My name is Zahra Manoochehri, and I am originally from Darab, a quaint city in southern Iran. I earned my B.Sc. in Environmental Health Engineering from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, where I first developed a keen interest in how the environment impacts human health. That interest deepened during my master's studies in Environmental Toxicology at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. My thesis focused on determining cytotoxic effects of PET nanoplastics on the HepG2 cell line using various cytotoxicity assays. These experiences confirmed my passion for toxicology. After graduation, I gained additional experience in molecular biology through a research assistant position at the Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research.

I must say, I am quite thrilled about this Human Toxicology Program at the University of Iowa because of its strong interdisciplinary training, excellent faculty, and collaborative research environment. I look forward to expanding my knowledge in such a dynamic program and actively working toward becoming an impactful researcher. 

In my free time, I enjoy swimming, hiking, watching movies, and painting