In an exciting development for 2024, our colleague Dr. Birte Seffert embarks on a nationwide tour to meet with the Klaus Tschira Boost Fund Fellows across Germany. The Keeping Up with the Boost Fellows series aims to shine a spotlight on the journeys, challenges, and achievements of our Fellows. 

Meet Vahid Nasirimarekani, a postdoc at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization and one of the 16 fellows of the 2023 cohort. Vahid’s research delves into one of the biggest mysteries in science: the origin of life.

Vahid’s research focus

Vahid’s work focuses on the interaction of macromolecular elements, such as proteins and lipids, within evaporating droplets. Imagine studying how life may have originated in salt water! While reproducing life’s evolution in a lab is impossible, Vahid investigates key steps, hoping to shed light on this fascinating question. His research is fundamental, and he recognizes that others will need to build on his findings. Still, he is committed to the long haul, knowing this pursuit won’t reach a definitive end in his lifetime.

Academic journey

Vahid’s academic journey is as bold as his scientific one. He has lived in seven countries, holds degrees in mechanical engineering, renewable energies, and forensic analysis, and speaks nine languages! Not afraid to cross disciplinary lines, he embraces risk and adventure in life and research.

As long as you are healthy, everything else is an adventure,

he says. That attitude guides him not just through his scientific pursuits but also his outlook on the challenges of academia.

Vahid’s perspective on science

In Vahid’s view, science is not so much about the results but about the journey. He reflects:

What I like about science is that it doesn’t take you anywhere, but allows you to learn, understand, and grow.

Publishing preprints, rather than waiting for formal journals, sparks conversations and keeps the research moving forward. He seems to remain unfazed by the pressure many postdocs feel about non-permanent positions, confidently trusting that his diverse skill set will always lead him to opportunities.

His dream? Establishing a dedicated research institute in Germany to explore the origin of life. An idea Vahid would love to pitch to leaders in science and funding agencies.

The KT Boost Fund is a joint program of GSO and the Klaus Tschira Foundation for postdoctoral researchers in the Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Computer Science. It offers flexible funding for risky and interdisciplinary research on the way to academic independence. Funding can be used to hire staff, buy equipment, or build collaborations – tailored to the research project.