Student Information
Graduate Student
Molecular and Cellular Biology
The College of Lib Arts & Sci
Long Bio
Zain Bukhari is a Ph.D. student in the Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) program at Arizona State University. His background in biology, nanoscience, and biochemistry enables him to pursue opportunities in the life sciences as well as in physics. His research work, with Dr. Wayne Frasch, utilizes gold nanorods to quantify and analyze the biophysics of an enzyme known as the FoF1-ATP synthase. This work is not only innovative and interdisciplinary, but also readily applicable to the medical field via point-of-care biosensing assays.
Education
2018-present: Molecular and Cellular Biology (Ph.D.), School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
2018: Nanoscience (P.S.M.), Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
2017: Biochemistry (B.S.), School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
2013: High School Diploma, Gilbert Classical Academy, Gilbert, AZ
Research Interests
As scientific disciplines grow closer and closer together, physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering converge to form a new interdisciplinary field: Nanoscience.
For over five years, Zain Bukhari worked with ASU's Human Anatomy & Physiology program in the School of Life Sciences, leading the team of BIO 201 TAs (in Spring 2018 / Spring 2019) and BIO 202 TAs (in Spring 2018 / Fall 2019) at the Tempe campus. In addition, he worked with ASU Online and New Media Studios at EdPlus to produce over 145 video lectures for the university's fully online Anatomy & Physiology courses.
Today, Bukhari is involved with Dr. Wayne Frasch's biophysical/biochemical research on ATP Synthases, namely the F-type. In the future, he hopes to be involved with the development of nanotechnologies that have applications in the medical field.
Research Group
Wayne Frasch’s lab has developed new assays to examine the rotation of single molecules of molecular motor proteins under a microscope. The lab focuses on the Fo and F1-ATPase rotary motors that comprise the F-type ATP synthase. This protein complex synthesizes the majority of ATP in almost all living organisms, which provides the energy for many cellular processes.
The research group also creates nano-scale devices by assembling molecules of DNA and proteins in novel ways that can carry out specific tasks. These include the incorporation of the F1-ATPase molecular motor into devices that detect single molecules of toxins, drugs or DNA profiles of interest that can provide an early indication of infection or disease. Other nano-devices use the assembly of DNA molecules to make computations.
Courses
2020 Spring
2019 Fall
2019 Spring
Presentations
- The F1-ATPase Rotary Mechanism; Seminar. School of Life Sciences Molecular and Cellular Biology Colloquium, Arizona State University; 2021
- Characterization of the Role of Rab5a in Causing Cancer Cell Invasiveness via an in vitro Model; Proposal. School of Life Sciences Molecular and Cellular Biology Comprehensive Exams Defense, Arizona State University; 2021
- Angular Velocity and Dwell Analyses of the F1-ATPase Molecular Motor; Preview Presentation. Gordon Research Conference on Bioenergetics, Andover, NH; 2019; https://www.grc.org/bioenergetics-conference/2019/
- Ditto; Poster. Gordon Reserach Conference on Bioenergetics, Andover, NH; 2019
- Dwell Analyses of the F1-ATPase Molecular Motor; Seminar. School of Life Sciences Molecular and Cellular Biology Colloquium, Arizona State University; 2019; https://biodesign.asu.edu/news/dwell-analyses-f1-atpase-molecular-motor…
- Torsion Spring Contributions to the F1-ATPase Molecular Motor Mechanism; Supervised Applied Project Defense. Department of Physics, Arizona State University; 2018; https://nanoscience.asu.edu/students/zain-bukhari
- Ditto; Poster. Department of Physics Nanoscience Capstone Conference, Arizona State University; 2018
- Dependence of the angular velocity of rotation on rotational position at which ATP-binding occurs at the empty catalytic site of the F1-ATPase molecular motor; Thesis Defense. Barrett, the Honors College, Arizona State University; 2017; http://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.I.42248
Honors / Awards
School of Life Sciences Doctoral Recruitment Award, Arizona State University, 2018
Graduate College Fellowship, Arizona State University, 2018
Moeur Award, Arizona State University, 2017
School of Molecular Sciences Hypercube Award, Arizona State University, 2016
Letter of Commendation, United States Congressman Matt Salmon, 2013
Salutatorian Award, Gilbert Classical Academy, 2013
Service
Ambassador of The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Arizona State University, 2019
School of Life Sciences Mentor, Arizona State University, 2016