Assist. Prof. Dr. Farah Deba | Cell Biology | Best Researcher Award

Assistant Professor at University of Texas at Tyler, United States.

Dr. Farah Deba is an accomplished pharmaceutical scientist and educator with cross-disciplinary expertise in molecular pharmacology, biotechnology, and drug delivery. She received her Ph.D. in Applied Molecular and Cellular Biology from Kagoshima University in Japan, after completing advanced training in bioscience and biotechnology at the University of the Ryukyus. Her postdoctoral training in the U.S. and extensive experience in electrophysiology and receptor pharmacology underpin her translational research into ion channel modulators, liposome-based delivery systems, and cell-based pharmacodynamics. She has been recognized with awards for teaching excellence, research mentorship, and faculty distinction at the University of Texas at Tyler.

Professional Profile

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🎓 Education 

• Ph.D. in Applied Molecular and Cellular Biology (Cell Biology)
  Kagoshima University (under the University of the Ryukyus), Japan, 2008

• M.S. in Bioscience and Biotechnology (Biotechnology)
  University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan, 2005

• M.Pharm. in Pharmaceutical Science (Pharmacology)
  University of Science & Technology Chittagong, Bangladesh, 1999

• B.Pharm. in Pharmaceutical Science
  University of Science & Technology Chittagong, Bangladesh, 1997
  (Courses included: Organic Chemistry, Pharmaceutics, Physiology, Physical Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology, Medicinal Chemistry, and Pharmacology)

💼 Experience 

Dr. Farah Deba is a distinguished educator and researcher in pharmaceutical sciences with over two decades of academic and industrial experience. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor at the Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Tyler, where she also holds the prestigious Maytee Fisch Professorship in Pharmacy (2024–2025). Dr. Deba previously worked at Texas A&M Health Science Center’s Irma L. Rangel College of Pharmacy as a Postdoctoral Research Associate and later a Senior Research Associate.

Her career began in pharmaceutical industry quality control at Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Dhaka, where she developed analytical methods for pharmaceutical formulations. She later gained extensive international academic training and research experience in Japan, including roles at HiPep Laboratories and the University of the Ryukyus.

At UT Tyler, she has coordinated and instructed several core pharmacy courses including Pharmaceutical Calculations, Biochemistry, and Non-Sterile Compounding. She has extensive experience training students in patch clamp, electrophysiology, cell-based assays, and molecular biology techniques.

🔬 Research Interests

• Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor (nAChR) Modulation and Pharmacology

• Electrophysiology and Ion Channel Function (Patch Clamp, Voltage Clamp Techniques)

• Drug Delivery Systems using Liposome and Nanoparticles

• Photolabeling and Mechanistic Studies of Positive Allosteric Modulators (PAMs)

• Biomedical Applications of Natural Toxins and Peptides

• Non-Newtonian Nanofluid Dynamics in Drug Transport

📊 Author Metrics

• Total Citations: 60+

• Notable Citations per Article: Up to 19

• Top Publishing Journals: Molecular Pharmacology, ACS Applied Bio Materials, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Toxicon, International Journal of System Engineering

• H-index (est.): 4–5

• Research ID / ORCID: [Include when available]

Top Noted Publications:

1. Re-engineering a liposome with membranes of red blood cells for drug delivery and diagnostic applications
   ACS Applied Bio Materials, 2021
   Authors: C. Ferrel, S. Rayamajhi, T. Nguyen, R. Marasini, T. Saravanan, F. Deba, et al.
   Citations: 19

2. Photolabeling a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) with an (α4)₃(β2)₂ nAChR-selective positive allosteric modulator
   Molecular Pharmacology, 2016
   Authors: A.K. Hamouda, F. Deba, Z.J. Wang, J.B. Cohen
   Citations: 19

3. Flow of a Williamson fluid over a stretching sheet containing nanoparticles
   International Journal of System Engineering, 2021
   Authors: F. Deba, A. Rahman, Z. Khan, S. Iqbal, N. Sheikh
   Citations: 8

4. Assessing potentiation of the (α4)₃(β2)₂ nicotinic acetylcholine receptor by the allosteric agonist CMPI
   Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2022
   Authors: F. Deba, K. Munoz, E. Peredia, G. Akk, A.K. Hamouda
   Citations: 7

5. Biological activities of a new crotamine-like peptide from Crotalus oreganus helleri on C2C12 and CHO cell lines
   Toxicon, 2020
   Authors: E. Salazar, A. Rodriguez-Acosta, S. Lucena, R. Gonzalez, M.C. McLarty, F. Deba, et al.
   Citations: 7

Conclusion:

Dr. Farah Deba is an exceptionally deserving nominee for the Best Researcher Award, given her rich international academic background, cross-disciplinary innovation, and growing scientific footprint in molecular cell biology and drug delivery systems. Her impactful publications, prestigious teaching recognitions, and dedicated mentorship position her among the emerging thought leaders in the biosciences.