I graduated with a degree in mathematics from Warwick University in 2008. I then decided to join MOAC in order to have the opportunity to apply the skills I developed in the mathematics department to biological problems and develop a broader knowledge of chemistry, biology and bioinformatics. I completed my MSc with distinction in 2009.

PhD : Structure-Function Analysis of the Carbohydrate Recognition Domain of the Human C-type Lectin DC-SIGNR Via Solution NMR

I am currently in the first year of my PhD studying the protein DC-SIGNR. The aim of my project is to study the structure and binding dynamics of the DC-SIGNR carbohydrate recognition domain using heteronuclear solution state NMR and SPR.

MSc Mini-projects

The MOAC MSc involves three separate 8 week research projects each in a different discipline. These projects allowed me to gain valuable experience in Chemistry, Biology and Statistics.

• Antibiotic peptides and their interactions with lipid membranes

Supervisor: Matthew Hicks

During this project I gained experience using a range of biophysical techniques: CD, LD, DLS to study the insertion of antibiotic aurein peptides in a variety of model membranes.

• Modelling of dose-response studies for novel organometallic anticancer complexes

Supervisor: Fabio Rigat

This project utilised Bayesian statistics to develop a dose-response model for a novel class of platinum based anticancer complexes developed by the Sadler group.

• Using FRET to study the dynamics and biological function of PDIp

Supervisors: Robert Freedman and Katrine Wallis

The aim of this project was to successfully express, purify and fluorescently tag the protein PDIp with the long term goal of carrying out single molecule FRET to investigate the dynamics of the active site.

At the 2009 MOAC annual conference I won the MSc poster prize: