Background
Dr. Yusif Afandizada is a researcher in RNA and gene chemistry and a PhD graduate of Université Paris Cité (France) in Chemical Biology. He is a founding academic staff member at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Qarabağ University, where he serves as Assistant Professor and coordinator of the faculty’s research track.
Dr. Afandizada is also the founding head of NOBELab, a scientific research laboratory operating within QUTSEF. Through this role, he contributes to the development of the faculty’s research ecosystem and supports interdisciplinary scientific initiatives.
In addition, he is a founding member of the ALIM scientific organization established in France and serves as the cluster lead for Natural Sciences. In this capacity, he promotes international scientific collaboration, supports early-career researchers, and contributes to the development of new research initiatives.
His research focuses primarily on nucleic acid chemistry, nucleoside and nucleotide chemistry, oligonucleotide-based therapeutic platforms (ASO and siRNA), and the chemical and chemoenzymatic modification of RNA-based biomolecules.
Degrees
Université Paris Cité (France) - PhD in Chemical Biology
Awards
Campus France Scholarship – Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (Master’s studies)
State Program for Study Abroad – PhD level scholarship
Research Interests
Nucleoside and nucleotide chemistry
Oligonucleotide chemistry (ASO / siRNA platforms)
Gene chemistry and nucleic acid modifications
Bioconjugation and chemical functionalization of biomolecules
Stabilized modified tRNA analogues
Multistep biomolecular synthesis
RNA-based therapeutics
Biological evaluation and translational chemical biology