Education
Bachelor in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2011-2015), Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka1342, Bangladesh (cGPA: 3.76 out of 4.00)
Masters in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2015-2016), Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka1342, Bangladesh (GPA: 3.73 out of 4.00)
Professional Experience
22016-2017: Research Assistant at the Division of Computer-aided Drug Design, Green Research Centre, BICCB, 38 Green Road West, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh
2017-2018: Research Assistant at the Institute of Tissue Banking and Biomaterial Research (ITBBR), Atomic Energy Research Establishment (AERE), Savar, Dhaka-1349, Bangladesh
Jun 2020-Sep 2020: Molecular Biologist at RT-PCR lab. in Faridpur Medical College, Faridpur, Bangladesh
Sep 2020-Mar 2021: Lab Consultant at RT-PCR lab. in Faridpur Medical College, Faridpur, Bangladesh
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Research Project
Mechanisms of Mtb membrane exporters in drug resistance
Education
1. Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, 2011-2015 (CGPA 4.33/5) Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, Nigeria.
2. Master of Science in Biochemistry, 2021 (73.23% Distinction), University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.
Professional Experience
· Research fellow, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria
· Student Research Intern, Bond Chemicals Pharmaceutical Industry Nigeria
Research Project
Structure, function, and interaction with drugs of membrane proteins encoded by human pathogens
Education
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, 2016 – 2020 (CGPA – 4.86/5.00) Lagos State University, Lagos state, Nigeria
Professional Experience
Dec 2018 – May 2019: Undergraduate Intern, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), Lagos, Nigeria
Mar 2021 – Mar 2022: Quality Assurance Analyst, Tyonex Nig. Ltd, Lagos, Nigeria
April 2022 – Nov 2022: Graduate Research Intern, The Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Lagos, Nigeria
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Elaheh Hadadianpour
Office: 413C
Telephone:
E-mail: ehadadia@ttu.edu
Research Project
Production and characterization of lipid-bound HCV NS2 accessory protein
Education
1.. Doctor of Pharmacy 2010-2016
College of Pharmacy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
2. M.Sc. in interdisciplinary studies 2022-2023
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Professional Experience
· Pharmacology scientist 2016-2018
Department of the Food and Drug Administration of Iran
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Pharmacy manager 2017-2022
Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences
Arvin Saffarian Delkhosh
Office: 413C
Telephone:
E-mail: asaffari@ttu.edu
Research Project
Structure and function of viral membrane proteins
Education
1.. Bachelor of Science in Applied Chemistry (2009-2014), Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2. Master of Analytical Chemistry (2014-2017), Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Professional Experience
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R&D and IPQC Expert at Bioluence Co. (biological enzyme producer), Tehran, Iran.
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Lab Apprentice at Zamzam Group (soft drink company), Tehran, Iran.
RESEARCH STAFF
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UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Fall 2024
Emma Abdul-Rahman
Honors College, Biology major, TTU
Katie Starr
Honors College, Chemistry major, TTU
CHEM 3000 student
Morgan Reed
Chemistry major
CHEM 3000 student
Justin Welter
Chemistry major
CHEM 3000 student
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Fall 2023
Rachel Mooney
College of Arts & Sciences, TTU
CHEM 3000 student
Armando Pineda
College of Arts & Sciences, TTU
CHEM 3000 student
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Spring 2023
Emily Hart
College of Arts & Sciences, TTU
CHEM 3000 student
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Fall 2022, Spring 2023
Griffin Sanders
College of Arts & Sciences, TTU
Volunteer
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Fall 2022
Kyle Lee
Summer, Fall 2022
Paula Garcia
TTU Undergraduate Biochemistry Student
CISER scholar, TrUE scholar
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Summer 2022
Margaret (Maggie) Lee
Biology B.S
College of Arts & Sciences, TTU
Volunteer
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We are looking for interested and motivated undergraduate students to do research with us.
They will join an active project and work with the PI Elka Georgieva, experienced Postdocs and Graduate Students. We will train the students in protein mutagenesis, expression, purification and characterization by biochemical and biophysical methods, as well as data analysis, interpretation and presentation. The undergraduate students trainees will co-author research papers and presentation in the case of substantial contribution.
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HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS
Summer 2023
Harshith Amaram
Welch Foundation Scholar
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Fall 2022, Spring 2023
Peter Zhu
Volunteer
Summer 2022
Lithasha Selinya
Welch Foundation Scholar
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THE GEORGIEVA GROUP GRADUATE STUDENTS ALUMNI
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Research Project
Structural bases of HIV-1 Vpu-host proteins interactions
Education
Bacher=lor of Pharmaceutical Sciences from Icesi University, Colombia (2024)