Gallery | Ahmed Massoud

Snippets from My Master’s Journey

Sat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Throughout my master’s journey, I have been fortunate to grow academically and professionally. This page shares selected moments that shaped this experience.

During the pre-master’s year, I completed 10 courses (30 credit hours) and contributed to curriculum preparation and presentations delivered to my colleagues.

By the end of the year, I registered my research topic and presented my research proposal investigating the analgesic potential of betanin in a murine inflammatory pain model, with a focus on its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and pain-related miRNA regulatory effects.

Research Proposal Seminar

I then began the practical phase of my research, implementing the proposed study design. This phase included animal purchase and acclimatization, induction of the pain model, treatment administration, behavioral assessments, sacrifice and dissection, sample collection, and subsequent molecular, biochemical and ultrastructural analyses, along with in silico simulations.

Induction of Pain and Peripheral Inflammation Assessment

Paw Assessment

Paw Thickness Measurement to Assess Peripheral Inflammation

Treatment Preparation

Betanin, Purchased from Sigma Aldrich

Treatment Doses Preparation

Dissection and Sample Collection

Sample Collection Day

Molecular & Biochemical Analysis
Molecular

Tissue Lysis Using Qiagen TissueLyser LT

miRNeasy Kit for miRNA Extraction, Purchased from Qiagen

Me Inside the Molecular Biology Lab! 😎

Purity Assessment and Concentration Determination Using NanoDrop2000

Reverse Transcription Using SimpliAmp Thermal Cycler

qRT-PCR Using Qiagen Rotor-gene Q

Biochemical

ELISA for Pro and Anti-Inflammatory Markers

While Waiting During the ELISA Incubation Periods! 🫠

Colorimetric Lipid Peroxidation Assessmnet

In silico Simulations

Molecular Docking Simulation

Data anlysis and representation.

Graphs, Scientific Illustrations, and TE Micrographs

And finally, publishing my article in Biomedicines, a Q1 journal (IF: 3.9, CS: 6.8), entitled:

Betanin from Beta vulgaris Attenuates Complete Freund’s Adjuvant-Induced Inflammatory Pain: Integrated Preclinical and In Silico Insights

At the end of this journey, and with all praise to Allah, I would like to sincerely acknowledge everyone who supported me throughout—my family, my supervisors, and my colleagues.

Scientific Lecture at Sci. Green Camp, Alexandria University

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

As part of ongoing efforts to promote research skills among undergraduate students and researchers, I had the privilege of delivering an online scientific lecture entitled:

“Searching for Reliable Resources, Reading Research Papers Effectively, and Using Reference Management Tools.”

The lecture was part of the Sci. Green Camp activities, organized by the Undergraduate Researchers Initiative (URI) at Alexandria University. The event focused on supporting students at the early stages of their academic journey by developing essential research competencies.

Lecture Highlights

During the session, I addressed practical aspects of scientific research, including:

How to search for reliable scientific sources using academic databases such as Google Scholar and PubMed.
Effective strategies for reading and understanding research papers, with guidance on critically approaching different sections.
An introduction to reference management tools, including EndNote and Mendeley, with a detailed demonstration of Mendeley to streamline citation and literature organization, drawing on my role as a Mendeley Advisor.

The lecture was designed to help participants overcome common research challenges and improve the quality and efficiency of their academic writing.

Lecture Recording

Post on URI Facebook Page

GPA Calculator, Built for Faculty Students

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

When I was in the college, I always needed to track my GPA after each semester and plan for the next one. I liked to run simulations—assuming I earned certain grades in specific courses—and see how my cumulative GPA (cGPA) would turn out. This approach helped me a lot to stay on track and reduce academic stress, especially during semesters with heavy scientific content.

I created this simple Excel file to make the process practical and straightforward. It follows a grading system where A+ = 4 and A = 4.

✅ You can use this file on your phone or laptop—whether your degree program is 4 or 5 years—to calculate:

The GPA for each semester along with its credit hours.
The cGPA for each academic year separately, along with its total credit hours.
The overall cGPA across all academic years, along with total credit hours.
Most importantly, you can run virtual simulations for future courses and see how achieving certain grades would affect your cGPA and where it would end up.

🔗 Online sheet with the option to download for offline use:

Click for Arabic Translation - النص بالعربية

لما كنت في الكلية، كنت دايمًا بحتاج أتابع الـ GPA بتاعي بعد كل فصل دراسي، وأخطط للفصل اللي بعده. كنت بحب أعمل محاكاة —يعني أفترض إني جبت تقديرات معينة في مواد معينة— وأشوف وقتها الـ cGPA هيوصل لفين. الطريقة دي ساعدتني جدًا في إني أوجه نفسي، وأقلل من الضغط الدراسي عنها، خاصة في الفصول اللي كانت فيها مواد محتواها العلمي تقيل.

ملف الـ Excel البسيط ده عملته بحيث يساعد في الموضوع بشكل عملي وبسيط، وهو شامل طريقة تقييم إن الـ A+ = 4 والـ A = 4.

✅ الفايل ده تقدر تستخدمه من على التليفون أو اللابتوب -سواء كانت سنين دارستك ٤ سنوات أو ٥ سنوات- لحساب:

الـ GPA بتاع كل فصل دراسي وكذلك عدد ساعاته.
الـ cGPA الخاص بكل سنة دراسية منفصلة وكذلك عدد ساعاتها.
الـ cGPA بتاع كل السنين الدراسية مجتمعة وكذلك عدد ساعاتها.
ودي مهمة، تعمل محاكاة افتراضية لمواد السنين اللي جاية وتشوف لو جبت تقدير معين فيها هيأثر على الـ cGPA إزاي وهيوصل لفين!

🔗 رابط الشيت أونلاين مع إمكانية تحميله أوفلاين:

Post on Linkedin

Vitamin D May Delay the Onset of Aging

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Could a small vitamin D capsule slow down your biological age—or, in other words, change the way your body ages?

In a new study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers found that long-term supplementation with vitamin D3 helped slow telomere shortening. Telomeres are structures located at the ends of chromosomes inside body cells, and their role is to protect chromosomes—which carry genetic material—from deterioration or fusion with other chromosomes. Telomere length naturally decreases with age.

The study was based on data from a large clinical trial known as VITAL, which included more than 1,000 participants over the age of 50 and followed them for four years.

What’s remarkable? Participants who took vitamin D3 showed a significantly slower rate of telomere shortening in white blood cells compared to those who received a placebo. This effect may correspond to a reduction equivalent to approximately three years of biological aging.

The results also indicated that the beneficial effect of vitamin D was more pronounced in non-obese individuals, those not taking cholesterol-lowering medications, and non-White participants.

So how does vitamin D work?

The researchers hypothesized that vitamin D may activate enzymes such as telomerase, which helps maintain telomere length, or protect DNA from oxidative stress and damage.

However, before getting too excited…

The researchers themselves emphasized that this was a secondary analysis, meaning the findings are not definitive and require larger, more comprehensive studies for confirmation. In addition, the study population was not sufficiently diverse to allow broad generalization of the results.

Nevertheless, if future studies confirm these findings, we may be on the verge of a shift in how we approach the prevention of age-related diseases—and vitamin D could emerge as a new key to maintaining cellular health.

Source:

🔗

Click for Arabic Translation - النص بالعربية

هل ممكن كبسولة صغيرة من فيتامين د تبطئ من عمر جسمك البيولوجي أو بمعنى آخر تغير من الطريقة اللي بيشيخ بيها جسمك؟

في دراسة جديدة نُشرت في مجلة The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition، اكتشف باحثون أن تناول ڤيتامين D3 على مدى سنوات ساعد على تباطؤ قِصر التيلوميرات (Telomeres) – وهي أجزاء موجودة في نهايات الكروموسومات داخل خلايا الجسم، ووظيفتها حماية الكروموسومات اللي بتمثل المادة الوراثية من التآكل أو الإندماج مع كروموسومات أخرى، وبيقصر طولها مع التقدم في العمر.

الدراسة اعتمدت على بيانات من تجربة كبيرة اسمها VITAL، شملت أكثر من 1000 شخص فوق سن الخمسين، وتم متابعتهم على مدار أربع سنوات.

المذهل؟ إن المشاركين اللي كانوا بياخدوا ڤيتامين D3 حصل عندهم تباطؤ ملحوظ في قِصر التيلوميرات في كرات الدم البيضاء مقارنة باللي أخذوا دواء وهمي، وده قد يعني تقليل ما يعادل 3 سنوات من التقدم البيولوجي في العمر.

وأظهرت النتائج إن التأثير الإيجابي لڤيتامين د كان أوضح عند الأشخاص غير المصابين بالسمنة، واللي مش بياخدوا أدوية للكوليسترول، وكمان بين المشاركين غير البيض.

طيب إزاي بيشتغل فيتامين D؟

فرضية الباحثين إنه بيفعّل إنزيمات زي التيلوميريز (Telomerase) اللي بيحافظ على طول التيلوميرات، أو بيحمي الـ DNA من الأكسدة والتلف.

لكن، وقبل ما نتحمس زيادة…

الباحثين نفسهم وضحوا إن الدراسة كانت تحليل ثانوي، يعني النتائج مش قاطعة، ولسه محتاجة أبحاث إضافية أوسع وأكبر عشان تدعمها وتأكدها. وكمان العينة مش متنوعة كفاية علشان نعمم النتائج على كل الناس.

ومع كده، لو الدراسات الجاية أكدت النتائج دي، ممكن نكون على أعتاب تحول في نظرتنا للوقاية من الأمراض المرتبطة بالسن.. وممكن نلاقي في ڤيتامين D مفتاح جديد للحفاظ على صحة خلايا الجسم.

المصادر:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.05.003

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Discovery of Bacteria Visible to the Naked Eye

Wed, 28 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Have you ever imagined that there is a bacterium the size of an eyelash, and that it can be seen with the naked eye?!

In a study published in Science magazine, a team of researchers discovered an unprecedented giant bacterium named Candidatus Thiomargarita magnifica. This bacterium is not microscopic like most known bacteria; it can be seen with the naked eye, reaching a length of over a full centimeter — an astonishing size for any bacterial organism!

But what makes this bacterium remarkable is not just its size, but its unique internal organization. Unlike most bacteria, which contain floating DNA inside the cell, Thiomargarita magnifica contains membrane-bound organelles — similar to those found in eukaryotic cells — such as a nucleus where the DNA (the organism’s genetic material) is stored.

Not only that, it has a complex life cycle characterized by asymmetric genome division among its new cells, raising significant questions about how this bacterium grows.

This discovery challenges our traditional view of bacteria as simple, small, and limited-sized organisms, and confirms that there is much we still do not know about our world.

Are we beginning to discover new worlds within this microscopic world that we once thought was simple?

Think with me… how could this giant bacterium affect the marine environment where it was found? And could it have an important role in ecological balance or in future scientific and medical applications?

Sources:

Click for Arabic Translation - النص بالعربية

هل تخيلت يومًا أن هناك بكتيريا بحجم رمش العين، ويمكن رؤيتها بالعين المجردة؟!

في دراسة نشرت في مجلة ساينس، اكتشف فريق من الباحثين بكتيريا عملاقة غير مسبوقة، اسمها Candidatus Thiomargarita magnifica. هذه البكتيريا ليست مجهرية كما هي عادة معظم أنواع البكتيريا المعروفة، بل يمكن رؤيتها بالعين المجردة حيث يصل طولها لأكثر من سنتيمتر كامل — وهو حجم مذهل بالنسبة لأي كائن بكتيري!

لكن ما يميز هذه البكتيريا ليس فقط حجمها، بل طريقة تنظيمها الداخلي الفريدة. فعلى عكس معظم البكتيريا التي تحتوي على DNA عائم داخل الخلية، فإن Thiomargarita magnifica تحتوي على عضيات محاطة بأغشية — تشبه تلك الموجودة في خلايا حقيقيات النواة — كالنواة التي يُخزن فيها الـ DNA.

ليس هذا فقط، بل لديها دورة حياة معقدة تتميز بتقسيم غير متماثل للجينوم بين خلاياها الجديدة، مما يفتح أمامنا تساؤلات كبيرة حول كيفية نمو هذه البكتيريا.

هذا الاكتشاف يغير مفهومنا التقليدي للبكتيريا ككائنات بسيطة محدودة الحجم وصغيرة جدًا، ويؤكد أن هناك الكثير مما لا نزال نجهله في عالمنا.

هل بدأنا نكتشف عوالم جديدة داخل هذا العالم المجهري الذي كنا نظنه بسيطًا؟

فكر معي… كيف يمكن أن تؤثر هذه البكتيريا العملاقة في البيئة البحرية التي عُثر عليها فيها؟ وهل يمكن أن يكون لها دور مهم في التوازن البيئي أو في تطبيقات علمية وطبية مستقبلية؟

المصادر:

Post on Linkedin

Mentoring in the Lab: Where Theory Meets Practice

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In the lab, it’s more than just science — it’s about nurturing curiosity and guiding every small step toward discovery.

“Every great mind was once a student guided with patience.”

LAB Snippets: Teaching & My Students' Work

Wed, 15 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Snippets from the lab, capturing the learning journey and the outcomes of my students’ hands-on work.

Molecular Biotechnology Labs

DNA Extraction

asm0697.github.io

Hands-on DNA extraction from strawberry by my students using lab-prepared reagents.

