Lab members
Here you can find information on everyone currently in the lab. If you're interested, you can check out their individual projects or even email them. If you don't mind waiting for huge images to load we even have a photo gallery of the group and anyone unlucky enough to stray in front of our digital camera.
Dek Woolfson - Group Leader
- history
- BA in Chemistry at the University of Oxford (1987), PhD in Chemistry at the University of Cambridge (1991), Post-doctoral research at the Universities of Cambridge, London and Berkeley (USA) (1991 - 1994), Lecturer in Biochemistry at the University of Bristol (1994 - 1995), Lecturer - Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Sussex (1996 - 2005), Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Bristol from August 2005.
Drew Thomson - Research officer
- started
- Apr 2008
- finishes
- Some time after
- funding
- University of Bristol
- history
- Postdoc Edinburgh (2006-7), PhD in Organic Chemistry Edinburgh (2006) MChem Edinburgh 2002.
- research
- Peptide synthesis including designed coiled-coil building blocks and novel versions of natural peptide folding motifs.
Gail Bartlett- Post-Doctoral Researcher
- started
- Dec 2007
- finishes
- Jun 2013
- funding
- University of Bristol
- history
- PhD in Bioinformatics (2004), University of London; MBiochem (2000), University of Oxford.
- research
- Structural Bioinformatics of Coiled Coils.
Marc Bruning - Post-Doctoral Researcher
- started
- Jan 2010
- finishes
- Nov 2011
- funding
- BBSRC
- history
- PhD in X-ray Crystallography/Structural Biology (2007)
- research
- X-ray structural analysis of synthetic peptide building blocks to guide new supramolecular designs.
Jordan Fletcher - Post-Doctoral Researcher
- started
- Oct 2009
- finishes
- Oct 2013
- funding
- EPSRC
- research
- Design of peptide matrices.
Franziska Thomas - Post-Doctoral Researcher
- started
- Nov 2010
- finishes
- Nov 2012
- funding
- DAAD
- history
- PhD in Organic Chemistry, Berlin (2010)
- research
- Chemical synthesis and investigation of switchable proteins
Leanne Mullen - Post-Doctoral Researcher
- started
- Nov 2010
- finishes
- Nov 2013
- funding
- BBSRC
- history
- PhD in Biomaterials University of Cambridge, MChem University of York
- research
- Developing an α-helical tissue engineering scaffold
Leyla Hussein - PhD student
- started
- Oct 2011
- finishes
- Oct 2014
- funding
- BBSRC
- history
- BSc Biochemistry with study in Industry (Hons) at the University of Bristol (2011)
- research
- Rational design of peptide-based self assembling enzymes and ion channels
Nazia Mehrban - Post-Doctoral Researcher
- started
- Jan 2011
- finishes
- Jan 2014
- funding
- BBSRC
- history
- PhD in Chemical Engineering (2011) from the University of Birmingham
- research
- Developing an α-helical tissue engineering scaffold
Emily Baker - PhD Student
- started
- Oct 2009
- finishes
- Oct 2013
- funding
- EPSRC
- research
- Designing peptide secondary structures and using these to guide the assembly of hybrid materials.
Aimee Boyle - PhD Student
- started
- Sep 2008
- finishes
- Sep 2012
- funding
- BBSRC
- history
- MChem Chemistry and Medicinal Science at the University of Southampton (june 2008)
- research
- Synthesising peptide "tracks".
Daniel Carew - PhD Student
- started
- Oct 2007
- finishes
- Oct 2010
- funding
- University of Bristol
- history
- Engineering Science degree (BASc) at the Univeristy of Toronto.
- research
- Peptide based assembly of inorganic materials for new nanoscale materials and devices.
Bertrand Chi - PhD Student
- started
- Oct 2008
- finishes
- Oct 2012
- funding
- ORS
- history
- Honours Biochemistry, Bristol Univeristy.
- research
- Membrane inserting peptides design, oligomerization in membrane, synthetic cytoskeleton.
Thom Sharp - PhD Student
- started
- Oct 2007
- finishes
- Oct 2011
- funding
- EPSRC
- history
- BSc Hons. in Biochemistry with Industrial Practice at the University of Bristol.
- research
- Designing novel probes for use in Correlative Light Electron Microscopy (CLEM).
Thomas Vincent - PhD Student
- started
- Jan 2009
- finishes
- Jan 2012
- funding
- EPSRC
- history
- MSci Hons at the University of Bristol, MRes in Complexity Sciences at the BCCS
- research
- Bioinformatics/statistics and prediction of coiled coil oligomeric state.
Previous members
These are the people who've made the lab what it is today, and have since gone on to other things. If you happen to be one of these wonderful beings, let me know if you'd like to update your details!
Craig Armstrong - Post-Doctoral Researcher
- started
- Oct 2006
- finishes
- Apr 2010
- funding
- BBSRC
- history
- BSc Hons Biochemistry at Bristol University.
- research
- Investigating switching peptides.
Patrick King - PhD Student
- started
- Oct 2006
- finishes
- Oct 2009
- funding
- Unilever
- history
- MSci Hons Chemistry with Industrial experience at Bristol University
- research
- Thermodynamics of SAF growth
Adam Sardar - PhD Student
- started
- Jan 2010
- finishes
- Oct 2013
- funding
- EPSRC
- research
- Investigating protein space.
Zahra Mahmoud - Post-Doctoral Researcher
- started
- Oct 2007
- finishes
- Oct 2010
- funding
- BBSRC
- history
- PhD, Univeristy of Hull, Post-doctoral work at the University of Hull and the University of Kent (2005-2007)
- research
- Functionalising self-assembled peptide systems.
Ed Abelardo - Research Fellow
- started
- Jan 2008
- finishes
- Jan 2011
- funding
- RCSEng
- history
- BSc Chemistry at Ateneo de Manila University (Philippines), Doctor of Medicine at University of the East.
- research
- Application of SAFs in cell culture, nerve regeneration.
Beth Bromley - Post-Doctoral Researcher
- started
- Oct 2005
- finishes
- Oct 2008
- funding
- BBSRC & School of Chemistry
- history
- BA Natural Sciences at Cambridge University, MSci Physics at Cambridge University, PhD Biophysics at Cambridge University.
- research
- Switching peptides and coiled-coil motif specificity.
Kevin Channon - Post-Doctoral Researcher
- started
- Apr 2007
- finishes
- Apr 2010
- funding
- BBSRC
- history
- PhD in Biological and Soft Systems - Cambridge.
- research
- Self assembled peptide fibrils.
Oliver Testa - PhD Student
- started
- Oct 2005
- finishes
- Dec 2008
- funding
- BBSRC & EPSRC
- history
- BSc Molecular Genetics in Biotechnology at University of Sussex, MSc Bioinformatics with distinction at University of Sussex.
- research
- Using CC+ to research knobs-into-holes interactions. Also, webmonkey.
Efrosini Moutevelis - Post-Doctoral Researcher
- started
- Jan 2006
- finished
- Jan 2009
- funding
- BBSRC
- history
- Masters in Biotechnology at the Agricultural University of Athens, Greece; PhD in Bioinformatics at the University of Manchester, UK.
- research
- Structural Classification of coiled coils, Prediction of coiled-coil oligomeric state.
Eleanor Banwell - Post-Doctoral Researcher
- started
- Jun 2003
- finished
- Jun 2008
- funding
- BBSRC
- history
- PhD, Bristol University, BSc Hons Biology with Biomedicine at Lancaster.
- research
- Engineering stability into a nano-to-meso scale self-assembling peptide system for 3D tissue culture.
Maxim Ryadnov - University Research Fellow
- history
- MSc with distinction Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Puschino University and PhD Chemistry at Moscow University. Both done at the Institute of Protein Research.
- research
- Molecular engineering and design.
David Papapostolou - Post-Doctoral Researcher
- started
- May 2004
- finished
- Oct 2007
- funding
- BBSRC
- history
- BSc Hons Biochemistry at University Paris VI, MSc Biochemistry and Enzymology at University Paris VI, PhD Biochemistry and Enzymology at University Paris VII.
- research
- High-resolution structure modelling and design of peptide based supramolecular assemblies.
Christopher Gribbon - Post-Doctoral Researcher
- started
- Mar 2005
- finished
- Aug 2007
- funding
- BBSRC
- history
- BSc Hons Cell Biology at University of Glasgow, PhD Biochemistry at University of Dundee, Post-Doctoral post in Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics at University of Dundee.
- research
- Self-assembling peptide scaffolds for use in tissue engineering and 3D cell culture.
Eleanora Cerasoli - Post-Doctoral Researcher
- started
- Jan 2003
- finished
- Jan 2006
- funding
- BBSRC
- history
- Chemistry - University of La Sapienza (Rome) PhD Biochemistry - University of Glasgow.
- research
- Molecular Switching.
Steve Acquah - PhD Student
- started
- Oct 2002
- finished
- Oct 2005
- funding
- EPSRC
- history
- MChem Chemistry - Sussex University.
- research
- Protein Nanotubes.
Marryat Stevens - PhD Student
- started
- Oct 2001
- finished
- Oct 2005
- funding
- BBSRC
- history
- BSc Biochemistry - Sussex University.
- research
- Self-assembling peptide fibres.
