Dr. Azam Gholami

Associate Professor

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Biography

Azam Gholami received his bachelor's degree in physics from Sharif University in Tehran and his master's degree in physics from the Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences in Zanjan, Iran. He graduated with a PhD in biophysics from Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, Germany, in 2007. Following his PhD, he worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization in Göttingen, where he led a research group titled 'Pattern Formation in Biological Systems' for ten years. His research interests encompass collective behavior and non-linear dynamics in living systems, with particular focus on cell motility and actin dynamics. His experiments with the slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum provide insights into the mechanisms of cell migration, revealing how starving cells secrete chemoattractants to migrate in organized streams, ultimately forming fruiting bodies essential for their survival. Gholami's investigations into the dynamics of cilia and flagella also contribute to understanding cellular locomotion. His collaborative work on light-driven artificial components has implications for integrated systems that mimic biological motors. His significant findings have been published in reputable journals such as Science Signaling and ACS Synthetic Biology, the latter of which highlighted his work on light-controlled synthetic vesicles on its cover.

Research Interests

Courses

Research Seminar in Physics Senior Capstone Project in Physics Foundations of Science 5 Foundations of Science 6

Requirements for New York University Abu Dhabi

Bachelor Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.7
IELTS
Listening
Required:6.5
Reading
Required:6.5
Writing
Required:6.5
Speaking
Required:6.5
Overall
Required:7
TOEFL
Listening
Required:22
Reading
Required:22
Writing
Required:22
Speaking
Required:22
Total
Required:100
Duolingo
Overall Score
Required:125
Overall
Required:125
Prerequisites
High School Diploma or equivalent
Application Checklist
  • Common Application
  • NYU Supplement
  • Official Transcripts
  • Common Application School Report
  • Counselor Recommendation
  • Self-reported Transcript and Academic Record System (STARS)
  • Standardized Testing (Optional for 2025-2026)
  • Teacher Recommendation
Specialization Notes

Undergraduate programs at NYU Abu Dhabi are cross-disciplinary. Departments such as Computer Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Philosophy, and Psychology fall under the undergraduate Bachelor of Arts/Science tracks.