DNA Extraction

asm0697.github.io

Hands-on DNA extraction from strawberry by my students using lab-prepared reagents.

Agarose Gel Electrophoresis

asm0697.github.io

My students having hands-on experience with Agarose electrophoresis.

Agarose Gel Electrophoresis

asm0697.github.io

My students having hands-on experience with Agarose electrophoresis.

ELISA

asm0697.github.io

My students having hands-on experience with ELISA.

ELISA

asm0697.github.io

My students having hands-on experience with ELISA.

Bacterial Transformation

asm0697.github.io

Successful transformation of E. coli with a kanamycin-resistant plasmid.

Histology & Physiology Labs

Spinal Cord

asm0697.github.io

Micrograph illustrating neuronal bodies and neuroglia in lumbar spinal cord.

Osmosis and RBCs

asm0697.github.io

Effect of hypertonic solution on the morphology of RBCs.

Inside the Vertebrates Lab

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Extraction of the rat’s brain and spinal cord as a single unit during the vertebrates lab—truly showing how amazing science can be.

Spinal Cord Extraction

asm0697.github.io

Spinal cord isolation by hydraulic extrusion.

SCHOLARJOBS: A Platform Made for Graduates and Job Seekers

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Follow SCHOLARJOBS and stay connected through our official platforms:

🌐

From MOOCs to Conferences: My Self-Learning Path

Sat, 15 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Every course I’ve explored, every workshop I’ve attended, and every conference I’ve joined has been a stepping stone in my journey of lifelong learning and scientific curiosity.

1. Courses


Diploma in Analytical Techniques in Purification of Biomolecules - Alison – 2024
Introduction on Nanotechnology - Edraak – 2023
Science Communication - Udemy – 2022
Basic First Aid skills – Edraak – 2022
SPSS Statistics Essential Training - LinkedIn Learning – 2022
Excel Essential Training (Office365/Microsoft 365) - LinkedIn Learning – 2022
Editing and Proofreading Made Simple - LinkedIn Learning – 2022
Writing with Proper Punctuation - LinkedIn Learning – 2022
Emotional Intelligence Basics – LinkedIn Learning – 2022
Speaking Confidently and Effectively - LinkedIn Learning – 2022
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving - LinkedIn Learning – 2022
Introduction to Scientific Writing - Education Clinic Inc. – 2022
Basics of Scientific Research – Egypt Scholars Inc. – 2019
Computer basics and MS Office - Alexandria University – 2018

2. Workshops


Western Blot Practical Techniques, Achieving Reliable and Reproducible Results Workshop – By Agitech & Bio-Rad at SRTA City – 2024
Finding Funding and Writing a Winning Proposal: Structure and Tips for Writing – TICO AIU – 2023
How to Deliver Inspiring Presentations - CABI – 2022
How to Craft Captivating Slides - CABI – 2022
How to Plan Thoughtful Oral Presentations - CABI – 2022
Structuring your article correctly - Researcher Academy, Elsevier - 2022
How to find the protocols and methods you need for your research – Springer Nature - 2022
Common Mistakes in Manuscript Writing - IET - 2022
How to Write Professional Response to Reviewers - CABI - 2022
How to Write Professional Review Report - CABI – 2022
How to review your manuscript before submission - CABI - 2022
How to write Conclusions, Abstract, Title & References - CABI - 2022
How to write Results and Discussions - CABI – 2022
How to write the Introduction and Materials & Methods - CABI - 2022
Entrepreneurship Workshop in the City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications – 2019
Scientific Research Workshop - Industrial Microbiology and Applied Chemistry Volunteers – 2017
Soft Skills Workshop - European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers – 2016
Leadership skills - Tamdeen for Training and Management Consulting – 2015

3. Conferences


3rd Scientific Conference: Emerging Technologies and Their Relationship to Sustainable Development - City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, Borg Al-Arab City – 2025
Annual Arab Asian Biotechnology Conference (AABC 2025): Desert Biotechnology and Sustaining Life in Arid Regions - Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt – 2025
12ᵗʰ STUDENT & 5ᵗʰ POST-GRADUATE Conference for Research & Innovation - Faculty of Science, Alexandria University – 2025
The 9ᵗʰ Alexandria SBS Bowel Diseases: The Art and Science in Clinic and Research - Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University – 2024
The 2nd International Conference of the City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications – 2024
First International Conference of the Egyptian Society of Biological and Biomedical Sciences – 2024
Young Pharmaceutical Scientists Association - YPSA Online Conference on 23rd to 28th of July – 2022

Scientific Illustrations Portfolio

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Feel free to use my scientific illustartions for any academic purpose! Enjoy! 💙

Preview

FIG 01 Sept 2025

Metabolic Disorders, Autonomic Immune Dysfunction, and Ferroptosis

Integrative molecular signaling map illustrating how chronic nutrient overload, visceral white adipose tissue (vWAT) inflammation, and autonomic nerve impairment interact to drive iron-dependent ferroptosis across metabolic organs.

Ferroptosis Metabolic Disorders Illustrations

Preview

FIG 02 Mar 2026

SLC7A11 Redox Homeostasis, Ferroptosis, and Disulfidptosis in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Schematic overview illustrating how SLC7A11 regulates redox homeostasis and neuronal survival, with its dysregulation driving ferroptosis or disulfidptosis in neurodegenerative diseases.

SLC7A11 Ferroptosis Disulfidptosis

Preview

FIG 03 July 2025

Betanin-Mediated Modulation of miRNA Signaling and Neuroinflammation in Inflammatory Pain

Proposed molecular mechanism illustrating how betanin may attenuate inflammatory pain through modulation of miR-107/GLT-1 and miR-145/Akt signaling, with downstream effects on glutamate accumulation, oxidative stress, and inflammatory cytokines.

Betanin Pain miRNA

Preview

FIG 02 Mar 2026

SLC7A11 Redox Homeostasis, Ferroptosis, and Disulfidptosis in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Schematic overview illustrating how SLC7A11 regulates redox homeostasis and neuronal survival, with its dysregulation driving ferroptosis or disulfidptosis in neurodegenerative diseases.

SLC7A11 Ferroptosis Disulfidptosis

Preview

FIG 02 Mar 2026

SLC7A11 Redox Homeostasis, Ferroptosis, and Disulfidptosis in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Schematic overview illustrating how SLC7A11 regulates redox homeostasis and neuronal survival, with its dysregulation driving ferroptosis or disulfidptosis in neurodegenerative diseases.

SLC7A11 Ferroptosis Disulfidptosis

Preview

FIG 02 Mar 2026

SLC7A11 Redox Homeostasis, Ferroptosis, and Disulfidptosis in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Schematic overview illustrating how SLC7A11 regulates redox homeostasis and neuronal survival, with its dysregulation driving ferroptosis or disulfidptosis in neurodegenerative diseases.

SLC7A11 Ferroptosis Disulfidptosis

Gallery | Ahmed Massoud

Snippets from My Master’s Journey

Throughout my master’s journey, I have been fortunate to grow academically and professionally. This page shares selected moments that shaped this experience.

Induction of Pain and Peripheral Inflammation Assessment

Treatment Preparation

Dissection and Sample Collection

Molecular & Biochemical Analysis

Molecular

Biochemical

In silico Simulations

Data anlysis and representation.

And finally, publishing my article in Biomedicines, a Q1 journal (IF: 3.9, CS: 6.8), entitled:

At the end of this journey, and with all praise to Allah, I would like to sincerely acknowledge everyone who supported me throughout—my family, my supervisors, and my colleagues.

Scientific Lecture at Sci. Green Camp, Alexandria University

GPA Calculator, Built for Faculty Students

Vitamin D May Delay the Onset of Aging

Could a small vitamin D capsule slow down your biological age—or, in other words, change the way your body ages?

Discovery of Bacteria Visible to the Naked Eye

Have you ever imagined that there is a bacterium the size of an eyelash, and that it can be seen with the naked eye?!

Mentoring in the Lab: Where Theory Meets Practice

LAB Snippets: Teaching & My Students' Work

Molecular Biotechnology Labs

Histology & Physiology Labs

Inside the Vertebrates Lab

SCHOLARJOBS: A Platform Made for Graduates and Job Seekers

Follow SCHOLARJOBS and stay connected through our official platforms:

From MOOCs to Conferences: My Self-Learning Path

1. Courses

2. Workshops

3. Conferences

Scientific Illustrations Portfolio

Metabolic Disorders, Autonomic Immune Dysfunction, and Ferroptosis

SLC7A11 Redox Homeostasis, Ferroptosis, and Disulfidptosis in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Betanin-Mediated Modulation of miRNA Signaling and Neuroinflammation in Inflammatory Pain

SLC7A11 Redox Homeostasis, Ferroptosis, and Disulfidptosis in Neurodegenerative Diseases

SLC7A11 Redox Homeostasis, Ferroptosis, and Disulfidptosis in Neurodegenerative Diseases

SLC7A11 Redox Homeostasis, Ferroptosis, and Disulfidptosis in Neurodegenerative Diseases