{"id":239813,"date":"2026-01-08T15:25:29","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T20:25:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=239813"},"modified":"2026-01-08T15:25:29","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T20:25:29","slug":"two-students-from-uconns-school-of-pharmacy-honored-with-prestigious-award-at-aiches-2025-annual-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2026\/01\/two-students-from-uconns-school-of-pharmacy-honored-with-prestigious-award-at-aiches-2025-annual-meeting\/","title":{"rendered":"Two Students from UConn\u2019s School of Pharmacy Honored with Prestigious Award at AIChE\u2019s 2025 Annual Meeting"},"content":{"rendered":"

The world\u2019s leading professional organization for chemical engineers, AIChE<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0annually presents awards to honor research in\u00a0<\/span>various areas of medicine, science, and technology<\/span>. During the AIChE 2025 Meeting,\u00a0<\/span>Najafian<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>was awarded the First Pla<\/span>ce Academic Award in the North American Mixing Forum (NAMF)\u00a0<\/span>for his research\u00a0<\/span>integrating<\/span>\u00a0sc<\/span>ience a<\/span>nd technology<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>while\u00a0<\/span>Sharifi received the Pharmaceutical Discovery, Development, and Manufacturing (PD2M) Award for her advancements in pharmaceutical drug development<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Leila Sharifi:\u00a0Pharmaceutical Discovery, Development, and Manufacturing (PD2M) Award<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Graduating from Tehran Islamic Azad University\u2019s Pharmaceutical Sciences Department with her Pharm.D. in 2014, Leila Sharifi worked for several years in the pharmaceutical industry before obtaining her Ph.D. As a quality control manager, a quality assurance manager, and a tech transfer lead at third-party companies that were licensed by pharmaceutical companies like Ipsen, Bayer, and Novartis, Sharifi realized she wanted to continue her passion for research at UConn. With additional experience as a pharmacist in retail and hospital settings, which connected her to patients, Sharifi developed an interest in creating drugs to transform the lives of people with debilitating diseases.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Headshot
Headshot of Leila Sharifi (Photo submitted by Sharifi)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sharif<\/span>i began\u00a0<\/span>her<\/span>\u00a0Ph.D.\u00a0<\/span>studies\u00a0<\/span>at UConn in Bodhi Chaudhuri\u2019s lab in 2023<\/span>\u00a0with a<\/span>\u00a0focus\u00a0<\/span>on\u00a0<\/span>drug formulation<\/span>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0developmen<\/span>t<\/span>. With UConn\u2019s excellent ranking in pharmacy, Sharifi chose the\u00a0<\/span>School<\/span>\u00a0because of the prestige and\u00a0<\/span>her relationship with Chaudhuri from past collaborations<\/span>. Using computational modeling to investigate\u00a0<\/span>drug\u00a0<\/span>formulation<\/span>, Chaudhuri\u2019s research inspired Sharifi to further her passion\u00a0<\/span>for<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>drug development.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The applicability of her lab work\u00a0and coursework has helped Sharifi apply her pharmaceutical knowledge to professional experiences.\u00a0Working on projects closely related to the pharmacy industry, Sharifi is looking forward to\u00a0having a substantial impact on pharmaceutical research and development to make drugs that could treat diseases that currently have no available cure.\u00a0\u00a0Additionally, Sharifi\u2019s presentational and professionalism skills have grown at the\u00a0School\u00a0through weekly seminars and\u00a0conference opportunities.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cKnowing that what I learn at UConn will help me in my internships and future career is very rewarding.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

First working as a teaching assistant in her Ph.D. program before working in research, Sharifi helped students learn the difficult concepts she remembers first being introduced to during her undergraduate journey. Becoming a research assistant after her first semester, she began working with Chaudhuri on researching gene therapy. In the lab, Sharifi uses advanced computer models to identify safe gene carriers that can be used to treat those with life-threatening diseases. When manufactured, carriers sometimes clump up and make treatments less effective. Sharifi\u2019s research aims to use computer models to uncover why this clumping happens, so these life-saving treatments can be safe to use.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Passionate about helping patients who face life-threatening illnesses, Sharifi has fallen in love with research at UConn.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Extending her research beyond the lab, Sharifi has shared her research on gene therapy as an academic expert at the 2024\u00a0and 2025\u00a0American Association of Pharmaceutical Sciences (AAPS)\u00a0PharmSci360 Annual Meetings and was invited to talk at the 2025 Connecticut Microelectronics and Optoelectronics Consortium\u00a0(CMOC).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When reflecting on the mentorship\u00a0<\/span>she\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>received<\/span>\u00a0from Chaudhuri, Sharifi is most grateful for his hands-on approach. Giving students the space to explore and learn from mistakes, Chaudhuri is always ope<\/span>n to Sharifi\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>new ideas<\/span>\u00a0and motivates her to be an independent researcher. Starting her Ph.D. with little knowledge of modeling, Chaudhuri has grown Sha<\/span>rifi\u2019s confidence within the lab.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In recognition of her ongoing research and\u00a0its impact on the field of pharmaceutical discovery, development, and manufacturing,\u00a0Sharifi received the PD2M Award at AIChE\u2019s 2025 Meeting.\u00a0Given to only a select\u00a0group of students\u00a0whose research\u00a0demonstrates\u00a0outstanding contributions to the field,\u00a0Vice President of Eli Lilly Kevin Seibert and Research Fellow at Pfizer Kevin Girard handed Sharifi her award during the ceremony.\u00a0Sharifi was among students from prestigious universities like MIT, University of Minnesota, and international universities like London University to win this award.\u00a0Along with a plaque and monetary prize, this award is a testament to Sharifi\u2019s goal to develop life-changing\u00a0medication.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m very grateful to work in a lab where our projects and hard work will be part of something meaningful.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Receiving the award during the conference,\u00a0surrounded by high-level managers in the pharmaceutical industry,\u00a0has inspired Sharifi to network and connect with successful\u00a0pharmacists\u00a0and researchers.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Sharifi
Sharifi and others receive the PD2M award (Photo submitted by Sharifi)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With this prestigious award and her love for research, Sharifi plans\u00a0on continuing\u00a0her research in\u00a0the\u00a0gene therapy area and\u00a0embarking on a new research project when her current one ends. With plans\u00a0to work\u00a0in companies that share her same\u00a0empathy\u00a0for helping those with\u00a0life-threatening\u00a0diseases, Sharifi is excited to use her\u00a0compassion to advance the pharmaceutical industry through life-changing medication.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sharifi\u2019s award and her deep-rooted passion for changing lives through pharmaceutical breakthroughs\u00a0reflect\u00a0UConn\u2019s Pharmacy\u2019s mission of community service and advocacy.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Saeed\u00a0Najafian: First Place Academic Award in The North American Mixing Forum<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Graduating top of his class with a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Tehran, Saeed Najafian came to UConn with sights set on a master’s degree. After completing his M.S. in Chemical Engineering in December 2023 under the leadership of Professor of Pharmaceutics Bodhi Chaudhuri (Ph.D.), Najafian began working on his Ph.D at the School. Focusing on inhalation formulation and continuous manufacturing during his master\u2019s degree, Najafian\u2019s Ph.D. research now focuses on advanced modeling of multiphase systems and solid-dosage-form manufacturing.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Headshot
Headshot of Saeed Najafian (Photo submitted by Najafian)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Najafian\u00a0studies how to mix the ingredients that go into\u00a0medicine\u00a0so they blend smoothly and evenly. He uses powerful computer models to test how\u00a0different factors\u00a0affect\u00a0the mixing. His research helps companies understand the best way to run their mixing machines so that medicines can be produced safely and consistently, especially when they go from making small batches to large ones.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In Chaudhuri\u2019s lab,\u00a0<\/span>Najafian<\/span> studies how to improve the manufacturing of medications through novel modeling techniques. Using a type of advanced computer modeling called Computational Fluid Dynamics\u2013Discrete Element Method (CFD-DEM), <\/span>Najafian<\/span>\u00a0works in collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Using this model,\u00a0<\/span>Najafian<\/span>\u00a0tests how different parameters affect medication during the mixing process to uncover the best way for companies to run their machines and produce the most\u00a0<\/span>accurate<\/span>\u00a0batches of medicine.\u00a0<\/span>Najafian<\/span> has also conducted a six-month project with Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) in Danbury, focusing on improving the manufacturing process of pharmaceutical powders and tablets. With a passion for modeling,\u00a0<\/span>Najafian<\/span> has started a new project in collaboration with the University of Iowa School of Pharmacy, focusing on improving the manufacturing process of tablets with modeling techniques.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Viewing Chaudhuri as a mentor throughout his four-year journey at UConn,\u00a0Najafian\u00a0credits the professor for his continuous support and encouragement during times of trial and error. Helping\u00a0Najafian\u00a0improve his professionalism skills and grow his UConn community, Chaudhuri has connected\u00a0Najafian\u00a0to lab alumni to network and discuss research.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUConn has helped me improve my professional skills needed for this industry.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In early November,\u00a0Najafian\u00a0presented two talks at the 2025 AIChE Annual Meeting.\u00a0<\/span>In the first presentation, Najafian explained the formulation manufacturing research from his time as a master’s student and the pending patent on this project in the Pharmaceutical Discovery, Development, and Manufacturing (PD2M) Forum. After finishing this presentation, Najafian gave a second one to the North America mixing forum on his innovative research on advanced multiphase mixing modeling for improving pharmaceutical manufacturing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Required to\u00a0submit\u00a0a paper for his work on multiphase mixing,\u00a0Najafian\u00a0was selected from a highly competitive group of students from around the world to present his findings at the meeting in Boston. These findings, along with\u00a0Najafian\u2019s\u00a0presentational skills\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0learned through presenting at seminars at the\u00a0School, won him the First Place Academic Award in the North American Forum. In applying the monetary compensation from the award to further research,\u00a0Najafian\u00a0is excited to continue exploring his passions in modeling.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUConn Pharmacy is a brand, helping me connect with leaders in the industry and gain professional experience.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This past summer,\u00a0<\/span>Najafian<\/span>\u00a0completed an internship at AbbVie, a pharmaceutical company, where he worked on\u00a0<\/span>high-shear<\/span>\u00a0mixing devices and\u00a0<\/span>scaling up<\/span> novel technologies for particle size reduction. Additionally, he applied the modeling skills <\/span>he\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0learned at the\u00a0<\/span>School<\/span>\u00a0in developing a CFD-DEM model to predict the particle collision behavior.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Saeed
Saeed Najafian receives the Edward V. Gant Award from UConn (Photo submitted by Najafian)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Aside from his prestigious recognition at the 2025 AIChE Annual Meeting,\u00a0<\/span>Najafian<\/span> received third place in the Academic Research Award Presentations at the 2025 American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists Northeast Regional Discussion Group (AAPS NERDG) Conference. In 2025, <\/span>Najafian<\/span> also received the Edward V. Gant Award from UConn for his excellence in academics, professionalism, and service. In this highly competitive award, <\/span>Najafian<\/span>\u00a0was one of only two graduate students across all schools at UConn to receive this honor.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Najafian\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0First Place Academic Award at the 2025 AIChE annual meeting is a testament to his dedicated research, professional skills, and his passion for serving others through pharmaceutical breakthroughs.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Two graduate students from UConn Pharmacy, Leila Sharifi and Saeed Najafian, attended the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Annual Meeting in November, where they each received an award. Najafian earned the First Place Academic Award, while Sharifi was honored with the Pharmaceutical Discovery, Development, and Manufacturing (PD2M) Award. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":221,"featured_media":239819,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_crdt_document":"","wds_primary_category":0,"wds_primary_series":0,"wds_primary_attribution":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1864],"tags":[],"magazine-issues":[],"coauthors":[2644],"class_list":["post-239813","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pharm"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-30 03:49:42","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/239813","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/users\/221"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=239813"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/239813\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":239822,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/239813\/revisions\/239822"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media\/239819"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=239813"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=239813"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=239813"},{"taxonomy":"magazine-issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/magazine-issues?post=239813"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=239813"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}