ARMIN NIKPOUR KHOSHGRUDI

Armin is a third-year BBSRC-funded PhD student at the University of Nottingham’s Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), under the supervision of Prof. Dmitry Veprintsev. His research focuses on biased signaling in the CB2 cannabinoid receptor, a critical drug target for pain and inflammation. By studying the structural basis of receptor-ligand interactions, he aims to develop more selective and effective therapeutics with fewer side effects.

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Armin’s project integrates structural biology and molecular pharmacology, using Cryo-EM to capture the biochemical structure of CB2 in the presence of novel compounds. His work also involves developing high-throughput pharmacological assays to screen drug candidates and validate receptor interactions. Additionally, he is interested in leveraging machine learning to model protein-ligand interactions and accelerate drug discovery.

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Before his PhD, Armin completed his Master’s degree at the University of East Anglia, where he studied membrane protein dynamics using EPR spectroscopy under the supervision of Dr. Fraser MacMillan.

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​Beyond research, Armin enjoys volleyball and rock climbing. He has competed in BUCS volleyball for his university. He is also multilingual, speaking Persian, Polish, and English fluently, with basic proficiency in German.