Georgia Institute of Technology · Atlanta
Amir H. K. Ashkezari
Ph.D. candidate in mechanical engineering (bioengineering). I study how immune and platelet receptors convert force into biochemical decisions.
About
I work in the Cellular and Molecular Biomechanics Laboratory with Cheng Zhu, in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering. The through-line is receptor mechanics: TCR–pMHC recognition, B-cell receptor affinity under force, and GPIb-IX / integrin signaling in platelets. Expected graduation is May 2027.
The work is both experimental and computational — primary human cell isolation, molecular biology, single-molecule force spectroscopy, super-resolution imaging, and Python / machine-learning analysis of microscopy and molecular-dynamics data. Before Georgia Tech I trained at Sharif University of Technology on microfluidic diagnostics and cell separation.
Research
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Immune receptor mechanics
How TCR–pMHC catch and slip bonds, CD8/CD4 coreceptors, and BCR intracellular tails shape antigen discrimination. Includes co-first-author work on coreceptor-dependent catch bonds, SynNotch reporters of immunoreceptor force in vivo, and engineered p53R175H-specific TCRs for adoptive cell therapy.
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Platelet mechanobiology
Intracellular control of GPIb-IX and integrin αIIbβ3, including Lyn / 14-3-3 regulation of two-way GPIb signaling and PI3K-dependent platelet priming in myeloproliferative neoplasms (accepted at Science Translational Medicine).
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Computation and imaging
DynMoCo, a graph-convolutional and recurrent network for modular protein dynamics from MD trajectories (Biophysical Journal, cover). Pipelines for DNA-PAINT / SMLM and, earlier, numerical design of microfluidic PCR and hybrid acoustic–hydrodynamic cell-separation devices.
Selected papers
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2026
Martyanov, A. A., Paul, D. S., Ashkezari, A. H. K., et al. PI3K-dependent platelet priming drives a pro-thrombotic intermediate-affinity αIIbβ3 state in MPN. Science Translational Medicine. Accepted.
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2026
Li, M., Lyu, J., Li, K., Dravid, A., Balasubramani, D., K. Ashkezari, A. H., Choi, H. K., Kwong, G. A., Singh, A., & Zhu, C. SynNotch receptors for visualizing immunoreceptor force transmission and downstream signaling in vivo. Advanced Science, e77318.
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2026
Mao, L., Kwak, M., Ashkezari, A. H., Li, Z., Cong, P., Chen, Y., Phee, J. H., Kang, S., Li, J., & Zhu, C. DynMoCo: A novel AI framework to reveal modular substructures of protein from molecular dynamics. Biophysical Journal, 125(16), 4328–4344. Cover art selected.
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2026
Kazemipour Ashkezari, A. H.*, Travaglino, S.*, Li, M., Watson, V. E., Cong, P., Doudy, L., Choi, H. K., & Zhu, C. Evaluating the effects of CD8/CD4 on T cell function in terms of TCR–pMHC–coreceptor catch and slip bonds. Frontiers in Immunology, 17, 1757198.
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2025
Zhang, Y., Liang, Y., Kazemipour Ashkezari, A. H., et al. Direct binding of Lyn to GPIbβ transmits 2-way GPIb-IX signaling to stimulate platelet activation and VWF binding. Circulation Research, 137(12), 1480–1497.
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2025
Pourghasemian, M. H., Barzoki, A. K., Dizani, M., Ashkezari, A. H., & Shamloo, A. Rapid and low-cost droplet PCR using a novel microfluidic setup with a numerical study on micromixer effects. Sensors and Actuators Reports, 9, 100327.
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2022
Ashkezari, A. H. K., Dizani, M., & Shamloo, A. Integrating hydrodynamic and acoustic cell separation in a hybrid microfluidic device: a numerical analysis. Acta Mechanica, 233(5).
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2022
Yuan, Z., O’Melia, M. J., Li, K., Lyu, J., Rosado, A. M., Watson, V. E., Ashkezari, A. H., et al. Tumor microenvironment impaired T cell antigen recognition and function were restored by Lovastatin therapy. bioRxiv.
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2021
Jalili, A., Bagheri, M., Shamloo, A., & Kazemipour Ashkezari, A. H. A plasmonic gold nanofilm-based microfluidic chip for rapid and inexpensive droplet-based photonic PCR. Scientific Reports, 11, 23338.
* Equal contribution. Full record on Google Scholar.
Talks & awards
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2026
Short talk. Structural and intracellular regulation of BCR affinity and catch bond. FASEB Immunoreceptors and Immunotherapy.
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2025
Poster. Regulation of GPIb-IX inside-out signaling by 14-3-3 and Lyn. GRC, Cell Biology of Megakaryocytes and Platelets.
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2025
Poster. Epigenetic control of B cell receptor mechanics (EZH2 Y641F). NIH PS-ON / Cancer TEC.
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2026
Woodruff School WoW Fellowship, Georgia Tech.
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2025
POOIA Student Excellence Award, runners-up.
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2025
Histochemical Society travel award, MBL Analytic and Quantitative Light Microscopy.
Contact
Cellular and Molecular Biomechanics Laboratory, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA.