Hamid Shahshahan is Gold U recipient for June

Hamid Shahshahan, a research technologist in the UNMC Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, has always loved science.

Shahshahan, the Gold U recipient for June, has been interested in science since his childhood.

“Anything related to nature is interesting to me,” Shahshahan said. “I found research eventually, where I can do my part to advance science.”

A nature photographer, he said scientists have responsibilities that include being mindful of the environment and helping the public understand science.

“People need to know more about science,” he said. “Lots of people still don’t have a clear idea about how science works. Scientists should reach out to help the general public to understand the scientific method.”

Shahshahan, who has been at UNMC for almost seven years, works in the lab of Paras Mishra, Ph.D., where he helps explore heart problems common in diabetic patients.

His nominators praised his innovative skills, which have allowed him to standardize a trio of new lab techniques — one that is important in researching heart failure, another related to proteomics, and third that is critical to understanding the effects of diabetic mothers on congenital heart defects.

He also standardized the surgical implantation of insulin pumps in diabetic mice, a technique that is critical in researching the role of insulin in diabetic cardiomyopathy at the molecular level.

Said one colleague: “I see a dedicated scientist in him and a helpful citizen. We need more people like him in the field of science.”

Shahshahan is responsible for lab compliance with the animal care, safety and biosafety regulations and to be prepared for the inspections. Colleagues say he is quick to assist new trainees, respects diversity and other employees, and is admired for his lab skills, work ethic and adherence to safety rules.

“Hamid does the highest quality of work and does not compromise to achieve top quality work,” a colleague said.

He has published four papers since late 2017, three of which were co-first authorship. He also has developed novel ways of systematically arranging the lab’s inventory of antibodies, primers and tissue. He has independently overseen the difficult procedure of crossbreeding of different strains of mice to create a new strain of mice.

He said he is enjoying his time at UNMC and in Omaha.

“I like everything, from the living environment of the city and university, my colleagues and boss – it’s a friendly department. Professional and friendly,” he said. “There is a lot of collaboration between different labs.”