Dilyara Sharipova smiles in front of the Taj Mahal.

Dilyara Sharipova

Image courtesy of the subject.

Graduate Student Spotlight: Dilyara Sharipova

by Danielle Doughty | Department of Chemistry |
Categories: Research, Students

Chemistry Graduate Student Dilyara Sharipova describes her research and answers 20 random questions as part of the Graduate Student Spotlight series.

Dilyara Sharipova was born and raised in Tashkent, Uzbekistan before her family moved to New York City. Now a graduate student in Professor Ronald T. Raines‘ Lab, Dilyara’s  research focuses on understanding the structure-function relationship of ribonucleases, particularly how post-translational modifications influence their activity within disease states and how to enhance their selectivity for target RNA sequences.

“I’m pursuing a PhD in Chemistry because I’m driven by the intellectual challenge of applying chemical principles to understand and manipulate complex biological systems,” said Dilyara. “My goal is to acquire the experimental skills and chemical knowledge necessary to advance our understanding of disease and contribute to the development of novel therapeutics.”

As the subject of this Graduate Student Spotlight, Dilyara reveals the best vacation she’s ever taken, the amazing adventure she’d like to take, the lineup for her dream music festival, and more!

  1. If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time?
    I would prepare healthy meals for the day, attempt challenging jigsaw puzzles, and practice driving.
  2. What is the best vacation you’ve ever taken?
    My most memorable trip was my destination fusion wedding in Dehradun, India. The wedding itself was a celebration of diverse cultures, and we followed it with a tour of the Golden Triangle, where we encountered even more examples of India’s rich and multifaceted history in Agra, Jaipur, and Delhi.
  3. Who would be the best person you could be stuck in an elevator with?
    A time traveler who got on with me, so that we can rewind time and take the stairs instead.
  4. If you were given five million dollars to open a small museum, what kind of museum would you create?
    I would establish a museum dedicated to showcasing the interconnectedness of global events. There would be exhibits that juxtapose historical occurrences from different regions – but the same time period – to reveal subtle “butterfly effects” that shaped our world.
  5. What are some small things that make your day better?
    Small joys in my day include the satisfaction of planning ahead, the pleasure of giving thoughtful gifts, and that exhilarating moment when I finally recall the word that was on the tip of my tongue.
  6. What could you give a 40-minute presentation on with absolutely no preparation?
    I could outline a unique travel itinerary inspired by the 100 and growing souvenir magnets on my fridge.
  7. If you suddenly became a master at woodworking, what would you make?
    A functional, all-season tree house.
  8. What irrational fear do you have?
    Automatonophobia.
  9. What invention doesn’t get a lot of love, but has greatly improved the world?
    An undervalued invention is the shared digital calendar.
  10. What food do you crave most often?
    Homemade Uzbek plov.
  11. If you had an app that showed three stats about any person you looked at, what three stats would you want it to show?
     would like to know how to pronounce their name correctly, their favorite hobby, and what they care about the most.
  12. What are you most looking forward to in the next decade?
    I’m most eager to witness the continued success of my immigrant family in the US. I also envision myself building a fulfilling career and contributing to scientific breakthroughs that improve human health.
  13. What is on your bucket list?
    I hope to visit all the Wonders of the World, start a time capsule, and compile a family recipe book.
  14. What skill would you like to master?
    Memorization techniques.
  15. What bends your mind every time you think about it?
    The thought that each individual has a unique and fascinating life story due to the sheer scale and diversity of the human experience.
  16. What are your top three favorite movies?
    Wall-E, Men in Black, and I Am Legend.
  17. What would be the most amazing adventure to go on?
    Global food tour.
  18. What hobby would you get into if time and money weren’t an issue?
    Gardening.
  19. Who would be in the lineup for your ideal music festival?
    My ideal music festival would feature classics and inter-band medleys from OneRepublic, Imagine Dragons, and Coldplay.
  20. If you could know the absolute and total truth to one question, what question would you ask?
    How can we make contact with other lifeforms in the universe and when should we?