Sadman Shawraz.

Antibody discovery · B-cell immunology

Small antibodies.
Big questions.

I’m Sadman Shawraz, a researcher developing tools to discover nanobodies and understand the immune system.

Research Assistant, Bieniasz Lab
The Rockefeller University · New York

Explore my research View résumé PDF
An illustrated llama beside a stylized single-domain antibody.
FIG. 01 Inspired by camelids. Engineered in the lab.
My nanobody platform is synthetic and animal-free.
From molecular designto functional discoverySELECTED WORK / 01–02

01 / Research

Questions into experiments.

Building platforms. Studying immune responses.
Connecting design with function.

01Current research

Bieniasz Lab · Rockefeller University · 2024–present

A platform for nanobody
discovery & maturation.

I’m developing a synthetic, animal-free platform to discover and refine VHHs, also known as nanobodies. My work connects library design, in vitro selection, mammalian cell-based selection, and functional characterization.

01Design diversity
02Select binders
03Refine & validate
My contributions
  • Designed and constructed diverse synthetic VHH libraries; enriched target-specific binders using ribosome display and affinity pulldown.
  • Engineered Ba/F3 and DHFR-knockout 293T selection systems that couple VHH–antigen recognition to cell survival.
  • Introduced targeted sequence variation using AID-T7-mediated mutagenesis and tracked enrichment with high-throughput sequencing.
  • Characterized antibody and nanobody function through protein-binding assays and SARS-CoV-2 pseudotyped virus neutralization.
Synthetic VHH librariesCell-based selectionAffinity maturation
02Previous research

Vuong Lab · City College of New York · 2022–2024

Understanding how B cells
shape antibody responses.

I investigated how the RNA helicase RHAU/DHX36 regulates AID-dependent class switch recombination and somatic hypermutation, using conditional knockout mice and ex vivo B-cell models.

My contributions
  • Measured serum immunoglobulin responses following immunization and characterized class switching in purified B cells.
  • Quantified germline switch transcripts by RT-qPCR to study mechanisms underlying antibody diversification.
  • Immunophenotyped human PBMCs to characterize NK-cell exhaustion and B- and T-cell populations in chronic hepatitis B patients.
B-cell biologyFlow cytometryClass switch recombination

02 / Publications

Science is a shared effort.

Selected co-authored work.

  1. 2026

    PNAS · Research article

    Memory B cell development in response to mRNA SARS-CoV-2 and nanoparticle immunization in mice

    Wiatr et al. · Co-author: Sadman Shawraz

  2. 2025
In preparation

RHAU regulation of class switch recombination and gene expression in B cells.
Vuong Lab · Co-authored manuscript listed as in preparation in my résumé.

03 / About

Curiosity at
the bench.

Download résumé PDF

I work at the intersection of antibody discovery, protein engineering, and B-cell immunology.

My experience spans synthetic library design through functional validation, with a particular interest in developing and troubleshooting experimental workflows. Before joining Rockefeller, I studied B-cell biology in the Vuong lab and evaluated activated carbon performance in materials research at RF CUNY.

Education

BSc, Biochemistry
The City College of New York · 2022
Magna cum laude
Minor in Earth & Atmospheric Sciences

Training & presentations

Poster presentation · AAI Immunology2024

B3-RaMMMP postbaccalaureate training
CCNY · 2023–2024

At the bench & beyond

VHH engineering · Ribosome display · Mammalian cell engineering · Flow cytometry · ELISA · Protein expression & purification · RT-qPCR · NGS analysis · Neutralization assays

04 / Field notes

A little room for thinking.

A space for future ideas, reflections, and questions beyond the bench.

Visit Thoughts

Let’s connect

Good science starts
with a conversation.

For research opportunities, collaborations, or a shared question.

LinkedIn View résumé (PDF)