Molecular biosciences
Molecular Biosciences seeks to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms of life, with applications in health, food security and technological development.
This research integrates basic biological research and develops cutting-edge techniques in biotechnology and modelling to allow us to predict how biological systems respond to change.
Research areas
Our research in molecular biosciences encompasses three main areas of focus:
- Understanding molecular and cellular systems – using biochemical, structural and cellular phenotyping approaches to understand biological function at the molecular level.
- Developmental biology and modelling – taking multiscale approaches to understand and model developmental and stem cell processes in key model organisms, such as insects and plants.
- Imaging and engineering biological systems – using interdisciplinary approaches in biology, physics and chemistry to image and engineer biological systems.
Collaborations
We have close links with Chemistry in structural biology and with Physics in the development of advanced imaging technologies, and we collaborate globally with academic and industrial partners.
The Molecular Biosciences division also leads five of the seven Technology Research Hubs within the School of Biosciences - reflecting its technological strengths.
Fellowship and PhD applications
We welcome approaches by potential fellowship applicants whose interests map onto the divisional research areas.
We also welcome applications from PhD students with research interests that fit our strategic research areas.
Please contact biosi-pg@cardiff.ac.uk for more information.
Staff members
| Name | Area of interest |
|---|---|
| Professor Helen White-Cooper - Head of Division | Gene regulation in sperm development in Drosophila. |
| Professor Paola Borri (Physics) | Biophotonics and novel techniques for scanning microscopy. |
| Professor Trevor Dale - Deputy Head of Division | Wnt signalling and breast cancer. |
| Dr Barend HJ de Graaf | Pollen Pistil Interactions and Membrane Trafficking. |
| Dr Walter Dewitte | Plant patterning and growth; plant growth regulators and cell division. |
| Dr Veronica Grieneisen | |
| Dr Fisun Hamaratoglu | Cell-cell signalling in cell elimination, growth control and cancer. |
| Dr Patrick Hardinge | Molecular diagnostics using isothermal nucleic acid amplification, sequencing and microfluidics for infectious disease detection |
| Professor John Harwood | Acyl lipid metabolism and function. |
| Dr Angharad Jones | |
| Professor Dafydd Jones | Protein structural and functional plasticity; protease structure and function. |
| Dr Tomasz Jurkowski | |
| Dr Nick Kent | Chromatin structure and function. |
| Dr Sonia Lopez de Quinto | RNA regulation through spatial localization. |
| Dr Francesco Masia | Development of algorithms for image analysis and design of lab-on-chip biosensors |
| Dr Georgina Menzies | Biological structures such as proteins, DNA, and mucins using molecular modelling techniques. |
| Professor Jim Murray | Plant cellular development; plant and molecular biotechnology. |
| Dr Josie Parker | Cytochrome P450s and antifungal resistance mechanisms |
| Dr Zoe Prytherch | Human in vitro lung models. |
| Professor Hilary Rogers | Plant molecular cell biology: senescence mechanisms and cell cycle. |
| Dr Steve Rutherford | Plant molecular cell biology; membrane trafficking; education. |
| Professor Ben Scheres | How gene regulatory networks contribute to self-organisation of plant tissue. |
| Dr Simon Scofield | Transcriptional networks in plant stem cells and synthetic genetic circuits. |
| Dr Andrew Shore | Epigenetics and Thermogenesis, collaborative learning in Higher Education, technology enhanced learning, quantitative assessment of success in higher education, evolution of entry qualifications based upon attainment in Higher Education, development of school and college curricular to support transition to Higher Education. |
| Dr Henrietta Standley | Developmental biology. |
| Dr Glen Sweeney | Developmental transitions in farmed-fish; RNA processing; education. |
| Dr Mike Taylor | Programs of cell differentiation. |
| Dr Wynand Van der Goes van Naters | Molecular basis of sensory systems in insects. |
| Dr Peter Watson | Protein and lipid trafficking. |
| Dr Helen Woodfield | |
| Dr Mark Young (Postgraduate Divisional Tutor) | Membrane protein structural biology. |
