Our Students (historic)

Meet Our Students

Jessica Buddle

University of Sheffield

Second year microbiology PhD student at the University of Sheffield in the Robert Fagan Lab. My research involves genetically characterising the evolution of C. difficile to vancomycin, which is the front-line antibiotic used for treating C. difficile infection.

Microbiology | Molecular biology | Genetics | Evolution | Antibiotic Resistance

Callum Portman Ross

University of Sheffield

I work on how antibiotic resistance is maintained in the superbug MRSA. I use molecular microbiology methods to investigate protein interactions and how compounds that result in less resistance change the S. aureus physiological response to antibiotic exposure.

Rebecca Marie Dewhurst

Newcastle University

Hi, my name is Becky, a third year PhD student based at the Centre for Life, Newcastle! My research focusses on a group of renal diseases which affect the cilia, called ciliopathies. To study these diseases, I collect urine samples from patients and healthy controls to isolate cells, called human urine-derived renal epithelial cells (hURECs) for disease modelling. Outside the lab, you can find me playing frisbee with my lab Freya!

Andrea Chiara Masi

Newcastle University

My research focuses on understanding the impact of the gut microbiome and human milk on infants’ health, particularly in preterm infants. To answer my research questions, I utilise various “omic” techniques, including metagenomics and transcriptomics, microbiology techniques and intestinal tissue derived organoids

Joshua Norwood

University of Sheffield

I’ve come a long when since my undergrad, when I chose to study molecular biology simply because I couldn’t decide whether to do biology or chemistry. Over the past few years, I have developed a real passion for the field of infectious disease research. Even before COVID-19, understanding bacteria and viruses has been hugely beneficial for humankind. Today, I am a 3rd year PhD student researching the interactions between bacteria and the immune system.

Daniel Kent

Newcastle University

Final year PhD student at Newcastle researching the future treatment of blood cancers. Similar DNA alterations are shared across many B-cell and T-cell cancers. By profiling the epigenome for specific signatures of gene overexpression we identify candidate DNA sequences for silencing. We can be precise by using the CRISPR dCas9-KRAB system to highlight frailties within cancers to uncover advanced non-genic targets within the shared alteration.

Naz Ahmed

University of Leeds

Hi, I’m Naz, a third-year PhD student at the University of Leeds, Institute of Medical Research. I’m a wet lab scientist turned computational biologist. My research focuses on Glioblastoma (grade IV brain cancer). I use Network Analysis to assess the transcriptional changes across GBM gene expression networks during therapy to identify target genes responsible for facilitating transcriptional reprogramming to a more treatment-resistant state. Outside of research, I do sports photography and pottery.

Scott Gregory

University of Leeds

I’m a third year PhD student investigating how to improve T cell homing towards melanoma brain metastases (BrM) in the context of immune checkpoint inhibition. I have worked in industry developing assays to measure the potency and pharmacokinetics of tetravalent bispecific antibodies to treat cancer. My research interests include T cell assays; characterisation, chemotaxis and expansion, flow cytometry, lentiviral packaging, transductions, transfections, qPCR, in-vivo mouse models and immune checkpoint inhibition to study melanoma brain metastases. responsibilities, or add a short bio.

Robin Key

University of Liverpool

The main aims of my research are to elucidate the mechanisms of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) caused by a group of ribosome-targeting antibiotics, and determine the importance of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation on individual susceptibility to DILI following treatment with these drugs. I am using advanced in vitro hepatic models: HepaRG cells to allow for extended dosing periods, and HepG2 transmitochondrial cybrids to enable assessment of mtDNA impact against a constant nuclear DNA background.

Lara Oberski

University of Sheffield

I have always been intrigued by the intricacies of the human brain and the origins of complex behaviour. To gain a better understanding of the brain function, I studied MSci in neuroscience at UCL which has further shaped my research interests. In my PhD project, I am integrating genomics, bioinformatics and neuroendocrinology under Dr Vincent Cunliffe’s and Prof Nils Krone’s supervision to investigate how gene-environment interactions, such as stress, influence the developing and adult brain.

Robert Bentley

University of Liverpool

I am a 3rd year PhD student at the University of Liverpool. My research interests are ageing within the cardiovascular system. More specifically I am utilising 3D cellular models to understand the physiological changes that occur within the cardiac system as we age. I am also utilising iPSC derived atrial cardiomyocytes to understand the relationship between ageing and the arrhythmia atrial fibrillation.

Luke Cleland

University of Sheffield

I am a BSc Psychology and MSc Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience graduate. My research focusses on the sense of touch during balance and gait, using a combination both experimental and computational techniques within biomechanics and neuroscience. I characterise the natural stimuli that the foot experiences and use pressure distributions as input to a computational model of tactile receptors to simulate responses during natural plantar pressure patterns.

Samantha Ivings

University of Sheffield

My background is in Mathematics with Philosophy (BSc), during which I studied mathematical biology and was inspired to pursue a masters degree in Mathematical Modelling (MSc), earning a Distinction. I have a particular interest in using unconventional tools from mathematics to understand biology, such as abstract symmetry and group theory. This led me to my PhD in a fusion of mathematics and stem cell biology – using both experimental and computational research to advance our understanding of how human embryonic stem cells decide what to become. I am keen to pursue a career that makes the most of my mathematics and programming skills with a view to better understand the natural world.

Mahrukh Shameen

University of Sheffield

I am a third year PhD student at The University of Sheffield in collaboration with AstraZeneca. I am interested in host pathogen interactions within the respiratory system with a focus on developing therapeutics.

Alice Rhind-Tutt

University of Sheffield

I am a third year PhD Student in the Cragg’s Lab, Department of Chemistry at the University of Sheffield. My background is in physics, but my project is an interdisciplinary investigation into DNA conformations. I’m using two molecular ruler techniques to measure these conformations under different conditions, specifically focusing on the role of the RNaseH2 complex and the impact this has on DNA structure and function.

Alexander Abrams

Newcastle University

I am a PhD student at Newcastle University. My research is in antimicrobial drug discovery targeting DNA replication machinery unique to bacteria. We are using a multidisciplined approach combining biophysical, structural, and biochemical techniques to developed target-specific antibiotic compounds.