Neil Herbert - PhD Student
- started
- Oct 2001
- finished
- Oct 2004
- funding
- BBSRC
- history
- BSc Biochemistry UCL, Msc Sussex University (2000).
- research
- Functional selection on NCS.
Rhys Stoneman - PhD Student
- started
- Oct 2001
- finished
- Oct 2004
- funding
- Steve Caddick
- history
- BSc Medicinal Chemistry - Sussex University.
- research
- NCS binding studies.
Wayne Edwards - Post-Doctoral Researcher
- started
- Feb 2001
- finished
- Dec 2003
- funding
- BBSRC
- history
- BSc Biochemistry - Warwick University, PhD Biological Sciences - Warwick University.
- research
- Cloning and expression of fibre peptides and conjugates.
Andrew Smith - PhD Student
- started
- Oct 1999
- finished
- Oct 2002
- funding
- EPSRC
- history
- BSc(2:1) Biochemistry, Royal Holloway, University of London 1994-97, Research Technician, Cortecs (now Provalis), 1998-99.
- research
- Designing peptides to assemble into protein fibres. Pursuing stuctural studies and potential applications.
Mick Urbaniak - Post-Doctoral Researcher
- started
- Oct 1998
- finished
- Oct 2001
- funding
- Stephen Caddick
- history
- BSc Chemistry, University of York.
- research
- Expression and characterisation of the Neocarzinostatin apoprotein and its interactions with synthetic analogues of the natural chromophore.
Mihriban Tuna - Post-Doctoral Researcher
- started
- Oct 2001
- finished
- Oct 2002
- funding
- Fluorescience Ltd
- history
- BSc Middle East Technical University - Ankara, MSc University of Sussex - Brighton.
- research
- Core-directed design and redesign of three-helix bundle proteins.
Natalie Vlachakis - PhD Student
- started
- Oct 1999
- finished
- Oct 2002
- funding
- MRC
- history
- BSc Biochemistry with Chemistry - University of Cape Town, BSc (Hons) Chemistry - University of the Witwatersrand, MSc Chemistry (crystallography) - University of the Witwatersrand.
- research
- Strucural and functional genomics of yeast.
Jenny Shipway - PhD Student
- started
- Oct 1998
- finished
- Oct 2001
- funding
- BBSRC & Active Biotech
- history
- Partner Choice in coiled coil peptides, Design of novel self-assembling structures.
- research
- BSc Biochemistry - Southampton University.
Maya Pandya - Post-Doctoral Researcher
- started
- Sept 1998
- finished
- Sept 2001
- funding
- BBSRC
- history
- PhD Biochemistry - Bristol University, BSc Molecular Biology & Biochemistry - Durham University.
- research
- Designing molecular switches and peptide fibres.
Annette Smith - Post-Doctoral Researcher
- started
- Nov 2000
- finished
- August 2001
- funding
- Wellcome
- history
- PhD - University College London.
- research
- Identification of stably folded domains in yeast proteins.
Barbara Ciani - PhD Student
- started
- Jan 1998
- finished
- Jan 2001
- funding
- University of Sussex
- history
- Working in the NMR group at the University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Majored in Chemistry at the University of Rome I "La Sapienza".
- research
- Designing molecular switches.
John Walshaw - Post-Doctoral Researcher
- started
- Nov 1997
- finished
- Nov 2000
- funding
- MRC
- history
- Venus Internet Ltd - an Internet company with a life-science focus Course co-ordinator/author - Principles of Protein Structure course, Birkbeck college, UCL. PhD at University College London, Birkbeck Crystallography Dept. BSc Biology with Computer Science, Southampton University.
- research
- Prediction and analysis of coiled-coil proteins from the genome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Andigoni Tsoutsou - Masters student
- started
- Oct 1999
- finished
- Oct 2000
- history
- Originally from Greece, BSc Biochemistry - Swansea University.
- research
- Structural and functional genomics of yeast.
Rob Allan - PhD Student
- started
- Oct 1996
- finished
- Oct 1999
- funding
- BBRSC
- research
- Antiparallel coiled-coil structure in tRNA synthetase.
Michael Finucane - Post-Doctoral Researcher
- started
- Oct 1995
- finished
- May 1999
- funding
- BBSRC & University of Sussex
- research
- Protein structure, dynamics and function; Rules linking amino acid sequence and structure, dynamics and function; Protein design.
Matt Hicks - PhD Student
- started
- Oct 1995
- finished
- Apr 1999
- funding
- BBSRC
- research
- Structure and Folding of Prions (Design and characterisation of novel leucine-zipper peptides).
Jenny Lees - Post-Doctoral Researcher
- started
- Mar 1995
- finished
- Sept 1996
- funding
- BBSRC
- research
- Phage display.
