Profile
Aleksandr Sahakyan
My CV
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Education:
Basic School No 185 in Yerevan, Armenia -> BSc+MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Yerevan State Medical University -> MPhil in Computational Biology from University of Cambridge (Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics) -> PhD in Theoretical and Biological Chemistry from University of Cambridge (Department of Chemistry).
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Qualifications:
BSc, MPhil, PhD
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Work History:
2003-2005 – Contractor (Laboratory of Porphyrines, Yerevan State Medical University, Armenia) ->
2005-2008 – Research assistant (Molecule Structure Research Centre, Natl. Acad. Sci., Armenia) ->
2007 – Research visitor (NIH – National Institutes of Health, Bethesda MD, USA) ->
2012-2017 – Research fellow (University of Cambridge, Department of Chemistry and Darwin College, UK)
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Current Job:
Group Leader (Integrative Computational Biology and Machine Learning).
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About Me:
A curious mind tinkering about how all this complexity of life emerged from simpler rules and processes. I like to code, read and de-code the books that use mostly 4 letters in their text – A, T, G and C. You have 23 volumes of such books stored in your cells!
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Read more
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I give computers enough intelligence to recognize complex patterns within our DNA blueprint and the molecular machinery of life, linking those with health and diseases.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
Many know about DNA double helix structure (right? if not, ask me). Have you heard about DNA quadruplex (4 strands), DNA triplex (3 strands), iMotif (not a phone) or DNA minidumbbell (not too useful in a gym) structures? Worry no more if I get the prize money (click “Read more” to find out why).
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Human computer symbiont.
What did you want to be after you left school?
For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to become a scientist. The specific interests quickly shifted from oceanography to computational chemistry and biology.
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Once my class was evacuated after my experiment in a back laboratory went amok spilling butyric acid that smells like rancid butter. We could not return to the same classroom for a few months, because of the persistent bad smell.
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Celtic Women (band), Andrea Bocelli (singer).
What's your favourite food?
Roast chicken; I am not complete without one in a week.
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
Having lots of time; reducing my sugar intake (cannot live without); piloting an airplane, spaceship, or a time machine (any would do).
Tell us a joke.
What is a dinosaur's least favorite reindeer? Comet!
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