Dr. Marhaba Hojahmat obtained her MS and Ph.D degree from Tokyo University of Science (Tokyo, Japan, 2000). In March 2000, she joined Dr. Crooks's group. She was focusing on designing and synthesizing a novel series of Lobeline prodrugs and structure-related analogs of Lobeline used in the development of potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of Methamphetamine Abuse and smoking cessation. In Sept. 2002, Dr. Marhaba Hojahmat joined Yaupon Therapeutics, as research scientist, a start-up biopharmaceutical research & development company that develops potentially groundbreaking treatment for a variety of disorders, specially those affecting the central nervous system, and cancer. In this company, she has set up a new research laboratory; her job duty is conduct research and development involving the identification and characterization of chemical entities with pharmaceutical potential. Perform all chemistry-related activities and plant extraction. Analyze the physical and pharmaceutical properties of compounds with clinical potential. Optimize reactions and processes for efficient and economical large scale manufacture of molecules slated for pharmaceutical development (i.e.: R-nornicotine fumarate, (-)-norketamine hydrochloride et al). Explore new reaction pathways and routes to pharmaceutically interesting compounds.