Here is the profile of Golareh Asgaritarghi, the recipient of the Alan-Anderson scholarship 2024, currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology under the guidance of Professor Jacques Côté. Our scholarship program is made possible through the support of the Centre de recherche sur le cancer de l’Université Laval and the Fonds de recherche en cancérologie from l’Université Laval.
Curiosity and a desire to understand the logic and reasoning behind observations first drew Golareh Asgaritarghi to biology. Her interest in research, along with her academic background and involvement in social science activities, played a pivotal role in shaping her path and fueling her passion to study biology at its most fundamental level.
She began her academic journey with distinction, ranking in the top 0.4% of students in the National University Entrance Exam in Iran. She went on to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology at Shahid Beheshti University, where she graduated with honors, gaining experience as both a research assistant and a leader in social mobilization initiatives. Motivated to deepen her expertise, Golareh began her graduate studies in Genetics at Tarbiat Modares University (TMU), one of Iran’s most prestigious institutions. Her research focused on cancer treatment, specifically exploring whether a natural compound called solanine could help eliminate blood cancer cells. She investigated how this compound affects key genes involved in cell growth and survival, assessing its potential to trigger cancer cell death—a contribution that could one day inform the development of new cancer therapies. Her findings were published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at three national and international conferences. Beyond her thesis, Golareh pursued numerous side projects ranging from cancer research to human genetics, many of which also led to publications.
Drawing on her research and teaching assistantship experiences, she decided to continue her academic journey in a more collaborative international setting. She joined Prof. Jacques Côté’s team at Université Laval, where she is currently pursuing a PhD focused on chromatin biology in the context of cancer. Her current research investigates a fusion protein formed by the accidental joining of two genes in certain blood cancer patients. This abnormal protein disrupts normal gene expression regulation, contributing to cancer progression. She recently presented her work at the 22nd Annual PROTEO Symposium in Quebec.
Her academic excellence and research potential have been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Pierre J. Durand/World Citizen Scholarship in 2022 and the Louis-Poirier Scholarship from the Fondation du CHU de Québec in 2023. With the hope that her research will one day illuminate new paths in translational medicine, Golareh continues to pursue science with passion and purpose.