My name is Bahareh Ghaffari, and I am a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry. I finished my bachelor’s and master’s studies in Iran where I was born. I began my Ph.D. program in the Spring of 2021 as a member of Dr. Jetze Tepe’s research group. Driven by my curiosity about proteins and the role of small molecules in modulating their activity—particularly their implications in disease treatment—I initially focused on the synthesis and biological evaluation of small molecules to modulate 20S proteasome, an enzyme responsible for degrading unwanted and damaged proteins. Currently, I am working on a new project in Dr. Babak Borhan’s research group with my focus on a different aspect of protein science, where I am working on engineering proteins to selectively bind small molecules. I am highly driven and motivated to expand my skill set, leveraging my chemistry background to gain deeper insights into biochemistry and molecular biology. Outside of science, I enjoy solving jigsaw puzzles, spending time with my cat, reading, and cooking.